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A gut health expert has lifted the lid on what your poop says about your overall health and what “normal” bowel habits look like.
The CEO of The Beauty Chef Carla Oates, from Sydney, said while While many people are aware that our hair, eyes, skin, teeth, and nails are giving us clues about our health, not everyone thinks about their number twos that much.
“Bow movements can give a great insight into our health, so a healthy poop is more important than you think,” Carla wrote in her post. website.
Your poop is always talking to you. Lifestyle factors play a role, whether it’s eating irregularly, drinking alcohol, stress and different portion sizes.’
A gut health expert has clarified what your poop says about your overall health and what “normal” bowel habits look like (Carla Oates pictured)
When it comes to what it should look like, Carla said the Bristol Stool Chart (pictured) is a good place to start, as it highlights the seven different types of poop.
Carla explained that recent studies have identified that having a bowel movement “three times a day or three times a week can be an indicator of good health.”
When it comes to how it should look, he said the Bristol Stools Table is a good place to start.
“Formulated in 1998 by University of Bristol researchers Stephen Lewis and Ken Heaten, this easy-to-understand chart shows the seven most common stool consistencies across the spectrum, from constipation to normal gut health to diarrhoea.” Carla said.
The types of feces range from number one ‘rabbit droppings’ to number seven ‘sauce’.
Types included in the list include type two or ‘clusters of grapes’, which can identify if your stool is ‘sausage shaped but lumpy’, as well as type three or ‘corn on the cob’, which ‘looks like a sausage but It has cracks on the surface.’
Type four is the ‘sausage’, which ‘looks like a sausage or a snake and is smooth and soft’.
While type five is ‘chicken nuggets’, and this is easy to identify as it looks like ‘soft blobs with sharp edges’ and passes easily.
Type six is ’porridge’, which is like chicken nuggets and looks like ‘soft blobs with sharp edges’, but is a bit more runny.
The last type is type seven or ‘sauce’, which is ‘watery, has no solid pieces and is completely liquid’.
Carla explained that each of the different types of poop means different things, from “mild constipation” to “lack of fiber.”
“Types three and four are considered optimal,” he added. “If you’re not there yet, this is what we should all be aiming for.”
The gut health expert (pictured) said a ‘healthy’ poop should pass ‘without extreme urgency and be passed easily’, taking a total of no more than 10 minutes on the toilet.
The gut health expert said a “healthy” poop should pass “without extreme urgency and be expelled easily,” taking a total of no more than 10 minutes on the toilet.
“If you’re feeling constipated, try sitting on the toilet and taking 10 deep stomach breaths to relax and let yourself go,” she said.
‘If the urge to defecate does not present itself, do not stay longer; Try it again later’.
Regarding the smell, “if it’s consistently foul, overpowering, or has a smell you’re not used to, it may require further investigation.”
However, you should not worry too much if it is not always the same color.
“Just as poop comes in all shapes and sizes, it can also come in a variety of colors, including brown, black, green, red, yellow, or even pale white,” Carla said.
‘We should all aim for a medium brown stool. However, this will vary depending on your diet and the amount of bile present (this is what gives poop its brown color).
Finally, Carla (pictured) shared the five steps to healthy poop, and it starts with more mindful eating, eating plenty of fiber, and adding some fermented foods.
Finally, Carla shared the five steps to healthy poop, and it starts with more mindful eating.
“Chew your food well, sit down to eat (away from screens), don’t rush your meals, and try to consume fluids away from food,” Carla said.
‘Remember that digestion begins when you see and smell your food.’
Second, fiber will always help keep you regular, and you need to make sure you’re consuming plenty of fibrous fruits and vegetables every day, along with prebiotics and probiotics.
“Stay hydrated with at least two liters of water a day,” said Carla.
“The fecal composition is approximately 70-75 percent water: the more water we drink, the softer the stool.”
Finally, you should include some fermented foods in your diet to promote a healthy gut and manage your stress levels:
“Do whatever works for you, eg exercise, meditation, breath work,” he said.
“The gut-brain axis can have a big effect on your digestive processes.”
For more information about The Beauty Chef, you can visit the website here.