What Does The Color & Consistency Of Your Poop Say About You?

WHAT DOES THE COLOR & CONSISTENCY OF YOUR POOP SAY ABOUT YOU? Your poop says a lot about your gastrointestinal and digestive health. The experts at UnityPoint Clinic are not holding back on this taboo topic! BOWEL MOVEMENT BASICS Since bowel movements occur at the very end of the digestive process, they are one of the best indicators of whether or not your body is correctly digesting food. Are you listening to your stool? WHAT DOES THE COLOR OF MY POOP MEAN? Light to Dark Brown Poop The medically desired color of poop should mimic a bar of milk chocolate. Green Poop Long story short, if your poop is green, it moved through your intestines too fast to complete the process of turning brown. Black Poop Black stool usually means there is an excess of dried blood present in the poop. Usually, this is not a good sign; if your poop remains black contact your doctor. Yellow Poop Poop can be a yellow color when fat is not being absorbed from the poop. Yellow poop is usually a sign of a medical problem that needs attention sooner rather than later. White Poop or Clay-Colored Poop This type of poop is present when the liver does not release enough bile salts into the stool in your intestines. This is usually a sign of a more serious medical problem. Blue Poop Some forms of edible blue dye, when consumed in large amounts, are known to cause poop to turn blue, especially if they pass quickly through the digestive tract. Red Poop Bright red poop is usually a sign of bleeding in the lower intestine. The cause of this bleeding is usually hemorrhoids. WHAT DOES THE SHAPE AND CONSISTENCY OF MY POOP MEAN? Hard Poop (Pebble Poop) - Type 1 Hard poop is passed in separate, hard lumps, similar to pebbles. This kind of stool is painful to pass. Pebble like, hard poop has sat in the large intestine and colon for an extended period of time. Firm Poop (Lumpy, Sausage-Shaped Poop) - Type 2 Firm poop that is connected together but still rather lumpy is also a sign of constipation. The poop spe intestines, but it has not dried out enough to break apart into small pieces. too much time drying in the Cracked Stool - Type 3 Stool that is an even, round sausage shape but has cracks on the surface is typical of a poor diet or sedentary lifestyle. A form of poop most often seen with organic constipation (constipation caused by lifestyle or diet), cracked stool requires strain as it passes but is not painful. Healthy Poop - Type 4 Healthy poop is sausage or snake-shaped and about the diameter of a banana. Optimal healthy poop will remain intact as it is flushed, indicating that it had the desired amount of water and nutrients inside when passed. This poop will have a soft and smooth look to it and will resemble soft-serve ice cream. Soft Blob Poop - Type 5 When stool passes in the form of soft blobs with defined edges, it is a slightly loose stool. It is common for individuals who have bowel movements two to three times a day. This form of bowel movement usually follows major meals of the day. Mushy Stool - Type 6 Mushy stool with fluffy pieces that run together into a pudding-shaped consistency is an early stage of diarrhea. When mushy stool occurs, it is often hard to control the urge or timing of the bowel movement. This form of stool has passed through the colon quickly, due to stress or a dramatic change in diet or activity level. Liquid Poop - Type 7 Liquid poop is the most advanced stage of diarrhea. It has no solid form and passes without control. Diarrhea occurs when the small intestine is irritated, forcing the liquid into the small intestine to flush out of the body without being properly processed. Liquid can be absorbed by the large intestine, but most pools in the rectum, causing explosive diarrhea that is not controllable. CONCERNED ABOUT THE COLOR OR CONSISTENCY OF YOUR POOP? Even though you may be uncomfortable or embarrassed to talk about your bowel movements, it is important to contact your provider if you suspect a problem. It is better for your doctor to determine if there is a problem early to avoid further damage or complications. AF UnityPoint Clinic www.UnityPoint.org/Clinics/Poop