Let’s talk about poop. While a wildly popular topic for the preschool crowd, as you get older, poop discussions become a little more taboo. There are many misnomers about poop, so we are here to set the record straight. Believe it or not, poop can tell you a great deal about your health. It’s a regular (hopefully) reminder from your body on digestion, which we all know is key when trying to create good gut health.
Why Your Poop Matters
Think of your gut as a garbage disposal. When all of the important nutrients have been absorbed from your food, your body works overtime to get rid of what it doesn’t need, resulting in a healthy bowel movement.
While your natural instinct may be to not look at what landed in the toilet and to flush it away as quickly as possible, your bowel habits are actually an extremely important signal of your overall digestive health.
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Hearing “no potty talk” at a young age may run deep with certain individuals who still may feel awkward about their poop, but being aware that noticing changes and discussing them with a medical professional may actually save their life, and should be strong encouragement to not be embarrassed about this normal bodily function. Look down before you flush and do a quick scan for any changes in the texture of your stool, or a difference in shape or color.
How about some poop facts? Wondering if your poop fits into typical poop standards? The ideal average bowel movement is between four and eight inches in length. Curious about consistency? Experts have advised that the best poop consistency is similar to peanut butter. Poop with a harder consistency is a sign of constipation while poop with a softer consistency can be referred to as diarrhea.
Have you ever wondered how much poop is actually produced in your colon? A man deemed to be of an average weight produces roughly one pound of poop per day while a woman of an average weight will ideally produce 14 ounces of poop per day.
Do you poop often enough? Everyone is different, but it’s considered to be healthy to have a bowel movement anywhere between three times a day to three times a week.
One more fun fact about poop…did you know that poop should sink and not float? Floating poop is a sign of excessive gas and potentially poor nutrient absorption.
9 Myths About Your Poop
Let’s dig deep to learn more about your poop. It’s important to be educated about your bowel movements, particularly as they relate to digestion. Here we examine 9 myths about poop and whether or not we deem them to be accurate.
Myth: It’s Not Healthy to Hold Your Poop.
Ideally if you feel nature calling and the time to poop has come, you head to your nearest restroom. But if that’s not possible, holding in your poop will not cause any actual harm. Just try to not make it a habit as people who hold it in on the regular can develop repercussions such as constipation or muscle dysfunction.
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Myth: Healthy People Poop Once a Day
This is truly a myth as the amount of times that people poop within a day can vary greatly depending on the person. As long as your poop frequency is not having a negative impact, you may be going every day, multiple times a day or three times a week. All is perfectly normal.
Myth: Poop Is Supposed To Smell Bad
Let’s face it. Poop doesn’t smell fabulous. But if your poop has taken a turn and smells next level bad, this may be a sign that things aren’t quite right.
Myth: The Colon Requires An Intense Flushing
While flushing out your colon has become a popular trend, it is detrimental to your gut health. When you cleanse your colon with an intense flushing, you are not only flushing out the “bad” but you are also flushing away important bacteria and electrolytes. Long-term cleansing can cause dehydration and gut issues.
Myth: Taking All The Time in The World In The Bathroom is Fine
Checking the score of the game on your phone while you are on the toilet? Flipping through the latest magazine from the mailbox? Not only does prolonged sitting on the toilet cause a strong increase in the likelihood of developing hemorrhoids, but studies have shown that smart phones and magazines that are used on the toilet are likely to be contaminated with fecal matter. Go in, do what you need to do, and get out.
Myth: More Pooping Leads to More Weight Loss
To all of those who are taking laxatives or doing whatever they can think of to poop more, it’s important to know that calorie absorption occurs in the small intestine, while laxatives work in the large intestine, aka, the colon. Therefore these two things do not align. Fiber however does promote regular bowel movements, and high fiber foods are known for packing fewer calories per pound.
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Myth: Poop Should Be Brown
Wondering why your poop looks purple when you feel that the color of poop should only be brown? Don’t forget about the beets and cherries you had at lunch! The healthy poop color range goes from a yellow brown to a truly dark chocolate color. Diet impacts the color changes.
Myth: There Is a Perfect Poop
There is definitely not a perfect poop. People have many ranges with poop whether it be a different color shade of poop or a different than normal size. If your poop is consistently very thin, consult with your doctor, otherwise, no need to chase the poop unicorn.
Myth: White Foods Are Recommended for Diarrhea
White is the rule when it comes to dealing with stomach issues. While rice and toast may get you through, it’s important to stay away from milk and cheese. While there is no medically proven diarrhea diet (not even the BRAT diet), the most important thing to remember is to stay hydrated.
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The Truth About Your Bowel Movements
With many poop myths being cleared up, you may have a new perspective on the normalcy of your own bowel movements.
If you still feel like you want to take the ultimate care of your digestion, Xyngluar Tummy Tamer was created With four powerhouse products, including Complete Collagen, Complete Probiotic, Complete Prebiotic, and Digestive Aid, for a comprehensive approach to not only gut health, but also skin health and overall mood support.*
Gut health truly impacts every bodily function from weight, to sleep quality, hormone support, emotional and mental health, and how well your body digests and metabolizes the food that you eat. With all of this in mind, Tummy Tamer is full of the tools to help you achieve ultimate digestive success.*
Log in to your account or contact your Xyngular distributor today and get started on healthy bowel movements with Xyngular Tummy Tamer.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.