Are you noticing suspicious changes in your toilet habits? Would those changes be indicative of greater, more serious problems? Want to know what to do next?
You’re in the right place! Reading the signals of your bowel movements can provide vital information about your health. Luckily, it’s not all bad news: some health issues can be improved with diet changes.
Let’s get going and look at what your stool says about your whole health.
Rocks and Pebbles
If your stool looks like rocks, this could be a sign of an intestinal blockage, which various underlying conditions can cause. If your stool looks more like pebbles, this can indicate food intolerance, sensitivity, or gallbladder problems that may require robotic gallbladder removal.
In either case, seeing this type of stool is a sign that something may not be working correctly in the digestive system, and it is essential to seek medical advice as soon as possible. Paying attention to the consistency of your stool can be a powerful and critical tool in detecting underlying issues with your health.
Color Changes
The color of your stool can tell you a lot about possible health problems. Pale, clay-colored stools could indicate a bile duct blockage, yellow stools could indicate a problem with your pancreas, and black stools can be a sign of bleeding in the upper digestive tract. Reddish stools may indicate something along the digestive tract is bleeding, while green stools can indicate rapid transit of food through the large intestine or ingesting too many green-hued foods.
White, chalky stools can be a sign of insufficient bile flow. Most significantly, changes in stool color – from one bowel movement to the next — can mean you have a gastrointestinal disorder.
Black and Tarry
When examining stool consistency, it may appear black and tarry in the case of digested blood. This form of bleeding can be a sign of conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids, colorectal cancer, or liver disease and should be discussed with a medical provider for a diagnosis.
If your stool is black and tarry, it could also indicate an infection, such as that bacterial or viral gastroenteritis. In addition, the presence of black and tarry stool can sometimes be caused by ingesting certain medications like Pepto-Bismol, iron supplements, and bismuth subsalicylate.
Oily or Greasy Stools
Oily or greasy stools can indicate several things. They can be caused by the foods you eat, but they can also be a sign of poor digestion or a lack of essential nutrients. It is important to pay attention to your bowels to identify if there is a more significant underlying issue.
Eating fatty, greasy, and fried foods can cause a temporary increase in oil in the stool, but if the grease persists, it may be a sign of a more profound issue. In this case, it is best to consult your doctor for a more accurate diagnosis.
Pencil-Thin
Pencil-thin stools can indicate low levels of digestive enzymes and show an absorption or digestive issue. Furthermore, pencil-thin stools can indicate an infection, inflammation, or obstruction, such as colon cancer. Individuals should regularly talk to their doctor if they experience pencil-thin stools and other changes in their stool.
Other changes to seek medical advice for include black, tarry stools, persistent diarrhea, blood in stool, constipation, and greasy stools. Knowing what changes and signs to look out for can help people take charge of their health and address underlying issues sooner rather than later.
Tips for Maintaining Healthy Bowels
A healthy stool is a sign of overall health. It should be well-formed, varying from dark brown to light brown. Very dark stools may indicate too much bile in the stool. Keeping your bowels healthy is essential, and here are some tips for maintaining a healthy bowel.
Eat a Balanced, High-Fiber Diet
Eating a balanced, high-fiber diet is one of the essential tips for maintaining healthy bowels. Fiber helps bulk up stool, which makes it easier to pass and decreases your chances of constipation. A high-fiber diet includes many vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains.
Eating a balanced, high-fiber diet also helps nourish the good bacteria in your gut. Also, include probiotics and prebiotics in your diet, which can help strengthen digestive health. Lastly, limiting foods that can be difficult for your bowels to digest is essential, such as dairy, fried foods, and processed foods.
Exercise Regularly
Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate to high-intensity exercise three to five times weekly to keep the intestines functioning properly. Aerobic activities such as running, walking, cycling, swimming, and dancing can help to maintain regular bowel function.
But weightlifting exercises can also help. This type of exercise helps build abdominal muscles and encourages the typical passage of stool. Yoga and Pilates can strengthen and tone the abdominal muscles and reduce stress.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking water before any meal you eat and after exercising is essential. This will help your bowels digest your food and waste.
You can also include drinks such as herbal teas such as chamomile. It will help to relax the bowel.
Adding warm lemon water into your daily routine can also help regulate your digestive system. Managing stress is essential, too, since stress can contribute to digestive discomfort.
Taking regular time out to relax can help reduce anxiety and improve digestion. Therefore, by drinking plenty of water and eating fiber-rich foods, adding some probiotics, and managing stress, you can help keep your bowels healthy.
What Your Stool Can Say About Your Whole Health
From its color to its texture and frequency of appearance, your stool can provide much information about your overall health. Learning to identify changes can help you alert your healthcare provider to potential health issues before they become serious. Knowing how to interpret your stool is saying is essential to ensure your health and well-being.
Contact your doctor with any questions or concerns about changes in your stool.
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Amanda Byers is a graduate of Columbia, where she played volleyball and annoyed a lot of professors. Now as Zobuz’s entertainment and Lifestyle Editor, she enjoys writing about delicious BBQ, outrageous style trends and all things Buzz worthy.
