Do you want to know if your poo’s are normal? Will here you go. Check out your poo against the following diagram called the Bristol Stool Chart and check out what it says about your poo- remember they are a tool for letting you and health professional know how healthy you are. So if you are concerned or not sure if they are OK then do see a health professional.

Type 1: Separate hard lumps, like nuts
These stools lack a normal shape and consistency, often because beneficial bacteria are missing and there is nothing to retain water. The lumps are hard and abrasive, the typical diameter ranges from 1 to 2 cm (0.4–0.8”), and they‘re painful to pass, because the lumps are hard and scratchy. There is a high likelihood of bleeding from laceration of the anal canal. Typical for those who have had antibiotic treatments, people attempting fibre-free (low-carb) diets and those on low fibre diets. Flatulence is not likely, because fibre fermentation is not taking place.

Type 2: Sausage-like but lumpy
Represents a combination of Type 1 stools impacted into a single mass and lumped together by fibre components and some bacteria. Typical for organic constipation. The diameter is 3 to 4 cm (1.2–1.6”). This type is the most destructive by far because its size is near or exceeds the maximum opening of the anal canal‘s aperture (3.5 cm). It‘s bound to cause extreme straining during elimination, and most likely to cause anal canal laceration, hemorrhoidal prolapse, or diverticulosis. To attain this form, the stools must be in the colon for at least several weeks instead of the normal 72 hours. Anorectal pain, hemorrhoidal disease, anal fissures, withholding or delaying of defecation, and a history of chronic constipation are the most likely causes. Minor flatulence is probable. A person experiencing these stools is likely to suffer from irritable bowel syndrome because of continuous pressure of large stools on the intestinal walls. The possibility of obstruction of the small intestine is high, because the large intestine is filled to capacity with stools. Adding supplemental fibre to expel these stools is dangerous, because the expanded fibre has no place to go, and may cause hernia, obstruction, or perforation of the small and large intestine alike.

Type 3: Like a sausage but with cracks in the surface
This form has all of the characteristics of Type 2 stools, but the transit time is faster, between one and two weeks. The diameter is 2 to 3.5 cm (0.8–1.4”). Irritable bowel syndrome is likely. Flatulence is minor, because of dysbiosis (microbial imbalance in the digestive tract). The fact that it hasn‘t become as enlarged as Type 2 suggests that the defecations are regular. Straining is required. All of the adverse effects typical for Type 2 stools are likely for type 3, especially the rapid deterioration of hemorrhoidal disease.

Type 4: Like a sausage or snake, smooth and soft
This form is normal for someone defecating once daily. The diameter is 1 to 2 cm (0.4–0.8”). The larger diameter suggests a longer transit time or a large amount of dietary fibre in the diet.

Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges
This form is ideal. It is typical for a person who has stools twice or three times daily, after major meals. The diameter is 1 to 1.5 cm (0.4–0.6”).

Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, a mushy stool
This form is close to the margins of comfort in several respects – it may be difficult to control the urge and it is a rather messy business to manage with toilet paper alone!. These kind of stools may suggest a slightly hyperactive colon (fast motility), excess dietary potassium, or sudden dehydration or spike in blood pressure related to stress. It can also indicate a hypersensitive personality prone to stress, too many spices, drinking water with a high mineral content, or the use of mineral salt laxatives.

Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces
This, of course, is diarrhea, It‘s typical for people (especially young children and infirm or convalescing adults) affected by fecal impaction—a condition that follows or accompanies type 1 stools. During paradoxical diarrhea the liquid contents of the small intestine (up to 1.5–2 litres daily) have no place to go but down, because the large intestine is stuffed with impacted stools throughout its entire length. Some water gets absorbed, the rest accumulates in the rectum.

In summary;

• Abnormal stools are any stools that require straining and/or you feel pressure from stools passing through the anal canal and may be small or large size-wise, depending on fibre consumption, and frequency of defecation.
• Normal stools can be loose or slightly formed (Such as BSF type 5).
• Normal stools (between BSF type 4 and 6) aren‘t perfectly round.
• Normal stools for one person may be abnormal for another.
• Normal stools require zero effort and zero straining for elimination.
• Normal stools pass through the anal canal without any perception of pressure.Important: Please see your Doctor if you notice blood in your stools, a persistent change in bowel motions or sudden weight loss as they may be indicating colon cancer…better to be safe than sorry

The scoop on poop

The shape, size, color, consistency and odour of poo can tell you a great deal about your overall health, how your gastrointestinal tract is functioning, and even give you clues about serious disease processes that could be occurring, like infections, digestive problems, and even cancer. So if you are concerned that things are not normal then do get checked out.

Constipation

Classifying constipation?
The failure to move the bowels for three consecutive days is the definition of clinical constipation.  However constipation can be further classed as functional (reversible), latent (hidden), and organic (irreversible).

Functional constipation. This condition commonly follows a stressful event, surgery, colonoscopy, diarrhea, temporary incapacity, food poisoning, treatment with antibiotics – damaging intestinal flora, interfere with intestinal peristalsis, or both. A person becomes irregular, stools correspond to the BSF scale type 1 to 3, and straining is required to move the bowels. The person resorts to fibre or laxatives for help.

Latent constipation. If the intestinal flora, stools, and peristalsis aren’t properly restored following adverse event(s), functional constipation eventually turns into the latent form (i.e. hidden), because fibre or laxative effects on stools creates the impression of normality and regularity. The stools become larger, heavier, and harder, usually the BSF type 3, straining more intense, but for as long as you keep moving your bowels every so often, and without too much pain, there is still an impression of regularity.

Organic constipation. As time goes by, large and hard stools — between type 2 and 3 — keep enlarging internal hemorrhoids and stretching out the colon. This, in turn, reduces the diameter of the anal canal even more, causes near complete anorectal nerve damage, and slows down or cancels out completely the propulsion of stools alongside the colon (motility). At this juncture, the person no longer senses a defecation urge, and becomes dependent on intense straining and/or laxatives to complete a bowel movement. If you don’t use laxatives, you fail to move the bowels even with a good helping of fibre.

How to overcome constipation by “normalising” stools

Constipation rarely happens out of the blue in otherwise healthy adults. It is usually preceded by decades of semi-regular stools that are either too large, or too hard, or both. These abnormal stools cause gradual nerve damage and enlargement of the colon, rectum, and hemorrhoidal pads until one day the bowels refuse to move as was meant by nature — once or twice daily, usually after a meal, and with zero effort or notice.

To attain small stools and effortless bowel movements immediately— then the first thing to do:

1. Get your diet sorted – lots of fruit and vegies and nuts and seeds will provide all the nutrients you need to keep regular. No need to go crazy wth a really high fibre diet – this can cause more harm than good. It is better to reduce processed foods plus meat and dairy.

2. Exercise – get out there walking and moving everyday.

3. Go to the bathroom when you feel the urge

4. Supplements can help – from probiotics, magnesium, potassium and calcium to natural laxatives and bulking agents from psyllium, flaxseed and senna. Glutamine is also great for gut healing. Before you embark on a supplement regime it is important to see a natural health professional to make sure you are taking the right things for your condition.

5.  Book in to see a naturopath and nutritionist at Sheena Hendon Health.

6. Consider Colonic therapy – see http://www.colonhealth.co.nz

Diarrhea

Diarrhea describes loose, watery stools that occur more frequently than usual. You may also experience abdominal cramps and a greater volume of stool. Diarrhea varies in specific symptoms, severity and duration.

Acute diarrhea usually lasts for a few days and is typically caused by a bacterial, viral or parasitic infection of some sort.

Chronic diarrhea persists longer than does acute diarrhea, generally longer than three weeks. Chronic diarrhea can indicate a serious disorder, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, or a less serious condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Acute diarrhea causes may include:

1. Antacids (containing magnesium)
2. Antiobiotic use
3. Blood pressure medications
4. Viral and bacterial  infection from Campylobacter and Giardiasis to E.coli and Rotavirus
5. Cancer medications
6. Food intolerances including lactose and fructose
7. Food poisoning
8. Fructose intolerance
9. Stomach surgery

Chronic diarrhea causes may include:

1. Blood pressure medications
2. Caffeine
3. Cancer medications
4. Coeliac disease
5. Crohns disease
6. Ulcerative colitis
7. Gall bladder issues
8. Colon cancer
9. Gastic bypass surgery
10. Hepatitis A, B, C
11. Hperthroidism (overactive thyroid)
12. Irritable bowel disease (IBS)
13. Pancreatic insufficiency
14. more

A thorough examination by your health professional is necessary to diagnose accurately