Lets Talk About POOP!

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I know society makes this a taboo topic, but your poop in a window into your health!

First let’s just state some obvious points, having a bowel movement should not be:

  • Uncomfortable to pass

  • Difficult to pass

  • Requiring more than 1-2 wipes

  • Explosive when exiting

  • Happening less than every day

  • Any other shape than a log or sausage

If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms your body is saying you could do better in the nutrition department.

BristolStoolChart.png



Here is the Bristol Stool Chart. It was developed in 1997 as a research tool for effectiveness of treatments in people with bowel related concerns. However, this gem is applicable to EVERYONE THAT POOPS!

Ranges 1-2: Your poo’s are hard to pass and often dry, small, and circular, this means you are dehydrated. Start by drinking more water, not soda or coffee, water.  If you start consuming more water and still find no changes try adding more bulk in the form of fiber to your diet…. cough vegetables. Add in +2 more cups of vegetables and see if you start having bowel movements at least one time per day.  


Ranges 3-4 Congrats! Your body is pretty happy with your food choices...BUT NOT SO FAST! If you are having to wipe more than 1-2 times to clean your bottom something isn’t 100% right. If you’re eating 90% healthy non-packaged items you could have a possible food intolerance. Some of the typical ones I see are to nuts, grains, dairy, and nightshades.

Range 5: This is a special category all of its own. This is the guy no matter how many times you wipe you can’t get clean. Start by adding in more fiber +3-4 cups per day and see if this improves. If your form improves, but not the number of times you wipe, you might still have an intolerance.

Ranges 6-7: Oh no, you have diarrhea. After a non-typical night out at any ethnic restaurant without the right set of microbes this happens to just about everyone. However, if you are having chronic diarrhea please seek medical help. Chronic diarrhea can lead to dehydration and malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients in the small intestine and colon.


So next time you use the restroom think of the Bristol Stool Chart, look down in that beautiful toilet bowl, and see how your body is feeling about the foods you eat!