Toilet Tales: The Encyclopedia To Your Health

Since people don't like to talk about poop... how about read about it?! The following are a few things to pay attention to next time you sit on the toilet. Use your stool as a tool... to better your health! Lets start by checking out the 'Bristol Stool Chart' that illustrates just about every stool under the sun...

The following are a few common questions people have about their stool but may be too embarrassed to ask (so we'll ask and answer for you!):

• How often is normal? Normal bowel habits vary. When we talk about regularity, what we’re really talking about is what’s regular for you. Three bowel movements per day to three per week is considered the normal range.
• Is it normal for my stool to smell, a lot? If your stool has an extraordinarily bad odor, it should not be ignored. I am referring to an odor above and beyond the normally objectionable stool odor. Stinky stool can be associated with a number of health problems that should be looked into.
  
• How long does it take for food to be processed, start to finish? The average body takes between 18 and 72 hours to convert food into poop and pass it on out.
• What exactly is constipation? Constipation is defined as passing hard, dry stools that you have to strain to move, and it’s typically uncomfortable. 

Now that we've covered all of the basics, lets review some ways to improve your digestive regularity:

• Remove gluten from your diet (see previous blog posts and journals!)
• Eat a diet that includes whole foods, rich in fresh, organic vegetables and fruits that provide good nutrients and fiber
• Avoid artificial sweeteners, excess sugar, chemical additives, MSG, excessive amounts of caffeine, and processed foods
• Boost your intestinal flora by adding naturally fermented foods  into your diet, such as sauerkraut and pickles
  
• Make sure you stay well hydrated with pure water
• Get plenty of exercise on a daily basis
• Consider squatting  instead of sitting to move your bowels- squatting straightens your rectum, relaxes your puborectalis muscle and encourages the complete emptying of your bowel without straining, and has been scientifically shown to relieve constipation and hemorrhoids
• Get a colonic!