Poop Facts: What Your Poop Really Says About Your Health

Bowel movements are a vital yet often overlooked aspect of our health. They act as an essential indicator of how well our digestive system is functioning, which means living with a digestive disease for more than 60 million Americans. The frequency, shape, color, and consistency of your stools can tell you a lot about your overall health. While everyone’s bowel habits differ, understanding what’s normal and what isn’t is key to maintaining digestive health. For some, having a bowel movement twice a day is typical, while for others, going every other day is completely normal. But what does it really mean to be “regular,” and what should you watch out for?

Factors That Can Cause Variation in Bowel Movements

The frequency and consistency of bowel movements can differ significantly from person to person, influenced by various factors, from daily habits to underlying health conditions.

Typical Factors

• Diet: What you eat plays a significant role in your bowel habits. Diets high in fiber tend to promote regularity, while diets high in processed foods can lead to constipation.
• Age: As we age, our digestive system slows down, which can result in less frequent bowel movements. We also experience a decline in muscle, which can slow down our digestive system and lead to constipation. 
• Activity: Physical activity helps stimulate the natural contractions of your intestines. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to slower digestion and more infrequent bowel movements, while regular exercise can help keep things moving.

Advanced Factors

• Medications: Certain medications, such as opioids, antidepressants, and iron supplements, can cause constipation. On the other hand, taking certain medications like antibiotics can disrupt the gut balance, resulting in diarrhea.
• Food Intolerance: Consuming foods your body has difficulty digesting, such as lactose or gluten, can lead to irregular bowel movements, including diarrhea, bloating, and cramping.
• GI Issues: Gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis can significantly impact your bowel habits, causing symptoms like chronic diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort.

What Do Abnormal Bowel Movements Look Like?

Recognizing the signs of abnormal bowel movements is crucial for identifying potential health issues.

• Too Soft (Diarrhea): Loose, watery stools that occur frequently may signal a temporary issue, like a stomach bug or a chronic condition such as IBS. Persistent diarrhea can lead to dehydration and nutrient deficiencies.
• Too Hard (Constipation): Hard, lumpy stools that are difficult to pass are a common sign of constipation. This could result from dehydration, a lack of fiber in the diet, or side effects of certain medications.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): IBS can cause a mix of diarrhea and constipation, along with bloating, gas, and abdominal pain.
• Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis: These inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) cause chronic inflammation in the digestive tract, leading to severe diarrhea, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding.
• Proctitis: Inflammation of the rectum, often associated with IBD, can lead to discomfort, frequent bowel movements, and rectal bleeding.
• Cystic Fibrosis: This genetic condition affects the digestive system, causing thick, sticky mucus that can block the intestines. This can then lead to bulky, greasy stools that are hard to pass.

When to See a Doctor and What Your Poop Really Says About Your Health

While one or two abnormal bowel movements are no cause for alarm, it’s a good idea to take note of any unusual changes you’re experiencing. Christopher Norman, a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner with the National Council on Aging, says, If you notice consistent changes in your bowel habits that you think can’t be explained by diet, things like stool consistency (firmness), frequency, or color, it’s a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider. If you have more than three unusual bowel movements in one week or if the unusual bowel movements keep occurring for two weeks or more, this is concerning. Some warning signs include stools that are too loose, extremely hard, noticeably different in color, or contain blood.”

What Are the Characteristics of a Regular Bowel Movement?

Understanding what’s considered “normal” for stools can help you gauge your digestive health.

• Look: Norman describes a “normal” bowel movement as “usually smooth and soft, shaped like a log, and is easy to pass. The color ranges from cream-colored to brown, and it’s common for it to be about one to two inches thick.”
• Scent: While bowel movements naturally smell unpleasant, a particularly foul odor can indicate an infection or digestive issue. It might be worth consulting a healthcare professional if the smell is unusually strong or persistent.
• Timing: The most common time for people to have bowel movements is typically in the morning, as this is when the body has had time to digest food overnight. Morning bowel movements are often a sign of a healthy digestive system.
• How Long: “For someone with a healthy digestive system, passing a bowel movement is typically quick and effortless, taking just a few minutes,” Norman explains. “However,” he says, “people with gastrointestinal conditions like constipation might spend much longer, anywhere from several minutes to up to an hour, depending on the severity of their condition.”

The Bristol Stool Chart is a tool used to categorize different types of stools, ranging from hardest to softest.    

• Types 1 and 2: These display small, hard lumps, which indicate constipation
• Types 3 and 4: These are soft, formed stools and can be passed without difficulty. Types 3 and 4 are what experts consider “normal,” healthy stools.
• Types 5, 6, and 7: These are very soft blobs and continue to get mushier as the numbers increase. Due to their lack of formation, it’s evident that they display milder health or nutritional deficiencies. (Type 7 is all liquid, indicating diarrhea.)

Tips to Achieve “Regular” Bowel Movements

If you’re looking to have more regular bowel movements, consistency in your lifestyle is key. Here are some tips to help you get on track:

• Diet: Focusing on foods that support healthy digestion is necessary for “regular” bowel movements. Choose foods rich in pre and probiotics, fiber, whole grains, and plant foods. Fiber, for example, supports healthy digestion by bulking up your stool and making it easier to pass.
• Hydration: Maintaining optimal hydration levels is just as important as dieting when having healthy bowel movements. Hydration helps aid the digestive process and softens the stool, making it easier to pass. Norman suggests “Eating watery fruits (like watermelon) and vegetables (like cucumbers)” for their high water content. These types of foods can be very beneficial in contributing to your daily hydration.
• Avoid Intolerance Foods: If you want regular stools, you should avoid foods you may be intolerant to. Some of these foods include dairy, gluten, and food additives. Consuming these foods can cause several issues, including abdominal pain, cramping, gas, diarrhea, and constipation, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
• Exercise: Regular physical activity, even something as simple as walking, can help stimulate your digestive system and move food through it more efficiently. Exercise increases gastric motility, pushing waste towards the colon to be emptied.
• Stress Relief and Sleep: Managing stress and getting enough sleep are crucial for healthy digestion. The parasympathetic nervous system controls the body’s ability to relax, lowering blood pressure and heart rate. This helps promote healthy digestion and comfortable bowel movements. Sleep deprivation can also lead to increased microscopic inflammation in the bowel.

The Takeaway

Bowel movements are a critical reflection of your digestive health. By understanding what’s normal and which components are crucial to making necessary lifestyle adjustments, you can find a balance of healthy, regular bowel movements. Whether you’re trying to improve your digestion or want to regulate your bowel movements, paying attention to your bowel habits can help guide you toward better health.