Public Health Message - Know your Colon!

[thongd4me 69]

... it can reveal surprising facts about your health!

Kids are proud to show off their poop—but most adults rarely glance inside the toilet bowl. But the truth is...

...Examining your poop is one of the best ways to find out what's really going on in your body.

So take this quick quiz to get the inside scoop on your poop!

Question #1: How long does it take you to have a bowel movement?

[ ]Less than 60 seconds

[ ]More than two minutes

Answer: Healthy bowel movements happen within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. The stool should easily come out without straining, grunting or any discomfort. It should have the consistency of toothpaste. If you have time to read a newspaper while sitting on the toilet—you probably have a problem with constipation or poor bowel health.

Question #2: What is the shape of your stool?

[ ]Long like a banana [ ]round, hard pellets [ ]thin, pencil-shaped

Answer: Healthy stool averages about four to six inches long and are shaped like a banana or a torpedo.

Very narrow, pencil-shaped stool is a sign your colon walls are impacted or you have polyps or growths on the inside of your colon or rectum. This causes the stool to squeeze to get through. Stress can also create narrow stool.

Hard, round or pellet-shaped stool is a possible sign of poor liver function, lack of exercise, dehydration or constipation.

Question #3: Is your stool accompanied by foul odor?

[ ]Yes [ ]No

Answer: Gas or odor is a sign of a bacterial imbalance in your intestinal flora. The "bad" bacteria release foul-smelling gases and toxins that can cramp your colon and create embarrassing odors.

You can eliminate this odor by removing debris and encrusted feces from the walls of your intestines and restoring the balance in your intestinal flora.

Question #4: What color is your stool?

[ ]Yellow [ ]Green [ ]Brown

[ ]Gray [ ]Black [ ]Bright red

Answer: According to Mayo Clinic research, all shades of brown and even green are considered normal stool colors. And the foods you eat can affect the color of your stool. For example, beets, tomato juice, blueberries, popsicles and green leafy vegetables can affect your stool color. However, a distinct change in stool color can be a warning sign for health problems.

Yellow-colored stool indicates your food is moving too quickly through your digestive tract—as in the case of diarrhea. If stool is greasy or foul-smelling, it may indicate excess fat caused by malabsorption of nutrients.

Green-colored stool means your food isn't properly being processed through your intestines. As a result, bile isn't broken down—and gives your stool that green color. Green stool can also mean you're eating too much sugar, fruits and vegetables and not enough grains or salt.

Gray or ashy colored stool indicates undigested fats or heavy use of prescription or over-the-counter drugs that contain aluminum hydroxide. It can also indicate a lack of bile in the stool that may be caused by a bile duct obstruction.

Black stool is a serious warning sign for bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract—possibly the stomach.

Bright red stool may indicate bleeding in the lower intestinal tract—possibly the large intestine or rectum. Hemorrhoids may also be the source of the bleeding.

Question #5: Do you pass gas while you're having a bowel movement

or have you noticed air or bubbles in your stool?

[ ]Yes [ ]No

Answer: Air or bubbles in stool can indicate an intestinal imbalance.

Gas producing bacteria may be overgrowing and competing with the healthier flora in your gut.

Please know this: A normal bowel movement happens within 60 seconds of sitting on the toilet. There should be no straining, pain, bleeding or foul odor accompanied with your bowel movements. And wiping afterwards should be easy and simple—using just one or two pieces of toilet paper!

If that's not your experience in the bathroom—then you need to give your intestines a thorough internal cleaning!

When your colon is in danger—it will do anything and everything to send out an S.O.S. for health!

That means giving you "dragon breath" and "B.O."!

If you notice strong body odor—especially under your armpits...

...Or if your friends shy away and frequently offer you breath mints—

LISTEN to your colon—it's screaming for help!

And INTESTINAL parasites can also trigger:

Painful gas and bloating

Irritable bowels

Runny stool or diarrhea

Allergies

Skin outbreaks

Insomnia

Poor immune system

Muscle pain and joint soreness

And much more!

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Thank you, Thongd, for a very valuable announcement. :thumbs: Your stools can indeed tell a great deal about your health. A quick example is if you have black tarry stools then that is a sign that blood is entering the digestive tract, you could have an ulcer, etc. Not many people bother to check the bowl after they evacuate their bowels, but you should EVERY SINGLE TIME. :thumbs:

Edited April 24, 2011 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[thongd4me 69]

Thank you, Thongd, for a very valuable announcement. :thumbs: Your stools can indeed tell a great deal about your health. A quick example is if you have black tarry stools then that is a sign that blood is entering the digestive tract, you could have an ulcer, etc. Not many people bother to check the bowl after they evacuate their bowels, but you should EVERY SINGLE TIME. :thumbs:

When I was in Ethiopia, I had to get checked out because there was a bright RED in my stool.

I had forgotten to tell the doc that I had BEETS 2 days before....

All kidding aside, there's some interesting info in that message.

Edited April 24, 2011 by thongd4me

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

When I was in Ethiopia, I had to get checked out because there was a bright RED in my stool.

I had forgotten to tell the doc that I had BEETS 2 days before....

All kidding aside, there's some interesting info in that message.

Two days, Dang! There is some really good info in your post, most people don't think much about it. Colorectal cancer or an ulcer, etc. is no joke. As for your omission, it's OK, no need to beet yourself up over it.

[SMR 368]

What is the source for this?

I have been advocating to my family that my desire to look at my poop to determine my health is normal. They think I am weird.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

What is the source for this?

I have been advocating to my family that my desire to look at my poop to determine my health is normal. They think I am weird.

You are NOT weird, you are health-conscious and that is not a bad thing. The web is full of this kind of information. Ever watch Dr. Oz, he talks about this constantly. Your family is our of touch with reality, colorectal cancer is easily treated in its early stages and other health problems such as the aforementioned ulcers can also be detected. LOOK AT YOUR POOP, it's YOUR health, not theirs. :thumbs:

[Zero Sum 305]

What is the source for this?

I have been advocating to my family that my desire to look at my poop to determine my health is normal. They think I am weird.

Have you even heard of poop transplants from healthy people to re-start the intestinal bacteria in the guts of people with IBD? Crazy!

I think VJ should sponsor a Colon-cleanout weekend.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Have you even heard of poop transplants from healthy people to re-start the intestinal bacteria in the guts of people with IBD? Crazy!

I think VJ should sponsor a Colon-cleanout weekend.

Why, most of the posts here are beyond feculent as it is. No need to jump through any more Loops of Haustra.

[Zero Sum 305]

Why, most of the posts here are beyond feculent as it is. No need to jump through any more Loops of Haustra.

Hmm. Thinking of it that way, imagine an enema to flush out the #######.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Hmm. Thinking of it that way, imagine an enema to flush out the #######.

A Seventh fleet enema? Hey, there are no enemies here, only enemas.