Is your poop normal?
It's time to break the poo taboo. Going to the loo is a daily reality for everyone so it's time to embrace the movement as it could be impacting your health.
It may sound like a strange thing to do, but next time you take a trip to the bathroom have a look to see what your stool has to say about your digestive system. Is your stool soft and sausage-like or is it hard and rocky? Is it loose and mushy, or even entirely liquid?
Our internationally trained Colonic Hydrotherapists and Registered Nutritionists can tell so much from your stool:
1) whether you are digesting and absorbing nutrients
2) how your input (diet) in affecting your output (poop)
3) gauge the diversity of good and bad bacteria in your microbiome.
Your microbiome is the combination of bacteria in your digestive tract. You ideally want this to be in favour of good or beneficial bacteria that support breaking down your food and absorbing its nutrients. If you have a healthy looking stool, this is a good sign that your digestive system is running fairly smoothly. This also indicates that the balance of your microbiome is in favour of the 'good guys'.
Good bacteria thrives off a variety of plant based foods so it is important to eat from the rainbow, introducing plenty of colour and trying a range of seasonal veg. If you follow a reasonably good diet but still feel sluggish and tired, then chances are your gut is carrying too much waste.
Switch the process
Many people reach straight for a multi-vitamin when they feel run down, but that’s not solving the problem. In the same way, your good bacteria or a probiotic mightn’t have a chance to flourish in a congested environment. Give the good guys some breathing space.
We focus on cleansing the colon first, helping regulate your bowels, nutrient absorption and therefore energy levels in the process. This could be as simple as taking a tailored natural colon cleanser to work on whatever part of the colon is causing you bother. Baring in mind that your gut is about 5 feet long, so there’s lots to get moving. Doing a colon cleanse helps you maximise the health promoting potential of your daily supplement regime.
We offer super-tailored advice that addresses the busy, stressed individual, who just needs that "reset" and education to get back on track with long-term lifestyle changes.
Super Poop
First up, let's discuss the "perfect" poo:
Banana shaped
Consistent in contour
Passes easily
Light brown
Natural smell
Floats but does not need several attempts to flush
Inner Angel Health Clinic typically sees these main types of concerns: constipation and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) or acid reflux.
7 in 10 adults suffer a gut health problem ie constipation, IBS or indigestion
- Irish Dietetic Association
These are usually coupled with co-morbidities such as being overweight or having mental health issues, or following years of prescriptive laxative use. Nutrition, stress and hectic lifestyles usually play the largest role in gut issues.
Clinical definitions of common gut issues.
Constipation is when you find it difficult to go to pass your stool (requiring pushing or straining) and your stool resembles small rocks, hard lumps or a cracked sausage.
Constipation is a massive problem in the modern world and often people are not even aware of it. I often hear of people who pass a stool only every 2 - 3 days, but this is how it has been their whole life so it is the 'norm'.
Diarrhoea is when you have more than three bowel movements a day and your stool is unformed or literally loose.
This is a sign of impaired digestion and absorption of nutrients and/or your body getting rid of pathogens and toxins as quickly as possible. If you are experiencing diarrhoea this could be due to one or a combination of these reasons including; food intolerances and allergies, a damaged gut lining, an imbalance of bacteria and/or an invasion of pathogens in your gut.
All health stems from the gut
Experiencing digestive dysfunction such as diarrhoea and constipation can also contribute to a loaded liver, lack of energy, hormone imbalances and weight gain, which is why nurturing great digestive function and gut health is so important.
It is important that you become aware of what is going on with your digestion - as it has a flow-on effect on other areas of the body, including your skin health, joint inflammation and hormones.
All health stems from the gut, and we have devised targeted protocols based on your symptoms.
By completing our free health assessment, we can advise which areas need help first, therefore targeting the core of the problem.
Get in touch today for your initial free consultation with any questions or to get started on a colon cleansing regime.
Healthy wishes
Amanda Kearns
BSc Hons Nutrition, ANutr, MPH, MBS, PhD Researcher
Founder of Inner Angel Health
Internationally-certified gut health training school
Creator of Rawfusionpro.com Nutraceutical Probiotics
