We eat everyday, we poop everyday. But has it been a happy one?

If we actually stop and take a look in the toilet bowl… our poop can be a very real indication of our overall health.

Here’s what Your Poop is Telling You…

FREQUENCY

If your poop is…Hard, in pieces, and you have to strain to pass it

It may mean: You’re constipated—but you probably already knew that. “However, some people assume that if they go to the bathroom every day then they’re not constipated, but if your stool is consistently hard and comes out in pieces rather than a soft, single piece that passes without much effort, you may be constipated.” The most common culprit is inadequate fiber intake. The average Indian adult only downs about 15 grams of fiber a day—a fraction of the recommended 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams per day for men. Read labels and keep a food journal for a week to track how much fiber you’re actually taking in. If you’re falling short, bulk up your diet with additional fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds or fibre supplements like ISABGOL.

FLOATER ALERT

If your poop…Floats instead of sinks

It may mean: You have excess gas in your digestive tract. “If you’ve been eating lots of beans, sprouts, cabbage, or very large meals, it’s perfectly normal for stool to float because of gas, and it’s not a cause for concern.” However, if floaters become more common for you or you spot an oil-slick appearance, it could mean something is preventing your body’s ability to absorb fats from food. For instance, inflammation or an infection in your pancreas could prevent you from producing enough digestive enzymes. A food allergy or infection could be damaging the lining of your intestines that’s affecting absorption, too.

LOOSE BUT NOT LOOSIES

If your poop is…Very loose, but not diarrhea

It may mean: You have celiac disease. Signs in your stool may be one of the major— and possibly the only—indications you have it. With celiac disease, your body is unable to tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, and barley. Eating gluten destroys villi (the tiny, fingerlike protrusions lining your small intestines) and you’re unable to absorb nutrients from the foods you eat. This contributes to the loose stools you could experience several times a day.

Getting familiar with what’s normal for you can also make it easier to spot issues earlier—when they’re easier to treat. However, don’t go overboard with day-to-day changes, Rather, look for consistent changes.

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