Who doesn’t do it? It can be a necessary inconvenience for some people at some events, while for others, it can be an extremely satisfying part of the digestive process.

This may not seem to be the most interesting topic for a good buffet dinner, but there are several things to learn about pooping.

You might wonder what exactly is poop.

What is poop?

Well, it is basically composed of substances produced and released by the intestines, which include undigested foods, bacteria, salts, and proteins.

Although the shape, smell, and size of the poop vary from person to person, you can tell whether or not the poop is healthy based on a few things.

When can you say if your poop is normal?

As earlier mentioned, a poop varies from person to person; however, there are ways to evaluate your poo artistry for optimum health.

Shape

Although most poop should come out in somewhat a log-like shape because of its formation in the intestines, a poop can have various shapes—we’ll discuss that later.

You can tell when something is off with your poop when it comes out different from the log/sausage shape.

Color

One thing right about the poop emoji is its brown coloring. The oh-so-perfect shade of brown is caused by bilirubin, which is a yellowish substance in the blood that is formed after the breakdown of red blood cells in the body.

Size

Poops should come out comfortably in a couple of inches (in length) and not in small pellets. They should be easy to pass as well.

Consistency

A pretty normal poop can be anywhere between a soft and firm consistency, but if it sways one way or another, you may be having an issue on fiber or digestion.

How long does it take to poop?

They say that when someone takes longer than usual in the bathroom, they’re pooping. However, a healthy poop is ideally easy to pass, taking only a minute to push out.

Since people typically spend more time on the toilet, pooping should generally take no longer than 10–15 minutes.

How often do you poop?

A person with healthy digestion typically poops anywhere between three times a day and every other day; any less might indicate a possible constipation.

Drinking more water throughout the day can help move the “boat.”

What is the Bristol Stool Chart?

The Bristol Stool Chart is an all-embracing indicator of how and why different types of poops have different shapes and consistency. Based on a 2000-person study, it is divided into seven categories, making poop knowledge basic and easy to comprehend.

Marbles. A marble-like type of poop should not happen often, as these little pellets may indicate constipation.

Caterpillar. This type of poop has a log-like shape but lumpy. This may also indicate mild constipation, and it should not happen all the time.

Hot dogs. Being the gold standard of poop, this has a hotdog-like shape with some cracks on the surface. This is usually soft and easy to pass.

Snakes. This smooth, snake-like type of poop is considered normal, which should happen every one or three days.

Amoebas. This type of poop is soft and easy to pass with clear cut edges on the blobs, indicating a lack of fiber. Adding some fiber-rich food, including vegetables and cereals, into your diet is a great idea.

Soft serve. Fluffy and mushy with ragged edges, this type of poop may indicate a mild diarrhea. This too-soft consistency can improve if you drink more water and fruit juice.

Jackson Pollock. Entirely watery with no solid pieces, this type of poop indicates that you have diarrhea. Your stool has quickly moved through your bowels that it didn’t form into a healthy poop.

What does the color of your poop mean?

Like the shape and consistency, the color of your poop can also help you determine if there’s something happening within your body. As earlier mentioned, varying shades of brown indicate a normal poop. Interestingly, a hint of green is also considered healthy.

White, pale, or clay colored

Having a clay-colored stool probably indicates you lack bile—a digestive fluid that is made and secreted from the liver and gallbladder. Your duct is most likely blocked if you’re producing light-colored stool.

A pale poop may stem from taking certain medications, e.g., anti-diarrhea medicine. Whatever the reason may be, you should probably consult your doctor if this keeps on going.

Green

Although hints of green are also considered normal poop, it may also mean two things when it’s pretty much turned to full green: it’s either you’ve consumed plenty of green foods like leafy greens during meals or your stools are quickly passing through you. When the stool doesn’t pick up as much of the compound called bilirubin, it has more bile salts—a component of bile that helps with the digestion of fats in the body—that make it this color.

Yellow

Typically, a stinky, greasy, and yellow poop is an indication of too much fat. But it could also be linked to a malabsorption disorder, such as celiac disease, which is a condition wherein your body cannot absorb sufficient amounts of nutrients from the food you eat.

Black

Black stool could be a result of taking Fe (iron) supplements, bismuth medications (such as Pepto-Bismol), or licorice. However, if you haven’t taken any of those, it could also be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Your stool has taken a while to travel down, so instead of red, which should seem to be a more likely color for this concern, it has become older and therefore darker.

Red

Unsurprisingly, red poop can mean bleeding, either bleeding in the lower intestinal tract or due to hemorrhoids.

Red poop can also be a product of consuming foods like cranberries, tomato juice, beets, or red gelatin. So you need not panic immediately if you experience passing red poop.

Why does your poop float?

Have you noticed sometimes your poop would float up and down like a toy sailboat in the bathtub? It simply implies that the stool is less dense than those that sink. A study has found that this could be due to an increased amount of gas or water.

Another possible cause for a floating poop is, once again, malabsorption. If this is the case, you are most likely to experience some abnormalities previously mentioned, such as slight constipation.

What is constipation?

Constipation may not be foreign to you, but the Mayo Clinic has defined constipation as having < 3 bowel movements per week.

Lack of pooping can stem from a number of different reasons: nerve issues or blockages in and around the colon or conditions affecting one’s hormones, like diabetes or pregnancy.

If you ever experience constipation, increasing your consumption of high-fiber foods, such as beans, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains; drinking plenty of fluids; staying active; and managing stress can absolutely help.

When to see a doctor?

Although we experience abnormal pooping habits sometimes, experiencing them more than a couple of days isn’t normal anymore. You should take action and talk to your physician when this type of irregularity carries on for more than a day or two.

The same is true for the less-concerning changes, like constipation or changes in consistency or color.

Chronic diarrhea can make it difficult for you to absorb necessary nutrients from food, while chronic constipation can obstruct the bowels. Note that these two could also indicate a more serious condition.

It is therefore vital that you pay attention to any signs of blood or mucus in your stool, especially if you haven’t eaten any of the abovementioned foods that could possibly change its color.

Next time, make sure you observe and take note of the changes in size, shape, color, and consistency of your stool. The toilet bowl can also be a window into your health and you.