Yuck. Gross. Ewwhh. The truth is that poopie talk is actually a good thing and a very important part of your health.
Poop is one way we take out the trash. And if we don’t take out that trash, it can become stinky and things start to grow in it. Well, the same thing happens in our bodies.
Poopology 101
Let’s talk about what our poop should be. All you have to do is think about our pets and how they poop. Do you bring rolls of toilet paper when you walk your dog? Do cats go wipe themselves after they poop? Of course not.
Well, I hate to break it to you all, but we should be pooping like our pets. In fact, the perfect poop is about the size and shape of a banana. Not too hard where you have to strain, not too soft that it breaks apart. It should be light to dark brown (depending on what you ate that day). It should come out quickly and easily with no wiping needed and, no, it should not smell that bad either. and it should also sink to the bottom of the bowl.
You should be pooping twice a day with the total amount in a day equivalent to the length from your wrist to your elbow. What?? For those of you who are poo pooing this concept, I realize that many of you out there go maybe once every other day or longer in between. Many of you have even been told by your doctors that “everyone’s body is different.”
Well, it may be appropriate to go every other day if you EAT every other day. So, constipation is pretty much defined as going less than once a day. When you think about it, it makes sense as you wouldn’t want toxins sitting in your intestine too long as those toxins will start to get absorbed and grow things into the body–just like that trash that is not taken out.
Not the Perfect Pooper? Let’s talk about what your poop may mean.
Color
First always consider that the color may be from the food you have eaten in the last 24 hours or so. Otherwise, check out what the following colors may mean
Green- This is typically a sign of low stomach acid, in particular, with women who have hypothyroid. Green poops may also be accompanied by passing gas which can be quite smelly. We need zinc and vitamin B-12 to help the body produce stomach acid, so green poops may be an indication of these deficiencies.
Red-If it’s blood red, it could be a sign of bleeding in the lower intestines and you should contact your doctor right away.
Black-This could also be a sign of bleeding, but further up in the stomach and upper digestive tract. You should contact your doctor right away.
White or clay colored- This may be a sign of some sort of blockage in the colon. You should contact your doctor right away.
Smell
While you may not expect your poops to smell like roses, they shouldn’t smell rancid either. When poops have a strong smell, that often is an indication of zinc deficiency.
Size
Smaller poops and little pebbles are often signs of magnesium deficiency
Floaters
Floating poops indicate undigested fats and not enough fiber.
Wipe-Wise
If you go through a half a roll of TP when pooping, this could be a sign of dysbiosis in your gut or intestines. This means you may have an abundance of bad bacteria, yeast, parasites leading to mucus and inflammation in the gut (think trash not being taken out…)
Transit Time
If it’s slow moving or more than 24 hours, this may also be an indication of low progesterone in women. Or this can mean estrogen dominance for both men (men who have “man boobs”) and women.
So, now that we know what to look out for, how can we become Super Poopers?
Obviously, what we eat is the foundation and greatly impacts what gets absorbed and what comes out. It also affects our transit time so we do not become constipated.
Processed foods aren’t “foods” the body readily recognizes, with little nutrients to absorb. This can also inhibit transit time of what is excreted as well. Always try to eat a well balanced diet with clean protein (4-6 oz per meal), healthy fats and fiber consisting of lots of green veggies and fresh fruit. Many people see a major difference with their poops once they start eating lots of “real” food.
Supplementation of magnesium, zinc, probiotics and Vitamin B-12 can also be very helpful. Magnesium citrate is helpful for constipation. Try not to take more than 30 mg of zinc per day and B-12 should only be in the form of methylcobalinum (Not cyanacobalinum).
Some form of daily exercise/movement is also very helpful to get your poop moving and out also.
Dr. Marisol, self proclaimed “Queen of Thrones,” says that castor oil packs are her secret weapon in helping making poops most productive. She says they help reduce inflammation, imporve microbiome, helps with motility and calms the nervous system.
The next time you go, don’t just wipe and run. Take a look, assess, and do what you need to do to become a Super Pooper:)
All material in this newsletter is provided for information only and may not be construed as medical advice or instruction. No action or inaction should be taken based solely on the contents of this publication. Instead readers should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information provided has not been approved the Food & Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease.
