Tidbit Tuesday - Talkin’ Sh*t

Hello,

Welcome to another Tidbit Tuesday where we aim to teach you something new about health, nutrition, lifestyle, training, and so much more, every week!

Today we are talking 💩

I know it can be an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but your poop is actually a huge indicator of your health!

Everybody poops. Even though it can be an awkward and embarrassing topic to discuss, it is important because it tells us a lot about what is going on inside of us.

Since we don't have a window into our gut or intestines, we often don't know what is going on.

The easiest way to tell?

Take a look before you flush 😳

Colour, texture, and frequency should all be monitored carefully because any drastic changes in any of these properties can actually indicate some pretty serious health concerns that you’ll want to address right away.

The Bristol Stool Chart can give you a clear indication of what you are looking at and what you should be concerned about.

So, what should our poop look like when we are healthy?

On the Bristol Stool Chart, you are aiming for a 4, a 3 or 5 is also healthy and acceptable.

A healthy poop, a 4, should slip out easily and hold its form in the toilet, even when flushed. It is comparable to the consistency of toothpaste, often described on the Bristol scale as ‘sausage or snake-like’ and should be around the diameter of a banana. The colour is your standard brown, which indicates it has the correct amount of moisture and nutrients in it as it is passed.

If you are having to sit on the throne for more than 10 minutes, pushing, struggling, and straining, only to feel like you never completed the job. You have some work to do!

A 3 will have cracking which indicates not quite enough moisture. But it’s still sausage shaped, holds its form and is easy to pass.

Type 5 is described by the Bristol chart as "Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (easy to pass)." A 5 will be more watery than a 4, indicating you should increase your fibre intake.

A 1, 2, 6 or 7 is a good indicator that you need to make a change to your diet. Or, If you have recently changed your diet, your body is still adjusting to your diet change and may need some time.

1 and 2 types are indications of constipation. Type 1 is not a cohesive mass, but rather small nuggets. This is a sign that you need to increase both your fibre and water. If this persists for a while you will undoubtedly lead to further health problems. Type 2 is more of a solid mass but will look like nuggets stuck together, forming the mass.

6 and 7 are, you guessed it, the opposite of a 1 or 2. Diarrhea...

This is your body sending you an SOS signal that something is wrong. Often a sign of a stomach 'bug' or flu like pathogen your body is fighting and trying to evacuate.

This poop comes with feelings of urgency and concerns of incontinence. Feelings of high stress can instigate a type 6 poo along with dietary issues.

While a 6 may have some solid portions, a 7 is entirely liquid and prevents us from wandering too far from a toilet.

Prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration and even death if not treated properly, so make sure you see a doctor if you are seeing type 7 a little too frequently.

Now, the easy topic... frequency.

There is no magic number, however, doctors consider it healthy and regular to poop one or two type 4 poops a day. This is usually a good indication that everything is working as it should.

For the most part we will develop a pattern, going the same number of times each day and usually around the same time.

There is no need to be concerned if you deviate a little bit from your pattern.

But consider seeing a healthcare professional if you aren't pooping for a couple days or spend all day on the toilet.

The final topic worth discussing is the colour!

This can be a bit of a tricky topic though because the colour of your poop can be altered by what you eat.

Eating foods heavy in dye or food colouring can influence your poop. Also, foods that have a strong pigment can affect the colour of your poop.

More than the usual amount of dark leafy greens? Your poop might be a bit green.

Had beets with lunch or dinner? It will likely appear quite red. It may even colour the water!

If the colour of your poop reflects what you've eaten in the last 24 hours there is probably no cause for alarm.

Ideally you want it to be brown in colour. If it is red or black, and no foods you ate correlate with that, it could indicate that you have blood in your stool. This could be caused by a GI bleed in your intestines or elsewhere. Seek medical attention!

Green or yellow poops could be caused by an issue with your liver or gallbladder. While less concerning than an internal bleed, this is still a bad sign and can develop into something profoundly serious. I would also recommend seeking medical attention for green or yellow poops.

The most concerning is white or clay like poops. This is a serious indication that you have a complex issue happening internally. Seek medical attention ASAP!

So, make sure you’re taking a peek when you have a bowel movement. Poops really are a good indication if something is going wrong in your body, so pay close attention!

If you see something off, think back over the last 24 hours or so and make a mental list of everything you've eaten or drank. If the colour correlates with something you ate, don't panic. If the issue persists, seek medical attention!

My final recommendation to you is to get a Squatty Potty!

This improves your position while doing the deed, making it much easier and cutting your bathroom time in half!  For more details about the Squatty Potty, I encourage you to check them out on YouTube.

Happy pooping!

Your friend in health & fitness,

Coach Sean