The Perfect Poop: What Does It Look Like?

It's something you do every morning (hopefully). You might not take much notice of your poop before you flush. But it's more than just the waste from yesterday's food. Your poop is an indicator of your overall health. What your poop looks like can tell you a lot about what's going on in your body. A properly formed poop means good health. An improper poop can provide an important warning sign of illness.

Poop is the measure of your digestive health and therefore measures how well your body is able to nourish itself. Your poop is 75% water. The rest is dead and live gut bacteria, protein, food waste, cells, fat, salt, stuff from the intestines and liver, any food that the body couldn't digest. The job of the intestines is not only to absorb the good stuff, but to keep out the bad stuff. Even your immunity is connected to your poop.

More About Stool

Its consistency should be soft, like dough. A five star poop is easy to pass without straining. Its surface will be smooth but not slimy. It may have slight cracks on the surfaces, but deep cracks indicate dryness. It passes out of your anus clean without residue on your derriere or the sides of the toilet. It may have an earthy smell, but won't emit an offensive odor requiring the use of a bathroom fan. It will float like a log on the surface of the water. Ideally, this outstanding poop will have the color of cinnamon brown, due to the presence of bilirubin. A grade 'A' poop like this leaves you feeling clear and satisfied.

Anything less than grade 'A' pooping is a sign of imbalance. Loose, muddy, or watery stools that have no form indicate digestive problems. Voluminous amounts of poop can feel satisfying in the moment, but are likely depriving you of nutrients in the long run. Stools that are small, dry or hard can be difficult to pass without straining. These stools will have deep cracks, break apart, or look like pebbles. While it is natural to pass some gas when eliminating your bowels, excessive gas is a sign of imbalance. Smelly stools indicate the stool is rotting in your intestinal tract. Stools that are yellow, light brown indicate bile insufficiency. Similary, stools should not be green, or very dark brown. Each of these improper poops has a story to tell and you would do yourself a lot of good to listen.

If you're wondering why you're feeling sluggish, congested, depressed or overweight - your poop could hold the answer. It could also tell you why you're tense, ungrounded, spacey, emaciated and weak. Poop may offer insights into why you get headaches, cramping, bloating, gas or burning sensations in the intestines or anus. Look for the wisdom in your poop!

So before you hastily flush and head out the door, take a moment to commune with your bowel movement. It likely holds the key to your health.