Poop matters: 5 things you should check after a dump

chocolate poo

PHOTO: Edible Mars Chocolate Poo

Your poop can say a lot about your health.  Does it smell nice?  Does it smell bad?  How often do you go to the bathroom?  How much actual waste do you expel?  Answers to all of these questions can indicate your general digestive health.

While most people hardly think about bowel movements and their poo, the truth is that poop happens – to everyone.  When the deed is done, it’s natural to flush without taking a peek at how good your creation looks.  But from time-to-time, taking a peek or smelling the air might not be a bad idea after all.

Pooping is an essential body function.  Any changes to your bowel movements may mean  your body could be fighting an infection, a serious medical condition, or simply just reacting to the ill-effects of a heavily-spiced Indian dinner.

Here are five things you should check when checking-out your poop:

COLOUR

The colour of you poop is reflective of what you eat.  However shades of black or yellow are considered not to be normal.  Black poop can mean you’re bleeding somewhere around the stomach or the first part of the small intestine.

SHAPE

Poop comes in all shapes and sizes.  Some experts say narrow and pencil-thin poop is a symptom of colon cancer or an obstruction in the colon.  If you have that annoying poop that sticks to the side of the toilet, this may indicate your diet has too much oil.

SMELL

If you have blood in your poop, that usually comes with a strange odour.  Fatty poop also can smell pretty foul.  Other strange smells out of the ordinary can indicate an infection or that food has been stuck in the color for too long.

CONSTIPATION

Pooping less than three times a week?  Poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of fluids, medication can all make it difficult to eliminate poop.

DIARRHEA

When food passes through your bowels too quickly, your poop gets watery and flushes out of your system.  Your body fights toxic substances by getting rid of the bad stuff as soon as possible.  If the watery poop lasts for more than four weeks, this could mean a more serious chronic disease.

More details here: LiveScience

 

Sponsored