The Scoop on Poop
by Rochelle Griffin
Hey we all do it! Yet poop seems to be the last thing anyone wants to talk about. As a RN and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition™ practitioner, I can talk poop anywhere without blinking an eye…even over dinner…ask my hubby & son. Our poop is a great indicator of our health, so…let’s talk poop! Cue the giggles of all the kids!
The functioning of our gastrointestinal tract is imperative to our health. Over 60% (and some say up to 80%) of our immunity occurs in our gut, plus 75% of our melatonin (the sleep hormone) is made there as well. It behooves us to have a happy belly.
The size, shape, color, and consistency of our stool give us a lot of information and are good indicators if we need to seek professional help. Our stool is made up of about 75% water. The rest is fiber, live & dead bacteria, mucus, and cells.
The Bristol Stool Chart is an easy tool to determine which poop you should be aiming for…OY! Excuse the pun! Types 1& 2 lean towards constipation. Types 3, 4, & 5 are considered ideal…with Type 4 being the gold medal of poop. Types 6 & 7 lean towards diarrhea.
Constipation occurs when the stool sits in our colon for longer than it should. Increasing fibrous foods and water intake often help people with the occasional problem.
Diarrhea occurs when the stool moves through our digestive tract too quickly, not giving the colon time to absorb water. There are many causes of diarrhea including parasites, bacteria, reactions to gluten or dairy, and diseases such as Crohn’s, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and Hyperthyroidism.
If you are having Types 1, 2, 6, or 7 for a period of time, it is always wise to speak to your physician. It’s best to be safe than sorry. If after talking with your doc, you are still experiencing Types 6 & 7 specifically, it would be wise to have a functional medicine practitioner run a pathogen screen on your tests AND look at your adrenal/gut function.
My young son was dealing with stomach issues, cramps, loose stool, and weight loss for over 2 years. It was “mild” per our physician and didn’t warrant medication. I ended up running a pathogen screen on him, and we discovered he had a parasite (yep a bug in his belly,) H-pylori (a common bacteria in the stomach that is the main culprit of ulcers,) and a major overgrowth of yeast. We treated all 3 naturally (although antibiotics and prescription medications ARE an option, it wasn’t the route we wanted to go) and he’s been doing great ever since.
To give you the best chance of a good poop, here are a few tips:
- Exercise 5-6 days per week to keep gut motility healthy.
- Drink plenty of pure water daily.
- If you have constipation or diarrhea, cut out gluten & dairy from your diet.
- Stay away from chemicals and preservatives in your foods.
- Eat plenty of fresh vegetables and fruit with fiber.
- Take a daily multi-probiotic or brew your own Kumbucha tea for a daily dose of healthy probiotics.
Look, I know that poop isn’t everyone’s favorite topic but it’s something that must be talked about. Take a peek next time, if you don’t normally, and see where you fall on the scale. Make a mental note. Then put the tips into play.
Remember, a healthy belly and GI tract means a healthy body, aka a healthy you!
To Living Your Best Life,
Rochelle Griffin, RN BSN FDN-P
Rochelle Griffin, The Wellness Detective™, is a Registered Nurse (with over 22 years experience) & a Functional Diagnostic Nutrition™ Practitioner who has transitioned her love for fitness, health, & freedom into a 7-figure International company that now helps others live Their Best Life.
She founded Your Best Life, Inc with her husband Keith after stepping onto the edge of physical ruin with her health & the health of their young son. Having experienced a complete turn-around, they now desire to give hope & support to those who are dissatisfied with their current situation.
PS. If you found this post to be of any value to you, please COMMENT below!
I have two autoimmunes diseases, dealing with years of hair loss, lack of energy, weight gain for no reason. I am gluten/rice, dairy, legume, egg, white potato free for 7 mos. irregular BM, I mirror #1/2 only twice a week. I just started taking probiotics (1billion) and digestive enzymes, I have gurgling and gas. How do you know if probotics/enzyme is working, or effective? The right kind? Both brands are Renew Life, I have been using for 4 days?
Hi Kathy! Probiotics and enzymes are a great start but if you’re dealing with other gut issues, like pathogens, leaky gut, or food sensitivities, you have to start to heal those issues for gut issues to dissipate. Make sense? 🙂
Hi , I’m Kathy and I’ve been living at #6 & 7 for a few weeks, working with my doctor. I can’t seem to get rehydrated though. I’m diabetic so Gatorade is out. Why isn’t water enough; and what IS best to rehydrate?I’ve heard the “emergen c” is good. Any thoughts?
I am currently going thru 6 & 7, and have been for a long time now. I lost 102lbs but fluctuate bc of the constipation. I’m to the point my belly gets so hard if I don’t take a laxative, it bloats up and just very uncomfortable. I just got tested for celiac last week, and still waiting on results. Hoping for an answer soon!
I pray you get the answers you need as well, Jodi!
Very helpful info! Are there any tools/resources you can recommend for treating H-Pylori naturally? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Thanks
There are natural self-treating supplements, but honestly I would need to have a consult with you (assuming you are speaking of yourself) and see the test results. 🙂
great information. I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis when I was 43, very uncommon. I have serious bouts with relapse into severe pain, incontinence and vitamin deficiencies. I have smoked marijuana and it helps. Why can’t the medical community get on board wth something man made and help sufferers? I was also a nurse for many years and always tried everything my doctors recommended. Sadly, not much works for very long and I starve to death because of the exacerbation at times of my condition. Not everyone can move to Colorado or a state that is progressive in medical marijuana treatmen. When I smoked the marijuana, immediately my pain and cramping are gone. Sincerely.
My 2years grand doughtier have constipation since she is 8month she drinks a lots of water eat veg and some fruit I cry when ever I see her strangling in the bath room every day when it comes out it is big too what should we do thank you for ur advice
Awwwww…poor thing. I would point you back to her pediatrician due to her age. Ask if dairy or gluten may be a culprit.
I was reading an article about consuming food grade d earth. It said it flushed parasites, virus, bacteria, yeast, and heavy metals out of your system. Was wondering what your opinion is. I also have 2 autoimmune diseases, have had my gallbladder removed, and have to run to the bathroom and explode after most meals…..any advice would be appreciated.
Kim, I’m a firm believer in Test, Don’t Guess…meaning you need to get to the root cause of why you are experiencing these things. I would suggest both adrenal and GI testing to see if you’re dealing with adrenal fatigue, food sensitivities, and/or GI pathogens. If you have GI pathogens, you have the choice of medical intervention or to naturally self-treat with supplements (depending on the pathogen…some absolutely need prescription medication.)
I had ALCAT testing for food sensitivities last year and gluten and other foods were high, which explained a childhood and adulthood of 6 and 7. What probiotics do you recommend? There’s also a raw probiotics. Does it matter?
Hi Sheri! I just a probiotic that has many different bacteria strains in it. Also, consider making your own Kombucha tea. It’s a staple in our home. Here’s a step-by-step on how (pssst…it’s super easy!) http://www.rochellegriffin.com/kombucha-tea-health-elixer/
Thanks for posting this. I have been dealing w 6 and 7 for a couple weeks now. I figured it had to be something I had changed in my diet. Now I have an idea of what to do next. 🙂
I have dealt with constipation for yeats. I have been to the gastrointestinal doc and had a colonoscopy and they just want to give me lots of medicine that don’t work. I have gone 28 days before without going. Where should I start?
Wow that’s a long time! Be sure that you’re eating enough fiber and drinking enough water. Definitely follow your doc’s advice since he/she knows the specifics about your situation. I also recommend using a good probiotic as well.
I would say 2 3 4 & 5. I have been having experiencing dissension and lower abdominal pain for over month. And my doctor thinks I may have gastroparesis and she prescribed me domperidone. But I hate the fact that I’ll have to use medication for a real long time. Is it possible to actually heal from this condition ? Thanks! Hope to receive a positive response
Of course I always recommend following a doctor’s orders. She knows your situation specifically. With that said, my thought is WHY did this happen…what’s the root cause of it? That’s what I help people discover and then self-heal naturally. I encourage you to set up a consultation so we can talk in-depth. 🙂
Of course I always recommend following a doctor’s orders. She knows your situation specifically. With that said, my thought is WHY did this happen…what’s the root cause of it? That’s what I help people discover and then self-heal naturally. I encourage you to set up a consultation so we can talk in-depth. 🙂