If your poo is a healthy colour, shape, and consistency, then your digestive system is working properly. However, if it is a different colour, shape, or consistency, then it could be an indication of a problem. Knowing what is normal for you can help you to identify any changes that might need to be addressed.
Your poo can tell you a lot about your gut health. Paying attention to your bowel habits is important as changes can be an indication of all sorts of things from dehydration, your fibre intake, infection, how fast or slow your digestive system is, or more serious health issues like cancer.
Poo (or faeces as its scientifically called) is the solid or semi-solid waste that remains after food has been digested and its nutrients have been absorbed by the body by the small intestine, broken down by bacteria in the large intestine. It then exits the body via the rectum and anus.
Poo is made up of:
What your poo looks like is important.
The Bristol Stool Chart is a medical tool used by health professionals designed to classify poo into seven groups. The Bristol Stool Chart is used also in research to evaluate the effectiveness of treatments for bowel diseases, as well as to diagnose constipation, diarrhoea, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Types 1 and 2 – indicate constipation. They describe poo that is hard to pass and sometimes darker in colour. Bloating and stomach pains sometimes go along with these types of poo. These poos can be a result of low fibre intake, irritable bowel syndrome, side effects of some medications, or other conditions.
Types 3 and 4 – are thought of as normal and healthy poo. They are well-formed and easy to pass.
Types 5 and 6 – these poos are described as loose, with Type 5 borderline diarrhoea and Type 6 considered diarrhoea. They can indicate dietary problems or be a result of an infection, IBS or a more serious medical condition.
Type 7 – These poos are very loose or fully liquid diarrhoea. They are most often caused by an infection or certain gastrointestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and coeliac disease.
Yes. The colour of our poo can also say a lot about what’s going on within our bodies.
Brown – Varying shades of brown are considered normal, healthy poos
Black – Your poo could be black if you have consumed iron supplements, certain medications or black foods like liquorice, however, it can also be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.
Green – Your poos can be green if you have consumed lots of green foods like spinach or if your poos are passing through you too fast, therefore not picking up enough bile to turn it its usual brown colour.
Pale, white or clay – This can suggest you are lacking bile and could indicate a blocked bile duct. More serious health issues concerning the liver, as well as certain medications, can also cause light-coloured stools.
Red – Can indicate bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract or a sign of haemorrhoids. It can also be caused by eating red foods like beetroot.
Yellow – Can typically be a sign of too much fat. Malabsorption conditions like coeliac disease can cause this colour poo.
Bowel habits can vary from person to person. They can be dependent on a range of things from diet, fluid intake, activity levels, age, hormones, medications, and even social factors.
An incidence of constipation here and a bout of diarrhoea there that resolves quickly is usually nothing to worry about, however, you should speak with your doctor if you see significant changes in your bowel habits that last longer than 1 – 2 weeks, and/or if you see blood in your poo.
