What Can Your Poo Tell About You? by Coach Carolyn, Carolyn O’Byrne
What can your poo tell about you?
You want me to look at WHAT!? For some reason many of us put poo in one of three categories: downright hilarious, absolutely disgusting, or quite an embarrassment. Whatever the category you’re in, I hope that you will place emphasis on knowing what is healthy and what is not.
I have found that most people really don’t mind talking about it with me if they know that I am comfortable with the subject. So……let’s talk.
The look and frequency of your poo says a lot about the health of your gut and your overall health. Let’s address some examples of what it could look like. Getting in the habit of knowing what it looks like each and every time will give you a good idea of what is happening with your health.
Does it look:
- Small, hard balls that may or may not stick together?
- Long and formed?
- Really long and thin?
- Irregular and very soft and chunky?
- Like a mud pie?
- Watery?
- Can you see food?
- What color is it? black, white, brown, green, yellow, or a mixture of these colors
- Do you ever see blood?
Some of these differences are harmless and some are very serious. If you have black, white, or bloody poo, go see a medical professional. If you have any of the other descriptions, it may or may not be a big issue. A normal looking poo looks similar to a brown log, longer than a few inches, smooth, soft and easy to eliminate.
For instance, the most common complaint that I hear about is constipation. It can range from not eliminating for days to pooping little round balls causing lots of straining.
So what can you do about it? Every situation is different. A very common concern that I run into is constipation.
When your poop is hard, ball-like and difficult to get out – it might be that you are not getting enough water (soda, coffee, or juice does not count). Some other possibilities could be food sensitivities, lack of natural fiber, or stress. Traveling can also make this process more of a challenge.
Here are a few suggestions to consider:
- When traveling (or otherwise) if you feel the need to go, make every effort to go to the bathroom as quickly as you can.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Become very observant of the foods that cause issues and eliminate them.
- Eat natural foods that are high in nutrients and fiber. Make it a goal to get at least 32 grams of fiber per day.
- Reduce stress by changing how you perceive situations that arise in your life. We can’t change everything that happens to us, but we can change how we react to it.
Do you really know what is going on when you use the bathroom? I challenge you to be an observer each time. Do your own research on the causes of your poo not being normal. This easy observation can contribute to you being more aware of your body and the condition that it is in. You will feel so much better, your health will improve, it will help in attaining and keeping a healthy weight, and your body will thank you.
Carolyn O’Byrne – Coach Carolyn – https://www.lifecoachservice.net/
