Gut doctor details the four signs that indicate your POOP is unhealthy – and how different discolorations can signal warnings about your overall health
- NYU Langone Health’s Dr. Roshini revealed the four signs your poop is unhealthy
- The gut specialist said the color of your stool can indicate a serious illness
- Dr. Roshini begged people to ‘look at what’s going on down there’
A gut doctor has revealed the four signs that you may be experiencing unhealthy bowel movements – from what time you poop to what color it is.
Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Health and author of bestselling book Gut Renovation Unlock The Age-Defying Power Of The Microbiome To Remodel Your Health From The Inside Out, has detailed what your poop can tell you about the state of your health.
The specialist explained that things like ‘your mood’ and ‘how you gain weight’ can affect your bowel movements.
She added that different-colored stools meant various things and could even be a warning sign of something serious.
Gut health specialist Dr. Roshini has revealed the four signs you may be experiencing unhealthy bowel movements – from what time you poop to what color it is
Speaking to Today, Dr. Roshini said that gut microbiome, which consisted of bacteria and helpful organisms, could have an impact on every aspect of your health.
The doctor added that ‘your mood, your development of many chronic diseases, how you gain weight, [and] rheumatoid arthritis’ could make your poop appear and feel different.
See a doctor! The four signs your gut may be in trouble
- Irregular pooping pattern
- Struggling on the toilet
- Rock-hard bowel movements
- Discoloration such as green, yellow, or red poop
She added that if your microbiome was unhealthy, then you would feel it.
Dr. Roshini explained that you would notice symptoms like bloating, abdominal pain, mood, concentration and even immunity.
The first thing you should always be doing was examining your pooping schedule.
She said your bowel movements should be somewhat on a regular schedule.
‘I don’t want people to get too hung up on (the idea that), “I have to go like clockwork every single day.” Having a bowel movement every one to three days is fine, especially if that’s your regular pattern,’ Dr. Roshini added.
In addition to making sure you’re going to the bathroom regularly, you should also pay attention to how you feel while on the toilet.
‘You want to make sure it’s not a struggle — a battle in the bathroom. Things should just come out smoothly and evenly. You shouldn’t be sitting in there for half an hour,’ the gut health expert told Today.
Next, you will want to take note of the consistency of your poop.
Dr. Roshini said your stool shouldn’t be ‘very hard, rock-like or painful.’
But she noted it shouldn’t be loose either. The gut health doctor said it should be soft, but formed.
The gut health specialist explained that everything should come out ‘smoothly’ and it should never be a struggle (stock image)
Lastly, the gut health doctor advised people to pay attention to the color of their bowel movements.
And while your stool can frequently change color due to what you eat, it shouldn’t be an overwhelming shade of red, yellow, pale or green.
She noted that munching on a significant amount of leafy greens, beets or other foods with artificial coloring could cause slight discoloration, but it wasn’t a reason to worry.
However, green poop can often be a sign of food poisoning.
A red stool may indicate that there is bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract, while black poop can mean that there is bleeding higher in your system.
Dr. Roshini begged people to ‘please look at what’s going on down there.’
If you start to notice that your patterns are changing such as you begin having smaller poops or abdominal pain when going to the bathroom, the gut health doctor noted it could be a sign of colon cancer.
Anal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, and constipation are all other signs of colorectal cancer.
If you notice any bleeding, persistent stomach aches, vomiting or diarrhea, Dr. Roshini said you should seek medical attention as soon as you see ‘any sign of blood.’
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