This is not a clean topic, however, important to understand what our stool tell us about our health. You may have realized that the stool has different texture and odor. Just like blood sugar level, body temperature, body weight, condition of stool does change from day-to-day basis.
Figure 1 is chart created by Precision Nutrition. It shows 7 different types of stool texture and illustrates what texture is ideal. When you look at the chart there are three different categories. First is hard. Second is ideal. Third is watery or wet. The question is why these changes happens.
Hard Stool
Dry stool is typically a characteristic of someone with constipation. There are two major reasons for constipation. Low consumption of fiber and dehydration. If you are having constipation or stool seems to be hard, try adding vegetables, beans, whole grain and drink more water. If you are following special diet that does not consume vegetables but having a stool hardening issues, you may consider changing your diet even just for 1-2 weeks to clean out your digestive system.
Watery Stool
Watery or diarrhea type of stool is typically a sign of body not being able to digest properly. Consumption of overly processed food, food sensitivity, or diet you are following is not suited for you. If you are having watery stool or even frequent bowel movement, you may want to reduce overly processed food including chips, cookies, too much added sugar, refined grain, and frequently eating out. Also, check to see if the diet you are currently following is suitable for you. Just because you have read something on magazine, internet, tv, etc. by someone famous, that does not mean that it works for you.
Other Consideration - Medications
Medications, especially antibiotics does kill good bacteria that helps digest food and keep the immune system in check. If you must take antibiotics, consult with your physician thoroughly and have a plan of when to start to take and when to stop. Once you are done, make sure to add prebiotics and probiotics to restore the good bacteria that was destroyed. You can take this with supplements, but you can add kefir, yogurt, fermented food sources such as pickles, kimchi, miso and so on.
With medication stool can be either watery or hard depending on what medication does. You can check the side effects of medication and see what it does.
Other Consideration – Stress
Stress is everywhere. I do not think there is anybody who has no stress. However, unmanaged stress can cause the stool to be hard or watery because it affects digestive rhythm. Make sure to have a proper sleep routine. If you do not have one yet, you may want to make one. Lack of sleep can lead to poor decision making in both work, nutrition, relationship, and exercise.
Why Need to Care About Stool Health?
There are so many conditions that our body is going through that we do not feel, especially gut problem unless it is bad. However, by understanding the condition of your stool you may be adjust your lifestyle so that the body can improve its performance without taking medications or consulting with your physician.
Next time you have your stool, check and see what you see and compare with Figure 1.
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