Look before you flush

It may not be a topic you are used to discussing around the dinner table or at social gatherings, but it should be one to take seriously.

Let's talk about stool. In my profession, it is a topic that comes up several times daily. Here is a brief synopsis of why it is essential to monitor your digestive health by taking the "look before you flush" approach. You will be surprised at what you will learn.

Stool is the end product of digestion. After all the "good stuff" has been broken down and absorbed to be used by the body, stool is the waste that's left over. Mostly, stool comprises of fiber, microbes, and water. Slight changes in consistency, color, size, and shape are all signs as to what is happening on the inside.

Because proper digestion is an essential part to good health, it makes sense to monitor changes in stool on a daily basis.

One of the most important characteristic to note about your bowel movements is the frequency. Constipation can lead to major health problems and should be addressed immediately. Think of the bowel as a holding tank for waste that needs to be emptied at least daily. Otherwise, toxins that your body has worked so hard to eliminate can be reabsorbed into the blood stream. Even if you are having regular (i.e. daily) bowel movements, if the stool is hard to pass or looks like pellets, you still may be constipated.

The opposite to constipation, diarrhea, can also create problems, especially if it lasts longer than a couple days. Diarrhea indicates that something is irritating the bowel, causing forced elimination. Following a bland diet and avoiding food intolerances as well as known bowel irritators (caffeine is a big one) may eliminate the problem. However, dehydration and poor absorption are major concerns with chronic constipation and anyone who has had diarrhea for any length of time should consult a professional.

It is not normal to see undigested food in the stool, although some foods high in insoluble fiber, such as whole corn kernels, often will show up in the stool.

If undigested food particles are common, you may not be chewing your food properly or it may be a sign that you may be lacking digestive enzymes.

Mucus is a sign of inflammation in the bowel and is common with conditions such as irritable bowel and food intolerances.

Stool color will depend on diet, however other factors also come into play in determining stool hue.

Bright red is a sign of blood from the lower end of the digestive tract, such as hemorrhoids. Red blood can also be the result of constipation, which can cause tearing and fissures in the anus.

Pale stools may indicate insufficient bile. Bile is made in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released to help emulsify fats. Poor fat digestion may also result in stools that look greasy. Conditions such as gallstones may lead to poor bile flow.

When is comes to texture, a healthy stool should be toothpaste like; soft, but in one piece. Stool that easily breaks apart in the toilet bowl may indicate food sensitivity and/or inflammation.

It is normal for stool to have some odor, but if it is a recent change or if you are having a hard time standing the smell, you may want to access the problem. Usually, an increase in odor indicates dysbiosis, or altered gut flora. We need some good bacteria in order to balance the digestive system. If this balance is thrown off (antibiotics and a diet high in refined foods are big culprits), the "ugly" bugs can overwhelm the good guys, creating an odorous gas as their by-product. Supplementing with probiotics will go a long way at re-balancing the system.

Another possibility is that the food is not properly being broken down. This allows larger molecules to remain in the gut while bacteria do the work.

A normal, healthy bowel movement is one that is easily passed without straining or pain, with a medium brown color and minimal gas and odor. The stool should be consistent in size and shape.