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Stool Gazing
Looking at and evaluating one’s bowel movements, commonly known as stools, for consistency, shape and color can be very insightful and revealing as you evaluate your overall health. The body has a natural process for the elimination of its wastes. We tend to examine everything else to give us an indication of our health status. We look at the condition of our skin, eyes, hair, teeth, and mouth so why not examine the stool? The following guide provides descriptions of problematic stools based on consistency, shape, and color. Probable causes and therapies are listed. You may have an indicator in your stool of a serious condition which requires a physician's expertise.
For comparison, the model stool is described, which ideally, should be what you are striving for.
Model Stool is bulky, soft, and easy to pass with a uniform shape (torpedo like).
Consistency |
Hard stools |
Hard and difficult to pass (may be
small separate pellets or lumped together).
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Possible causes |
Slow transit time — the
stool is moving too slowly and becomes drier as fluid is absorbed.
Lack of fiber results in a dry
stool (fiber retains fluid).
Low carbohydrate diet (proteins
and fats do not contain fiber).
|
Cures |
Increase fluids, especially water
Add fiber —wheat bran (will
absorb water and add bulk to the stool)
Increase raw fruits and vegetables
which contribute natural fluid and fiber.
Alter transit time — try
specialty yogurts.
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Too soft |
Liquid stools which move very
rapidly and sometimes with great urgency.
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Possible causes |
Rapid transit time (little fluid
being absorbed along the way). (The GI tract handles about eight liters of
fluid provided for digestion and ease of transport each day. If the contents
are moving too rapidly, the fluid is not absorbed).
Changes in diet (increase in fiber
or raw foods which contribute fluid and indigestible material to the stool).
Pathogens (bacterial or viral
infections can result in soft watery stools as your GI tract tries to rid the
body of these harmful organisms).
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Cures |
Eat a diet without raw foods and
visible fibers. Cook your foods and chew thoroughly so they are easier to
digest.
See an MD for treatment of your
infection or suggestion of medications to slow transit time.
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Stool Gazing Alerts |
Skinny stools |
This is an alert for something
that is abnormal in the colon and the only way the stool can pass is in a
very thin form. It could mean polyps or a mass in the colon. See an MD for
evaluation.
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Floating stools |
Stools are not supposed to float
on water. If they do, you may well be excreting fat in your stools which
means you are not digesting and absorbing it. Floating stools with fat have
such a strong odor the entire house might smell. So unless you are eating
foods with Olestra (an indigestible fat substitute) or taking a medication
for weight loss that causes you not to absorb all the fats you eat, you
should see your doctor.
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Black stools |
May be due to the supplements you
are taking (e.g. iron). Stop the supplement for a while to see if the color
changes.
Or there could be bleeding in the
upper intestinal tract (the esophagus) due to reflux which can damage the
lining of the esophagus, or the bleeding may be in the stomach. You need to
see an MD.
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Green stools |
If you are eating or drinking
foods with green coloring or naturally green foods that can be the cause. If
you are not eating green foods, but you are taking iron, the iron could be
the culprit. If none of the above are true and you also have loose stools, it
may be that bile excreted from the liver is not breaking down. You should see
a physician.
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Gray stools |
May be caused by medications (e.g.
anti-diarrheal medications). Or it could be a lack of bile (excreted by the
liver and necessary for the digestion of fats). If you see this type of stool
and are not taking an anti-diarrheal medication, see an MD.
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Red stools |
May be related to something you
ate with red food coloring (candies or drinks) or a food that is naturally
red such as red beets. If you have not eaten red foods possibly you are
bleeding from hemorrhoids (internal or external) or you could have something
more serious, so seek medical care.
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Yellow stools |
May be associated with floating
stools and excess fat in the stool. It could be a sign of a serious
malabsorption disorder meaning you are not digesting and absorbing your food.
If this is the case, you should see your doctor. Yellow stools are normal in
breast fed infants.
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Source: Hattner JAT, Anderes S.
Gut Insight: probiotics and prebiotics for digestive health and well-being.
San Francisco: Hattner Nutrition; 2009. Pp. 109-111 |
| ©2009 Jo Ann Hattner MPH RD, Susan Anderes MLIS. All rights reserved. |
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