Hi Glen
I hope I am not crossing the line with this question. I was wondering if you could tell me what the formation of an ideal stool should be. Is it different for different types? I recall this being a question on the test.
Since I have been adhering to my Protein type diet there has been a change in my stool formation. Probably from what conventional teaching would say was reasonably healthy to a less than healthy formation. Is this an indication of a wrong macronutrient ratio?
I am more than happy to provide details if needed but again I didn't really want to cross the line - until I know it is alright!
Look forward to your response.
Thanks
Josh
Josh,
I don't want to get into specifics with size as this does vary for most of us. Some general stool guidelines are as follows; large, round, medium to dark brown, do not float, are not bubbly, are somewhat soft and mushy, and do not frequently exhibit undigested food. Your stool also should be released with ease and should not have a bad odor. If you are achieving this then we could estimate that you digestive system is working well.
Good Health,
Glen Depke, ND
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Thanks for the information. Your guidelines were fairly accurate of my stools prior to eating more to my type - parasympathetic dominant. They were however very firm which also meant they were not released with ease, but not were not overly discomfortably. They also had a bad odour.
Since I began eating as a protein type they have become probably to soft and mushy, much smaller and have a worse odour. They are much easier to pass though. This change happenend remarkably quickly.
Apart from focussing or a more restricted vegie selection and less fruit - the only real changes have been the replacement of meat for breakfast rather than whole grains and a substantial increase in fats (relatively). Could the increase in fats be contributing to what seems to be looser and greasier stools? I initially thought it may have been a transitional period but has been occuring for a few months now.
Interestingly if a deviation from the diet/lifestyle does occur (which recently is wrong vegies and fruit binges) it seems to provide more substance and shape to the stool and reduce the odour. This has happened only a few times so may be a coincidence.
Thanks again
Talking about digestive health and bowel movements we could write a book here. Many people have heard many times in their life that you are what you eat. I always tell my patients that this is not true; we are what we absorb, assimilate, and eliminate properly.
Your stools will change along with nutritional and lifestyle changes and it appears that yours are going in the right direction. Colon health is such an important factor for our health and I always put a strong focus on this. I have seen many improve using a quality probiotic, digestive enzymes, and sometimes adding a HCL supplement.
Besides for the stool itself, transit time is also very important. As protein types it would be an advantage to have a transit time of eighteen hours our less. Two bowel movements per day would be a good goal.
To address your question on the increase in fats this could be a part of the transformation of your stools. I don't know if you've gotten to any of my posts on fats but I do recommend that you concentrate on raw fats such as coconut oil, coconut cream, avocado, olive, olive oil, raw cream, raw butter, and raw cheeses. These are much easier for our bodies to digest overall.
I know I got a bit lengthy here but good digestion and bowel health are subjects that are often overlooked.
I just put in a post to Josh under the heading of stool formation that should address this for you. The transit time is important here.
I am also wondering about digestive health and stool formation. I have four kids. They eat a natural, health food diet. No junk. My 3-year old constantly has unformed, mushy stools, completely broken apart. She has a bowel movement about 3 times/day. Why are they not formed?
I also have unformed stools. I'm on a probiotic 3 times/day, digestive enzymes (Digest), cod liver oil, and other supplements. I'm being treated for yeast overgrowth and numerous food and environmental allergies. Why do I have unformed stools? My nutritionist mentioned that it could be leaky gut syndrome related to the yeast.... Could it also be Irritable Bowel? I am desperate to figure out the answer to these two stool problems in our family. Thanks for any help you are able to provide.
Hello,
I would not be surprised if this is an undiagnosed gluten intolerance creating the stool challenges. You may see a significant change after eliminating gluten entirely.