​Digestive Health: The 7 Kinds of Poop & What You Can Do That Might Make Yours Healthier by Bryce Wylde

Do you have the guts to be healthier? I suspect that you do. It only involves understanding three things:

• What your bowel movements may indicate about your health.

• What you are feeding your gut bacteria may be hindering your weight-loss goals.

• How choosing the right probiotic can make it easier to support your immune system.

Is your poop normal? Your poop … stool … bowel movements … BMs. No matter what you call them, their shape matters. Everyone should print a copy of the Bristol Stool Chart. It’s a chart developed by a British team of gastroenterologists, and it can help you and your doctor assess whether or not you have a digestive issue. The seven shapes are:

• Type 1: separate, hard lumps which are hard to pass
• Type 2: sausage-shaped and lumpy
• Type 3: sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface
• Type 4: sausage- or snake-shaped, smooth and soft
• Type 5: soft blobs with soft edges that are easy to pass
• Type 6: fluffy, mushy pieces with ragged edges
• Type 7: water with no solid pieces

In general, stools that fall into type 3 or 4 are considered normal. If your stools are at the lower end of the scale, you may have to strain to pass them. Stools that are type 6 or 7 may be passing too easily and quickly through your system.

Across the country, there are probably millions of people who are desperate to get regular, reduce that uncomfortable bloated feeling and even reduce embarrassing gas. Here are some tips and facts about your digestive health:

• There’s soluble and insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber helps to scrub your intestinal tract. Soluble fiber helps to nourish the good bacteria in your intestines. Most of us fall far short of our daily fiber requirement.

• Not all carbs are bad for you. Good carbs include whole grains as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. They are some of your best fiber sources.

• Gluten-free diets put you at a fiber risk. Many gluten-free foods don’t have much fiber.

• Fiber helps with weight loss. Fiber helps you feel full, so you’re less likely to want to snack or have a second helping.

• Probiotics, those good bacteria living in your gut, are a major part of your immune system. We often need to supplement with probiotics, especially if we eat too much sugar or we’re taking too many antibiotics. Choosing the right probiotic supplement, and eating the right prebiotic soluble fiber, can help balance and restore your system. 

• We’re not getting enough fiber from food alone. The issue only gets more complicated when you’re on the go and don’t have time for fresh-cooked meals. And in some areas, the cost of fresh produce is skyrocketing which forces people to shy away from healthier food options because they simply can’t afford them. If despite your best efforts, you are still falling short of your dietary and nutritional needs, it’s smart to supplement your diet with select proven ingredients.

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