You read that right.  We are going to talk about a subject that can be a bit messy, but hopefully you will be more informed by the end of this article.  Even though people avoid this particular subject, I think it’s very telling of a person’s health.  Our poo does say a lot. Everyone experiences it; especially once we have consumed food.  Ideally, we eliminate about an hour or so after we eat a meal, but that’s not the case for everyone.  Since we are all bio-individual, some of us will eliminate three times daily, some only once daily, while others will eliminate every two or three days.  A high fiber diet will move waste along in our digestive system with a happy ending.  However, with a low fiber diet, waste will stay round in our digestive system, which is not as ideal.  When the stool is sitting in the intestine and colon for a longer period of time, there is a greater chance that health problems will occur. 

To make conversations even more open and exciting, Dr. Ken Heaton, MD developed a chart to help describe, well….what was coming out.  What comes out of the body is just as important as what goes in it.  Our poo says a lot about our digestive health and how the body is handling the food choices we make.

 Our stools represent what’s going on in our life both physically and emotionally.  If you just sit with that notion, I think you can agree.  Think about what happens when there is a sudden stress or excitement. Do you find yourself looking for the nearest restroom? That’s emotional.

Without further a poo…let’s dive right in. Looking at our chart, Types 1 and 2 are not ideal.  They have been sitting in the colon for a period of time and have become dry, hard and lumpy, which is difficult to pass.

There are many reasons constipation can be an issue.  Physically, there may be a lack of fats, fiber or water.  Emotional possibilities are stress, anxiety, or frequent traveling.  Medications can also cause constipation: pain relievers, antibiotics, antidepressants, iron, calcium, etc.  Years ago, our family was out at the fair looking at the livestock when suddenly, one of my daughters bent over in excruciating pain.  She began to sob saying her belly hurt.  Not knowing what was happening, my husband and I decided to leave and go immediately to the emergency room for an evaluation.  After taking an x-ray, it was determined she was full of …..you guessed it, poo.  For those of you who have dogs, think about what they do once they have let loose of their #2.  They run around with a huge energy boost.  They become puppy like for a short time.  It’s a release of toxins and waste and it makes everyone and everything feel lighter.  When we hold on to that waste, it slows us down and makes us feel bad.  Recently, I’ve become more aware of this problem among the population. It’s a sensitive subject, but one that needs to be addressed due to the health problems associated with constipation.  When the bowels don’t move freely and smoothly, they will dry and harden in the intestines making it more difficult to evacuate causing pain, abdominal discomfort and a feeling a tiredness. Over time, those toxins have an opportunity to cause disease. From an emotional side, constipation can be caused by anxiety, fear, and depression. These are real factors that need to be addressed.

Types 3 and 4 on our chart are the more ideal type to aim for.  The waste is moving through easy in the digestive tract and can be eliminated without difficulty.  Little effort is needed and even little paper is needed to clean things up.  A whole foods, plant-based diet will greatly increase the flow of stool with elimination occurring in regular intervals.  Plants are broken down easily by our body and contain fiber that help the movement of waste.  Meat and dairy, however, take more time to break down and contain little to no fiber, which moves very slowly in the system.  It’s more like a parachute gliding down into the colon.  The longer the stool sits in the colon, the more water is removed making it dryer and even more difficult to evacuate.  Thus, constipation and the discomfort that comes along with that.  To keep the bowels moving through the intestines, nourish with good fats, fiber, exercise, and drink water to stay hydrated.  Get a handle on the emotions like stress and anxiety.

Types 5, 6 & 7 are not ideal either.  These represent foods that has moved too quickly through our system and as a result there’s an urgency to get to the bathroom.  These can result in 5 or more bowel movements in a day.  Having loose stools are a sign of too much mucous and a damp constitution.  This type of stool is dangerous because the body is loosing nutrients and water to keep it hydrated. Foods that can contribute to this condition are dairy products.  Many people with a lactose intolerance will experience watery stools or even diarrhea.  Sugar alcohols can play a factor in this problem as well.  The small intestine cannot digest large amounts of these sugars efficiently.  Too much coffee or rich foods may also cause problems with loose stools.  Someone with an infection or food poisoning will cause inflammation in the stomach and intestines.  Other symptoms of this problem are vomiting and nausea.  Other possible causes may include viruses, parasites, bacteria, food illness, over doing a certain type of food, a food sensitivity, medications or supplements. Persistent diarrhea warrants an investigation by your health care provider.  Emotional considerations could be anxiety, excessive worry, or fear.  Physically, antibiotics, antacids, antidepressants, chemotherapy medications could cause this type of stool.

 Chronic loose stools may be a result of :

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that affects the digestive system.  

• Ulcerative colitis (UC) is another inflammatory condition affecting the colon and rectum.  

• Crohn’s disease is a long-term condition where the lining of the digestive system becomes inflamed.

• Celiac disease is more common than ever which the consumption of gluten causes an inflammatory response in the small intestine.  

Each of us need to have this feeling of lightness that comes from eliminating our waste, but for so many, it seems out of reach.  Pharmaceutical drugs can be helpful, but that certainly isn’t the best choice. It can be a temporary means to gain comfort, but getting to the root cause is always the best idea.  Drugs will correct the short-term problem, but that doesn’t address the long-term issue.  Constipation occurs when bowel movements become less frequent and becomes difficult to eliminate the stool, this seems to be the most common complaint. The constitution for each person is different and should, therefore, be addressed as an individual, not a blanket solution. If you are having difficulty with your digestive system, seek out help to get it back on track. Our gut health is important and should not be ignored. Let me know how I can help.

Health Bite—Live, Laugh, Poop