Today’s topic may seem a bit taboo. Maybe you think it’s strange that a “Fitness Person” would be talking about your poop and your digestive health and nutrition. It’s definitely not. Bear with me.
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you will know that fitness is only a small part of what I talk about and that each of the 4 Pillars of Personal Performance is important to live a vibrant high-performing life.
Your digestion and elimination are a key part of Pillar #4 (FUEL).
The quickest and easiest way to gauge the functioning of your digestive system is to have a peek in the toilet after you poop
It may sound gross, but as you will see, this simple act can give you great insight into how you are functioning, and what you need to do to make positive changes in your nutritional intake.
Getting in touch with your body, and understanding your response to food is at the heart of the Metabolic Typing process, but it’s also the foundation of nutrition adaptability. Our bodies, actions, and environment are always changing. Understanding our body, habits, and preferences, paying attention to those changes, and adapting allows us to get the optimal response from food and life.
It’s important to pay attention to your digestive process. You should notice your digestion and stools (poop) change as you transition your food from processed to whole, natural choices, eat for your metabolic type, and build consistency into your nutrition program.
It may seem strange to talk about your poop
A lot of people avoid the topic. However, your waste products directly reflect the quality of your digestive health and nutrition. Eating a variety of healthy food at consistent intervals, moving your body regularly, and staying hydrated are keys to healthy digestion and absorption of nutrients, along with efficient waste removal.
If everything is working properly, you should be having between 1-3 bowel movements each day. Each bowel movement should be a relaxed, stress-free (dare I say somewhat enjoyable) process.
Your stool provides a clear picture of improvements that can be made
Though there is a reluctance to talk about waste, your stool provides a clear picture of improvements that can be made to digestive health and nutrition. I’ve had clients say they only poop once per week. If that is the case, it clearly is not an enjoyable experience.
Your poop should be consistent, uniform, and soft, but not mushy or watery. It should also be easy and smooth to pass. In the Bristol Stool Chart, Types 4 and 5 are considered “normal”.
This chart was created by the Bristol Royal Infirmary in England to help patients more effectively communicate this important information to their doctor.
Types 1-3 are considered varying degrees of constipation, while Type 7 and to a lesser degree, Type 6, are considered diarrhea. You will hear many (sometimes conflicting) reasons why this happens, and find myriad treatments to fix them. The causes are often individual and can be complicated by factors such as medication, surgeries, injuries, stressful events, and internal physiological differences (rectal size, internal hemorrhoids, intestinal flora, muscle, and nerve health)
Considerations and guidelines to follow:
- Defecation should happen 1-3 times per day, typically after major meals.
- The experience should be free from effort, straining, or pain.
- Avoid fiber supplements. Instead, minimize processed foods and eat a variety of whole, natural foods in ratios ideal for your metabolic type.
- Drink half an ounce of plain water per pound of body weight per day (~30ml/kg).
- Stay active and do regular movement and mobility exercises each day.
- If you have chronic constipation, visit a naturopath or dietician to devise a plan for improving your gut health over the long term.
Now that you have these tips and insight into your digestion, I encourage you to check out what’s in your bowl daily.
Ignoring this information and writing it off as ridiculous will be tempting. However, whether you pay attention to it or not, your poop is a reflection of your moment-to-moment health.
You can choose to use that information or ignore it. Remember, you always have the choice.
Should you have questions or comments, I’m always happy to help.
Expert Personal Training and Lifestyle Coaching To Help You Thrive
Comments
Really helpful information! Thanks!
Thanks for commenting!
Great guide to why your poop matters. I think people underestimate the importance of this. Thank you!
Thanks for commenting!
Great article! I found the tips on diet and hydration particularly useful. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for commenting!
Seems like everyone doesn’t want to talk about it, but do. This was really helpful as I do have some issues! Thanks much. REALLY!
Thanks for the feedback!
Poop can a good way to gauge our health – although it is something we don’t like talking about! Thanks for some good information.
Thanks for commenting!
This is a very important article with critical information. Funny how this can be used to gauge health and diet.
Yes, it is. Thanks for the feedback!
Very interesting read! Gut health is so important and is often overlooked. Poop is a great way to tell how your digestive tract is doing!
Thanks for commenting!
This is such a great post and so important for people to understand about their poop. I was just talking with my kids about this same topic a few weeks ago. Your poop says a lot about your digestive system, and we must pay attention to it. Great information
Thank you. And thanks for the feedback!
I have honestly never thought about this before. I have to assume that’s a good thing because I haven’t had any issues!
Thanks for the engagement!
It might be gross, but looking at your poop is a great way to assess your overall health. A doctor friend of mine is always saying this.
Exactly my point Colleen. Thanks for commenting!
I wish talking about poop wasn’t so taboo as it’s so important to our health. I love that you include some drills to help your digestive system.
We are glad to help. Thanks for commenting!
This was a really insightful read and I have never thought about it like this before. how informative your poo can be is amazing xx
Thanks for commenting!
Good to know different aspects of health and how to live healthier. These are important to think about!
Thank you for commenting!
This is true. In fact, this is something that we pay close attention to after my mom died because of digestive issues. The type of poop we speaks volumes of our health and it should be the first sign if we need help.
Sorry to hear about your mom. You are absolutely right. Thanks for the feedback!
Very informative, you have a good way of sharing this information and how to get fit and maintain our health. Love your posts.
Thank you. We try to be helpful. Thanks for the feedback!