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SYMPTOMS & AYURVEDIC REMEDIES
SHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLS (Steatorrhea)WHAT DOES IT MEAN? WHAT'S CAUSING IT? WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Written by John Immel,
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Written by John Immel,
Are you prone to a problem with 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools'?
Shiny / oily / fatty stools are a sign of poor fat digestion which may be caused by pancreatic or bile insufficiency. The majority of fat absorption occurs in the proximal 100 cm of the jejunum. Ayurveda considers fatty stools a problem of low agni. Hydration and electrolyte balance help restore the function of all exocrine glands, including the pancreas. Pancreatic lipase accounts for 90% of fat digestion, however fat digestion is not impaired until output drops to 10% of normal levels. The resulting malabsorption causes weight loss, loss of subcutaneous fat, muscle wasting, and deficiencies of fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A,D,E and K. The undigested fat may be fermented by bacteria, causing gas, bloating and high toxic load to the liver. Stools may be light colored, foul-smelling, loose stools, often that float because of unabsorbed fat. Bile InsufficencyInsufficient bile causes poor fat digestion. Bile release is stimulated hormonally by the release of cholecystokinin in the duodenum. Bile is recycled and reused 4-6 times daily. In a healthy individual, less than .5g of bile acids remains after re-absorption. When larger amounts of bile enter the colon, it stimulates water secretion and increased peristalsis, causing chronic diarrhea.Re-absorption of bile is affected by damage to the brush border membrane of the small intestine, overproduction, gastro-intestinal surgery, or pre-digestion by bacterial overgrowth. In pancreatic insufficiency, the duodenum is too acidic, causing bile salts to precipitate out of solution, making them ineffective for fat digestion, and inabsorbable by the ileum. Instead, they are eliminated through the feces. Excess elimination of bile eventually depletes the bile acid pool. Gall bladder stagnation and biliary obstruction may also cause insufficient bile. Disclaimer: Conditions such as 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools' that cause tissue changes could be serious and should be checked by a medical doctor. STAGE OF DISEASE 3 - ATTACKING TISSUEIf you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are becoming stronger and weakening your body's resistance. Most people have a weakness in one or more organs. These areas of weakness are the 'weak link in the chain.' They are first to succumb when an imbalance reaches a tipping point. Repairing imbalances in this category often represent your last opportunity to prevent disease. At any moment, these imbalances could overwhelm weakened tissue and develop into a disease. You may feel pain or discomfort in the weakened area. At this stage you will need to support the weakened tissue with specialized foods and herbs for the weakened tissue.ARE YOU NEW TO AYURVEDA?Are you wondering what Ayurveda is and how to use it for 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools' and health in general? LEARN MOREREBALANCE YOUR BODY WITH DIET, LIFESTYLE & HERBS HAVING THESE QUALITIESEverything you eat has an effect on your body, which Ayurveda categorizes in a simple and easy way, using gunas. Gunas are qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools', you should select foods with the following qualities (gunas). Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance. For best results, get a one on one consultation.QUALITIES THAT MAY CORRECT IMBALANCES RELATED TO SHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLS
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them. FAVOR HERBS WITH THESE MEDICINAL PROPERTIESIngredient and herbs each have unique effects on the various organs of your body. Herbalists study these effects and categorize them, so it is easy to identify which foods and herbs are most helpful for your unique body type. Click on the medicinal properties below to learn more about them, and to figure out which recipes, ingredients and products will be a good match for you. Individual results will vary depending upon the root cause of your imbalance. The following medicinal properties are useful for a general case of 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools'. You must independently verify whether these medicinal properties address the root causes of your case of Shiny / oily / fatty stools.Digestion: Digestive DIGESTIVEHerbs that encourage healthy digestive.Liver & Gall Bladder: Cholagogue CHOLAGOGUECholagogues stimulate the release of bile from the gall bladder for improved digestion. Click here for general Poop Tips
DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The best way to do this is with a one on one consultation. DIET REMEDIES FOR 'SHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLS'PRODUCTS REMEDIES FOR 'SHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLS'1. EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES FOR SHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLSBrowse these educational resources for 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools'.2. SPECIALITY FORMULAS FOR SHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLSWe've specially chosen these products because of their potential for healing imbalances associated with 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools'. Choose a product from this list that also matches your imbalanced doshas and qualities, to ensure a good fit. Please review these products to determine which are right for you. Before making any changes to your health and wellness routine, please check with your medical doctor.LOOKING FOR POOP RELATED PRODUCTS?
See our herbs & products in these categories:
REMOVE THE CAUSES OF YOUR IMBALANCESHINY / OILY / FATTY STOOLS USUALLY MEANS THESE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| GUNA | DO YOU HAVE THIS IMBALANCE? |
|---|---|
TOXIC
A substance that causes toxicity in the body, or that harms the body.
|
 Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Toxic' guna |
OILY
Oily refers to anything fatty, or that increases fat.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Oily' guna |
DRY
Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Dry' guna |
DIFFICULT
Difficult refers to anything that is difficult to digest, or takes a long time to digest.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you need to decrease Difficult to digest foods |
COLD
Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.
|
Status UnknownTake these quizzes to find out if you have an imbalance of 'Cold' guna |
To learn more about the symbols above, click on them.
Are you prone to a problem with 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools'?
Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Poop by taking the
free poop quiz.
RELATED SYMPTOMS & HABITS
The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Shiny / oily / fatty stools'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them.Click Below to Find Out More
| The Color of Your Poop | |
 |
Green Stool |
 |
Yellow Stool |
 |
Brown Stool |
 |
Orange Stool |
 |
Gray/Tan Stool |
 |
Bloody / Tarry Stool |
| The Shape of Your Poop | ||
| Type 1 |  |
Separate hard lumps, like nuts or rabbit pellets (hard to pass) |
| Type 2 |  |
Sausage shaped but lumpy |
| Type 3 |  |
Like a sausage but with cracks on the surface |
| Type 4 |  |
Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft |
| Type 5 |  |
Soft blobs with clear cut edges |
| Type 6 |  |
Fluffy pieces with frayed edges, mushy |
| Type 7 |  |
Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid |
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR UNIQUE BODY?
HOW AYURVEDA WORKS
ARE YOU WONDERING HOW AYURVEDA CAN HELP YOU?WHY IS AYURVEDA THE RIGHT SOLUTION?
Ayurveda strengthens the body, in addition to addressing the disorder. It take a holistic, systemic approach, instead of myopically focusing on the disorder in question. Ayurveda shows a person how to interpret signs and symptoms of imbalance, and how to address them using materials from home, so they can optimize their health on a continual basis. You can't take the doctor home with you, but you can take Ayurveda home with you. Ayurveda is the most advanced and easy to use home system for self healing with an exceptional focus on digestion.HOW DOES AYURVEDA WORK?
Ayurveda starts by identifying your body type, which identifies certain tendencies in your body to get sick (as well as identifying your strengths). It uses body type to determine the likely root causes of your disorders. Next, Ayurveda analyzes the nature of your disorder. It fits all your signs and symptoms into a pattern, expressed as a combination of gunas / qualities. For example, you may have a heat disorder, a cold disorder, or an oily disorder, etc. This simple categorical approach shows you how to correct systemic imbalances and strengthen your body as a whole.On Joyful Belly, we've created an extensive categorization of food so you can easily match food to your imbalances (gunas). By eating an optimal diet that balances your gunas, your whole body is strengthened and the conditions that created the disorder are removed. Once the root causes of the disease are removed, the disease lessens in strength or disappears altogether. Additional remedies - such as herbs and lifestyle practices - focused on the specific disorder, can greatly enhance your healing.
Want to learn more about Ayurveda and its step-by-step approach to healing? Click below.
LEARN MOREGET STARTED
To get started on your Ayurvedic journey, we first recommend that your find your body type by taking our free quiz. In Ayurveda, every solution is based on your unique body type, so by taking this quiz, you’ll get the best results.5 WAYS TO HEAL YOUR BODY
WITH AYURVEDA - FREE REPORT!
About the Author
John Immel, the founder of Joyful Belly, teaches people how to have a healthy diet and lifestyle with Ayurveda. His approach to Ayurveda exudes a certain ease, which many find enjoyable and insightful. His online course Balance Your Ayurvedic Diet in a Week provides tools for gracefully healing with Ayurveda to thousands. John also directs Joyful Belly's School of Ayurveda , which specializes in digestive tract pathology & Ayurvedic nutrition. John and his wife Natalie recently published Explore Your Hunger: A Guide to Hunger, Appetite & Food.John's interest in Ayurveda and digestive tract pathology was inspired by a complex digestive disorder acquired from years of international travel, including his public service work in South Asia. John's commitment to the detailed study of digestive disorders reflects his zeal to get down to the roots of the problem. His hope and belief in the capacity of each & every client to improve their quality of life is nothing short of a personal passion. John's creativity in the kitchen and delight in cooking for others comes from his family oriented upbringing. In addition to his certification in Ayurveda, John holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Harvard University.
John enjoys sharing Ayurveda within the context of his Catholic roots, and finds Ayurveda gives him an opportunity to participate in the healing mission of the Church. Jesus expressed God's love by feeding and healing the sick. That kindness is the fundamental ministry of Ayurveda as well.
Comments & Personal Experiences
How does 'shiny / oily / fatty stools' affect your quality of life? What aggravates it? What has helped you? Is there something you'd like to know about 'shiny / oily / fatty stools'?10 likes
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