5 Things Your Poop Can Tell You About Your Health

We all poop, but it seems that nobody wants to talk about it. While not engaging in potty talk is considered politeness, discussing it with a professional it’s actually the best thing you can do – since poop can reveal a lot about your health.

Poop can tell if you’re taking enough nutrients from your diet, how quickly your digestive system works, if you have an infection or whether you have an underlying medical condition. So, it’s not to be neglected there are a lot of things you can learn from it.

If you’re interested in learning more about what the poop can really tell you, we’ve gathered for you 5 things your poop can reveal about your health.

5 things poop tell about your health

1. You’re constipated 

Does your poop look like rocks, pebbles or sausages? Then this means that you’re constipated. 

Consuming too few high-fibre foods or fluids can lead to constipation which is usually temporary. Incorporating in your diet fruits, vegetables, fruit, and whole grains while choosing to consume less high-fat meats, dairy products, and processed foods has the potential to improve your health.

However, if you keep suffering from constipation, talk to your doctor about possible treatments or call our clinic for consultation – we know how to help.

2. You’re not adequately absorbing nutrients from your food 

The consistency and regularity of your poop can indicate how well your digestive system is functioning. Normal, well-formed stools that are easy to pass suggest a healthy digestive system. 

Changes in frequency, consistency or the presence of undigested food particles may indicate digestive issues or dietary problems. 

For instance, persistent greasy, foul-smelling stools may suggest malabsorption of fats, which can occur in conditions like celiac disease and cystic fibrosis. Similarly, deficiencies in digestive enzymes or problems with the lining of the intestines can lead to inadequate absorption of nutrients. 

3. Your colon is blocked

Your stomach sends digested food to your rectum when your intestines function normally. Food is broken down by your body along the way and turns food into faeces that you eliminate through a bowel movement. 

If your colon is blocked, then you may not be able to pass stool. In case there’s a partial blockage, you may still pass some stool, but this will be thin or ribbon-like due to the restricted space.

So, for a while, you may need to drink only fluids and even avoid solid foods while your healthcare provider will fix any metabolic problems. 

4.You have an infection

Certain infections can also be detected through changes in stool characteristics. Infections such as bacterial gastroenteritis or parasitic infestations can cause symptoms like diarrhoea, along with other signs such as fever, abdominal pain, or nausea. 

The presence of blood, mucus, or pus in the stool may also indicate an infection or inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract.  

If you experience persistent or severe symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

5. You have an underlying medical condition

Certain infections or malabsorption issues can affect the composition of your poop. For example, yellow, greasy, and foul-smelling stools may indicate malabsorption of fat, which can occur in conditions such as celiac disease, pancreatitis, or cystic fibrosis. 

Infections such as bacterial gastroenteritis or parasitic infestations can cause diarrhoea with additional symptoms like fever, abdominal pain, or nausea.

While the most common cause of black poop is taking iron supplements. However, it could also mean you’re losing blood somewhere in your gastrointestinal tract, such as in the stomach or small intestine. In this case, it’s best to seek professional help.

Wrapping up

Changes in poop characteristics can be normal. What’s important is not to stay silent. If they’re persistent or concerned, you need to speak to your healthcare provider.

If you want to improve your gut health, you can simply visit our online store or simply contact us for any questions or queries.

If you’ve enjoyed this blog post and you want to learn more about digestion, we suggest reading our blog post on understanding your gut health or just visiting our blog section for more interesting stories.