4. Terrible-Smelling Poop May Be a Sign of Infection
It’s no news that poop never smells pleasant, but particularly pungent stool is often a sign of infection, according to Sheth. Terrible-smelling poop along with chronic diarrhea may be a sign of a stomach bug caused by giardia parasites, ingested most often during swims in untreated water in springs, rivers, or lakes.
5. Consistency Is Key When It Comes to Bowel Movements
Do you hit the bathroom at the same exact time every morning, or can you go days before you need to poop? It’s all normal, says Sheth — the important thing is that you’re consistent with your own routine. Generally, anywhere from three bowel movements per day to three a week falls into the normal range.
A big decrease in poop could be due to a diet change, which is why many people find they’re less regular on weekends or on vacation — they may be eating less fiber or working out less often, both of which promote healthy digestion. Other factors affecting poop output — either a decrease or an increase — are gastrointestinal disorders, an underactive thyroid, or colon cancer.
Cultural differences play a role, too. Sheth notes in his book that people from South Asian countries, like India, pass three times as much stool as people from Britain do, a difference he explains is largely due to the higher fiber content in the average Indian diet.
6. How to Tell if It’s Diarrhea or Constipation
Digestion can take anywhere from 36 to 48 hours, during which time the food you’ve eaten travels down your esophagus to your stomach, then to your small intestine, your large intestine, and out through the anus.
Diarrhea occurs when your poop passes too quickly through the large intestine, where most of the water content is absorbed. Constipation, on the other hand, is when it takes too long for stool to pass through. Loose stools can be due to many factors, including stomach viruses, foodborne illness, food allergies or intolerances, like lactose intolerance, or from other digestive issues.
Constipation, on the other hand, is when it’s difficult to pass a bowel movement or you poop less frequently than normal. Constipation is one of the most common reasons patients see gastroenterologists. Certain medications, lack of exercise, and a lack of fiber or liquid in the diet are all common causes of constipation.
7. Healthy Poop Should Sink in the Toilet
Listen for the sound of your poop as it hits the water in the toilet. Floating stools could be an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can’t absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you’re ingesting. It can also be a sign of celiac disease or chronic pancreatitis.
8. It’s Normal to Pass Gas 10 to 18 Times a Day
Farting is completely healthy and the result of harmless bacteria breaking down food in the large intestine. Your colon is filled with bacteria that release gas as a by-product of digesting the food you eat. Your body absorbs some of it into the bloodstream, which you breathe out through your lungs, and expels the rest out of your other end. It’s normal to pass gas anywhere from 10 to 18 times a day.
9. Stool Transplants Can Treat C. difficile Infections
Fecal microbiota transplants are real — and they work. Research shows a fecal transplant — in which stool from a healthy person is placed in the colon of an infected person — is an effective treatment for C. difficile bacterial infection.
The trillions of good bacteria in a healthy person’s poop can recolonize another person’s digestive tract and treat infections that haven’t responded well to other treatments, including antibiotics and probiotics, Sheth says.
Researchers are looking into the potential for fecal transplants to treat other illnesses, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), autism, and obesity, but the procedure is currently not approved for these conditions.
10. Watch How Long Your Spend on the Toilet
Sitting too long on the toilet can contribute to hemorrhoids, or swollen blood vessels in and around the anus. The longer you stay in the bathroom trying to poop, the more pressure and stress you put on your backside. Sitting for too long on the toilet can also restrict blood flow around the anal area, which can make hemorrhoids worse.
Most of the time, a diet devoid of fiber, which keeps your bowels regular and prevents constipation and hard poop, is to blame. Most Americans eat 8.7 to 9.7 g of fiber per 1,000 calories per day, but the recommendation is that women should eat 25 g (for a 2,000 calorie diet), while men should aim for 38 g (for a 2,500 calorie diet).
11. Your Cell Phone Might Be Covered With Poop
Wash your hands well after using the bathroom, or poop may travel with you. Researchers discovered that cell phones carry a diverse range of microorganisms, which can spread E. coli bacteria.
Since phones tend to travel with us everywhere — especially places where we eat, like kitchen counters, restaurant tables, and desks, to name a few — the E. coli bacteria detected on them may play a role in spreading illness.
The Takeaway
- Poop can reveal important clues about your digestive health, hydration, and diet.
- Color, shape, and consistency matter — sudden or persistent changes may signal an underlying issue.
- Gas, odor, and bathroom frequency vary widely and are often influenced by what you eat.
- Ongoing symptoms like blood in the stool, severe pain, or long-term changes should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.