The Scoop on Poop and Probiotics

The Scoop on Poop
I am reluctant to talk about poop. I confess that find it an embarrassing and very personal subject, not one I generally broach publicly. But let’s face it — we all poop and there are important things we should know about poop if we want to understand our own health.

Fortunately, there is someone who is decidedly not embarrassed to talk about it. She even manages to do so with humor. “Poop is my passion,” says General Nutritionist Consultant and Digestive Care Expert, Brenda Watson.

Author of eight health books, Brenda has just announced her fourth PGS television special, The Road to Perfect Health–Balance Your Gut, Heal Your Body, an in-depth look at how chronic diseases start with an unhealthy digestive system, as well as the release of The Road to Perfect Health–Balance Your Gut, Heal Your Body: A Modern Guide to Curing Chronic Disease, a 660-page natural health reference book coauthored by Leonard Smith, M.D., Rick Sponaugle M.D. and Jamey Jones B.Sc.

Let me apologize in advance if you find the topic uncomfortable, but it is important. So what does Ms. Watson want you to know about poop? Here’s the scoop:

Noise: Healthy poop barely makes a sound when it hits the water. Quiet and gentle is a sign of good health.

Size: Size does matter. The longer, the healthier, and it should be an effortless process.

Color: “Fashionably golden brown,” says Ms. Watson. Certain very colorful foods can temporarily change the color of poop, but if yours is consistently yellow or green, it could signal health problems.

Consistency: It should be soft and solid, not hard. If it floats, splashes, or sinks like a rock, it’s a sign that something is not quite right.

“I do look into the toilet every day. If something looks a little scary, I might even get a spoon and check it out,” explains Ms. Watson. “If I don’t like what I see, I’m not likely to rush out to the doctor, but it does depend on what I see.”

“For most of us, we might see color variations, small stools, hard stools, liquidy stools, or sometimes nothing at all! Often, in a day or two it will return to normal, but some of us experience chronic problems. Most of the time, the answer is to eat more fiber, which is vitally important for healthy poop and a healthy body. Fiber is what makes our stool big, soft, and easy to pass. It’s like an exercise machine for those massive colon muscles. When the colon has the right amount of fiber (I recommend 35 grams a day) it automatically contracts and pushes the stool on down the colon and out of the body. However, if you have been sick, are weak, or very young or very old, a bad bowel movement may be something that you should take seriously and even go to the doctor about.”

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Elizabeth G.

8:03PM PST on Jan 22, 2012

I already use probiotic and it's really a turn around.

send a green star

Natalie S.

10:14AM PST on Dec 19, 2011

I had to send this to my husband. I recently started working for a big kefir company and we've been having it with our morning granola every day. We've both noticed major changes in our, well... poop. We're both going 2-3 times a day as opposed to once, and it's definitely (sorry to be gross) a lot more in quantity and much longer than usual. I don't know about you, but I feel awesome when I go more like that. I feel a lot less bloated and just kind of... clean. I'm pro-probiotics all the way. And if you're not into the way kefir tastes you might try it mixed into a fruit smoothie or over fresh fruit or yogurt.

Nanette A.

3:52PM PDT on Aug 1, 2011

Interesting artical, Kefir no can do, I just can"t get into it. Like the last two lines of your artical, so true.

Jo A.

11:51PM PDT on Jun 9, 2011

Thanks for the informative article. Let's eat more yogurt and fermented foods.

jane r.

6:18AM PDT on Jun 5, 2011

thanks

Lika S.

11:01PM PDT on Jun 4, 2011

Thanks. I've taken down the info, so I can look for the right stuff.

Prochi T.

1:01PM PDT on Jun 1, 2011

Thank you.

Anne H.

9:11AM PDT on Apr 28, 2011

I agree we all need to be more comfortable w/ the subject. This is an important health issue but I didn't learn about it until I was in my 30's. Learning to keep our bodies healthy & why helps us make better decisions & save lots of money.

Maris A.

5:15AM PDT on Apr 8, 2011

This information is very useful thanks

Diane S.

6:02PM PDT on Apr 6, 2011

Interesting.