Experts say this is what healthy stool is supposed to look like

Pooping is not a topic that regularly comes up in conversation, but it is an essential part of your health – not just your gut health, but your overall health. The appearance of your bowel movements, how often you defecate, and how long they last can reveal a lot about what may be going on inside your body. For details, as well as red flags you should pay attention to when you’re on the road bathroomWe spoke with three gastroenterologists.

What does healthy stool look like?

Many doctors use it Bristol stool chart To help evaluate the health of your bowel movements. The chart is a morphometric, meaning it ranks stool based on factors such as size and consistency. Bowel movements are graded from 1 to 7, with 1 being the firmest and 7 being completely liquid.

Bristol stool type 1-2: Rabbit or grape droppings that are very solid and may be difficult to dislodge.

Bristol chair type 3-4: Corn or sausage bowel movements are soft and easy to pass.

Bristol chair type 5-7: Bowel movements are soft to liquid which may or may not contain some solid pieces.

As Dr. Natasha Chhabra, a gastroenterologist at… Gastroenterology fellows of new jerseyHe explains, “The middle of the chart (Bristol 3-4) describes a healthy BM, which is generally described as sausage or snake-like.” Stool in these categories is also firm, while it may be smooth or have some cracks on the surface.

Healthy stool in Bristol categories 3-4 indicates that the person is getting enough water and food Enough fiber in their dietAccording to Dr. Michael Shubis, a gastroenterologist and attending physician at… Manhattan Gastroenterology. He notes that this type of stool is often easier to pass, whereas “Bristol Types 1-2 stools are often hard, stoney, and difficult to pass, indicating constipation.”

If your stool floats, you may have Excessive gasOr you eat a high-fat diet or have a digestive problem. Your tube should submerge most of the time.

Stool color

You should also consider the color of your bowel movements. Dr. Lance Oradmo, an interventional gastroenterologist at City of Hope in Orange Countyreports, “Healthy stool can be brown or even greenish but should never be black or contain blood. This may indicate the presence of cancer or other health problems.” If you have The stool is particularly paleYou may want to discuss your liver, pancreas, and gallbladder health with your doctor.

The smell of feces

according to Mount Sinai HospitalSmell also plays an important role. Although stool is never meant to smell pleasant, if a new or particularly unpleasant odor suddenly develops, you may have a condition such as chronic pancreatitis or ulcerative colitis. The good news is that changes to your diet can also produce foul-smelling stools. So, if you have one BM that smells really bad, it might be from Eat or drink something fermented Or eat a lot of garlic.

How often should you defecate?

You probably have someone in your family (if you’re being honest, it’s probably you) who is convinced they need to poop every morning. However, a healthy defecation schedule is not the same for every person. Don’t panic if you’re not one of those people who runs to the bathroom like clockwork after having your morning coffee.

“The term ‘regular’ generally means that the frequency of a person’s bowel movements continues without any change,” Oradmo explains. In fact, the number of times you defecate each week may vary greatly from other people in your household without any cause for concern.

“Normal defecation frequency can range greatly depending on the person. Stools anywhere from one day to the next up to three to four times a day can be considered regular,” says Shubis.

As a general rule, “three times a day to three times a week is a healthy range,” Oradomo advises. However, the doctor warns: “It is important to familiarize yourself with your usual routine so that if the frequency changes suddenly, you can alert your doctor.”

Is it healthy to defecate less or more?

How often you defecate may be less important than whether you defecate enough, Chhabra says. “Getting adequate BMs (bowel movements) with complete evacuation is a great goal, because getting a BM is one of the ways our body rids itself of toxins and waste. Some can have a daily BM and still not feel like they’ve emptied,” she explains. In other words, less frequent but complete bowel movements may be healthier than frequent small bowel movements.

How often you should have a bowel movement may also depend on how difficult it is for you. According to Showbiz, “If it takes a lot of straining and pushing to defecate or requires you to spend 30 minutes on the toilet, you might be better off trying to defecate more often.” He says you should make lifestyle changes to help stimulate defecation in this condition. the Mayo Clinic He recommends eating high-fiber foods, staying hydrated and exercising as natural ways to prevent constipation.

On the other hand, you may be defecating frequently. “If someone is going four to five times a day, and their bowel movements are watery and have a lot of urgency, that person is probably defecating too often,” says Shubis.

the Mayo Clinic He notes that everything from stomach viruses and bacterial infections to lactose intolerance may cause you to defecate frequently. Antibiotics may also cause temporary diarrhea.

How long should it take you to defecate?

It should not take more than a few minutes to defecate. “Ideally, a person should spend 5 minutes or less without any pushing or straining to move the bowels,” says Shubis. “Spending more than a few minutes using a BM should raise concerns about constipation, especially if you’re stressed,” agrees Chhabra.

Oradomo offers more leeway, saying: “A person should take between 5 and 15 minutes on the toilet to defecate.” He warns that sitting on the toilet for longer than that can “lead to problems, such as hemorrhoids, decreased circulation or pelvic floor dysfunction.”

Red flags You may have an unhealthy gut

There are several key signs you may have Unhealthy gut. These include:

pain: Frequent pain during defecation may be a cause for concern. This may mean that your stool is too hard or that there is a larger problem with your digestive system.

blood: Blood in the bowl after defecation may also indicate an unhealthy bowel. “Blood in the stool can be caused by a relatively minor problem such as hemorrhoids, but it may also be an indicator of cancer, bowel disease, or major internal bleeding,” Oradmo warns. You should monitor bleeding closely and consult your doctor.

Loss of bowel control: If you suffer from bowel (fecal) incontinence, you probably have it Weakness of the rectal or anal muscles. Muscle and nerve damage resulting from childbirth may also affect your ability to control bowel movements.

Black stool: Oradomo warns that black or tarry stools can indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This includes the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.

Chronic diarrhea: If you have diarrhea that lasts more than a few days, you may have irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease. Celiac disease can also cause pale, frequent diarrhea.

When to talk to your doctor about your tube

Anytime you feel pain or inability to defecate, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor. the National Health Service Warns that chronic constipation can lead to serious fecal impaction, and Healthline She recommends seeking medical attention if a full week goes by without a bowel movement.

“If you find that bowel movements are controlling your life, either due to infrequent bowel movements or frequent bowel movements,” it’s a good idea to see a doctor, says Shubis. Black or bloody stools also indicate that it is time for a medical evaluation.

How to keep your stool healthy

Sometimes, lifestyle changes are all it takes to create healthy bowel habits. For example, make sure you Drink enough water. Dehydration may lead to constipation or make it more difficult to pass stool. Chhabra also recommends consuming daily fiber through whole fruits and vegetables. This “helps keep bowel movements fuller and easier to pass,” she says.

More specifically, Shopace advises people to consume 2 to 3 liters of water per day and 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day to achieve healthy, normal bowel movements. Aside from this tip, you may want to consider doing more exercise to help your bowels run smoothly.

Bottom line

You don’t need to defecate every day, but you should track your habits and notice when a drastic change occurs. Symptoms such as straining to defecate or having chronic diarrhea are signs that it’s time to make an appointment with your doctor. In the meantime, eating fiber and drinking plenty of water are easy ways to help yourself defecate regularly.