Fit to Print Volume 25 Issue 2 June 2016 | Page 10

E AT S M A R T !

By Rachel Ezelius, RD

Who Does #2 Work For?
You Can Learn A Lot By Taking a Peek at Your Poo
So what is a normal bowel
movement? Ideally, optimal transit
time for the waste products left
from the food eaten is 12 to 24
hours. It should be medium brown
in color, released with little or no
straining, have the consistency of
toothpaste, float or fall slowly to
the bottom with little gas or odor.
When it sinks too quickly, there is
not enough water or fiber in the
diet, and if it is watery and smelly,
it could mean there is an infection
or problem with fat absorption.
Mucus in the stool could indicate
inflammation, and loose stool can
signify a number of things, such as

O

ne would think most of my
conversations about poop
would be with or about my
four small children ranging in ages
from newborn to 6 years old. But
actually more poop talk happens in
the office with adults complaining of
constipation, diarrhea or a
combination of both. The digestive
tract is vital to the very core of one's
health. A healthy gastrointestinal (GI)
tract provides appropriate digestive
enzymes to protect against acid
reflux, gas and bloating and continues
to kill and eliminate ingested bad
bugs and germs. The GI's main
functions are to facilitate digestion,
absorb key nutrients, excrete waste,
produce vitamins and detoxify the
body. Certain medications (like
antibiotics, NSAIDs), toxic exposures
(pesticides), autoimmune issues
(leaky gut), genetic influences, yeast,
bacterial, parasite infections,
nutrient deficiencies, and stress can
all disrupt the digestive system. Some
common signs of GI dysfunction
include