What causes stool to float in the toilet. Is floating poop a sign of a health problem. When should you be concerned about floating stools. How can you make your poop sink normally.

What Causes Poop to Float?

Floating stools can occur for a variety of reasons, ranging from benign dietary factors to more serious digestive issues. Here are some of the most common causes of floating poop:

1. High-Fiber Diet

Consuming a diet high in insoluble fiber, like bran, can lead to floating stools. Insoluble fiber is difficult for the body to break down fully, resulting in excess gas in the stool that makes it less dense and more likely to float.

2. Excess Gas

Foods that cause gas, such as artificial sweeteners, starches, and dairy products in lactose-intolerant individuals, can create air pockets in stool. This trapped gas decreases the density of the stool, causing it to float.

3. Malabsorption

In some cases, floating stools may indicate malabsorption, where the body is unable to properly absorb certain nutrients, especially fats. This can lead to steatorrhea – fatty stools that tend to float.

Is Floating Poop Something to Worry About?

In most cases, floating poop is not a cause for concern. It’s often a result of dietary choices or minor digestive issues that resolve on their own. However, if floating stools persist for an extended period or are accompanied by other symptoms, it may be worth investigating further.

When should you be concerned about floating poop? Consider seeing a doctor if you experience:

• Persistent floating stools for several weeks
• Unexplained weight loss
• Chronic diarrhea
• Abdominal pain or discomfort
• Oily or greasy-looking stools

How Can You Make Your Poop Sink Normally?

If you’re concerned about floating stools, there are several steps you can take to promote normal, sinking bowel movements:

1. Adjust your fiber intake gradually
2. Stay hydrated
3. Avoid foods that cause excessive gas
4. Manage stress levels
5. Exercise regularly

Can dietary changes help resolve floating poop? In many cases, yes. Slowly adjusting your diet and paying attention to how certain foods affect your digestion can help normalize your stool consistency and buoyancy.

The Role of Diet in Stool Consistency

Your diet plays a crucial role in determining the consistency and buoyancy of your stool. Different foods can affect your digestive system in various ways:

Fiber-Rich Foods

While fiber is essential for digestive health, suddenly increasing your fiber intake can lead to gas and floating stools. Gradually incorporate more fiber into your diet to allow your body to adjust.

Fatty Foods

Consuming excessive amounts of fatty foods can sometimes result in fatty stools that float. This is especially true if your body has difficulty absorbing fats properly.

Lactose-Containing Foods

For individuals with lactose intolerance, consuming dairy products can lead to gas and floating stools. Consider lactose-free alternatives or use lactase enzymes when consuming dairy.

When Floating Poop Might Indicate a Health Issue

While often harmless, persistent floating stools can sometimes be a sign of underlying health conditions:

Celiac Disease

This autoimmune disorder affects the small intestine and can lead to malabsorption of nutrients, potentially causing floating stools.

Pancreatic Disorders

Conditions affecting the pancreas can interfere with the production of digestive enzymes, leading to poor fat absorption and floating stools.

Liver Disease

Certain liver conditions can affect bile production, which is crucial for fat digestion. This can result in fatty, floating stools.

How can you determine if floating poop is due to a serious health issue? Pay attention to other symptoms and the duration of the problem. If floating stools persist for more than a few weeks or are accompanied by other concerning symptoms, consult a healthcare professional.

The Connection Between Gut Health and Stool Characteristics

The characteristics of your stool, including whether it floats or sinks, can provide valuable insights into your overall gut health. A healthy gut microbiome is essential for proper digestion and nutrient absorption.

Probiotics and Gut Health

Probiotics, or beneficial bacteria, play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy gut. They can help improve digestion and potentially normalize stool consistency.

Gut Inflammation

Chronic inflammation in the gut can affect nutrient absorption and lead to changes in stool characteristics, including floating.

How does gut health influence stool buoyancy? A balanced gut microbiome promotes efficient digestion and absorption of nutrients, which can help maintain normal stool density and sinking properties.

Diagnostic Approaches for Persistent Floating Stools

If you’re concerned about persistent floating stools, your healthcare provider may recommend various diagnostic tests to identify the underlying cause:

Stool Analysis

This test can help detect the presence of excess fat in the stool, which may indicate malabsorption issues.

Blood Tests

Blood tests can help identify nutritional deficiencies or signs of celiac disease.

Imaging Studies

In some cases, imaging tests like CT scans or MRIs may be necessary to evaluate the digestive organs.

What diagnostic approaches are used to investigate floating stools? The specific tests will depend on your symptoms and medical history. Your doctor will determine the most appropriate diagnostic strategy based on your individual situation.

Lifestyle Changes to Promote Healthy Bowel Movements

Maintaining healthy bowel movements involves more than just dietary changes. Consider these lifestyle factors that can influence your digestive health:

Regular Exercise

Physical activity can help stimulate bowel movements and promote overall digestive health.

Stress Management

Chronic stress can negatively impact digestion. Incorporate stress-reduction techniques like meditation or yoga into your routine.

Proper Hydration

Drinking adequate water is crucial for maintaining proper stool consistency.

How can lifestyle changes improve stool consistency? By promoting overall digestive health, these changes can help normalize bowel movements and potentially resolve issues with floating stools.

In conclusion, while floating poop is often harmless and related to dietary factors, persistent floating stools accompanied by other symptoms may warrant medical attention. By understanding the potential causes and making appropriate lifestyle changes, you can promote healthy digestion and normal bowel movements. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional if you have ongoing concerns about your digestive health.

What It Means if Your Poop Floats

We get it: Talking about bathroom issues is embarrassing. But anyone who’s ever seen a copy of What’s Your Poo Telling You? knows that the type of thing that goes down in the toilet says a lot about what’s going on in your gut. Some issues are NBD and are probably just the result of what you had for breakfast. But other issues can be the sign of something more serious.

RELATED: 4 Reasons Why You Might See Blood in Your Poo

So what the heck does it mean when your poop floats? “Most of the time it’s normal,” says Niket Sonpal, M.D., assistant clinical professor of gastroenterology at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York City. “But it could be a signal that something is starting to brew. Normally, stool is a solid thing—and it shouldn’t really float or stick to the toilet.”

Sonpal says your diet is the number one reason you might notice poop that stays afloat in the bowl. Insoluble fibers, like bran, or foods that can cause gas, like artificial sweeteners or starch, are tough for the body to digest and can affect the quality of your poop, he says. These types of foods can cause your poop to contain excess gas, and it’s that extra air that will make it lighter, causing it to float.

Lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity are also fairly normal causes of poop that floats. If you’re prone to either of these things, there’s likely no reason to worry, though. That’s because the majority of time in these cases, floating stool is caused by an inocuous diet choice (like eating bran) that won’t negatively affect your health. If you know you have either lactose intolerance or gluten sensitivity, once you go back to eating foods that you know won’t bother you, your poop should return to normal pretty quickly.

RELATED: Holding in Your Poop for Too Long Can Actually Be Deadly

But there could be a more serious cause behind the floating phenomenon, says Henry Binder, M.D., professor emeritus at Yale School of Medicine. It could actually be caused by an increase of fat in your poop, which is an indication that your body isn’t processing nutrients properly.

If this is the case, the floating issue is the result of what doctors call malabsorption, or your body’s inability to process a certain nutrient. 

RELATED: Curious Why Coffee Gives You the Runs? (You Know You Are)

To figure out what’s making your poop stick to the top of the toilet bowl, Sonpal suggests trying a basic elimination diet to get your gut in check. Slowly remove one or two foods from your diet that could be causing the gas in your poop until the issue stops. “Most of the time, a simple change in diet can go a long way,” he says.

If that doesn’t work, you may have a malabsorption issue—and you should have your doc check things out.

—

 Macaela MacKenize is a writer, runner, and (aspiring) yogi. Thanks to her inner nerd, she’s researched everything from the weirdest health and fitness trends, to the behavioral economics of our love lives, to what happens when we donate our bodies to science. When she’s not writing, you might find her singing in a rock ‘n’ roll cover band. 

Macaela Mackenzie
Macaela Mackenzie is a freelance journalist specializing in health, culture, and tech, and she regularly contributes to outlets like Prevention, Women’s Health, Shape, Allure, Men’s Health, the John Hopkins Health Review, and more.

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Is Floating Poop Bad? | Livestrong.com

Floating poop may mean you have a digestive issue.

Image Credit: Terryfic3D/iStock/GettyImages

Excuse our potty language, but we really need to talk about your stool. Even though it isn’t the subject of polite conversation, many people pay attention to what’s lurking in the toilet bowl — and floating poop just might raise a red flag.

Especially when you’re trying to lead a healthy lifestyle, you might be studying every meal, workout and bodily function. So when your number two is bobbing at the water’s surface, it’s reason to think about what’s happening internally.

Here, doctors and registered dietitians share what buoyant bowel movements could say about your health.

What Does Floating Poop Mean?

After a visit to the bathroom, you give a quick glance before you flush. While it normally sinks to the bottom, your stool is floating. When this happens, it could mean one of a few things.

One culprit is excess air from intestinal gas, says Moe Schlachter, RD, LD, dietitian and certified diabetes educator. “Transient increases in gas are a normal occurrence and a common cause of floating stools,” he says.

In other words, if it happens once or occasionally, it’s probably nothing to worry about. Keep in mind that foods high in fiber — including beans and many fruits and veggies — can cause gas, especially when you eat more than you normally do.

2. Gastrointestinal Disorder

Some GI disorders can cause poop to float. In fact, an August 2015 study in the European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology found that more than a quarter of people with functional bowel disorders (think: IBS) had floating stools.

If floating poop occurs with other GI symptoms like pain, bloating, diarrhea or constipation, it could be a warning sign of a bowel disorder.

If you’re noticing floaters in the bowl more often than not, it might mean there’s too much fat in your stool, which can signal a larger problem. “Fat in the stool indicates a malfunction of digestion or absorption of nutrients and can be a symptom of a more serious health issue,” Schlacter says.

Think about it: When you mix oil (fat) and water together, what happens? Oil will rise and sit above the water. This is basically what’s happening when poop floats.

According to licensed dietitian and certified nutrition specialist Anthony Crifase, LDN, CNS, this may mean that your body isn’t properly breaking down the fat in your diet. The culprit could be a food intolerance, a problem with the small intestine or an issue with one of the organs involved with digestion, including the liver, gallbladder or pancreas.

Warning

If you notice your poop floating more often than not, and especially if you have other digestive symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

So, What Does Healthy Poop Look Like?

Part of understanding our bodies is paying attention to what we eat — and what we release. To track what’s good news and what’s potentially bad, Schlachter recommends consulting the Bristol Stool Chart, which breaks down the seven most common poop textures and what they mean. Normal stool is sausage-shaped, either smooth or with cracks.

When it comes to color, Schlachter says varying shades of brown to green are healthy and affected by the content of our diet.

Another part of a healthy number two is frequency. Crifase says regularity is very important to keeping our bodies running efficiently. “Making sure that you are having daily bowel movements ensures that the gastrointestinal system is working smoothly and functioning properly. The more spaced out your bowel movements, the longer food sits in the gut and can ferment and putrefy, which creates problems,” he says.

For most people, this means a trip to the throne once a day.

What Does Unhealthy Poop Look Like?

In addition to floating, stool can be deemed unhealthy if it has other characteristics. The most vital aspects to look out for include color and texture.

Crisfaste says if it’s hard to pass or is incredibly liquid, it’s unhealthy.

The shade of our poop is also a biggie, according to Schlachter. “Yellow stool can indicate the presence of undigested fat. Pale stool can be caused by a shortage of available bile, a biochemical necessary for healthy digestion. Bright red or jet black stool can mean intestinal bleeding,” he explains.

Drinking enough water each day is crucial for healthy digestion and bowel movements. Regular exercise can help, too.

Image Credit: EmirMemedovski/E+/GettyImages

Tips for Healthier Poop

Lauren Slayton, RD, registered dietitian and founder of FoodTrainers, says healthy poop is ‘S’ shaped and brown. That’s a good sign that your digestion is humming along.

If you aren’t quite there yet, it’s probably OK, but you might want to try these tips to improve quality. And if you’re concerned, never be afraid to raise these uncomfortable questions with your doctor. (Trust us, they’ve seen worse!)

Dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix, RDN, says the majority of people don’t get enough fiber. Fiber offers a bevy of health benefits and can be found in most fruits and vegetables along with whole-wheat grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, per the Mayo Clinic.

Women should try to eat between 21 and 25 grams of fiber each day, while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams. To put that into perspective, a cup of raspberries contains about 8 grams of fiber, while a cup of lentils has more than 20.

Learn how to fill your plate with healthy, nutrient-dense foods by logging your meals on the MyPlate app. Download now to fine-tune your diet today!

Water not only keeps us hydrated but is also a big help to our digestive tract. “Fluid gives stool its agility, allowing it to move easily through your system and reach its destination on time,” Schlachter says.

Read more: How Much Water Should I Drink Every Day?

In addition to helping us maintain our weight, exercise keeps things, well, moving.

“Fitness activities like walking or running help stimulate the muscle movements that are needed for your stool to pass,” Schlachter says. “The jostling of impact exercise can free the matter that clings to the intestinal wall so it can leave the body.”

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend getting at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise and 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise each week.

Floating stools not cause for alarm

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have read that whether stools float or sink could be an indication of one’s health, even to the point of being an early sign of pancreatic cancer. Isn’t it just about density and gas — that is, doesn’t most food we eat float in water, and if you mix in gas, shouldn’t most stools float? I used to have a lot of sinkers, but now I eat a lot less meat and more fish, fiber and salads. I also take a lot of supplements, so perhaps those are not getting completely absorbed and hence, creating more gas in the stools? For the past two years, I have floaters 80 percent of the time, but my doctor does not seem concerned. Should I be alarmed or see a specialist? — A.A.

ANSWER: We ask about stools floating because it can be a sign of poor fat absorption. Several conditions can cause this, including celiac sprue, inflammatory bowel disease, infection and pancreatic insufficiency. These conditions usually have other symptoms, so floating stools by themselves are not a cause for alarm.

Diet is indeed the likely cause.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am writing in regard to your column on pancreatitis. My sister went to hospital with the same symptoms and was diagnosed with pancreatitis as well. The doctor implied that she must be an alcoholic because her liver enzymes were elevated. I had had my gallbladder removed several years earlier because it was non-functioning (our family history includes gallstones). This was determined by a test in nuclear medicine. When I reminded my sister, she requested this test and her gallbladder also was not functioning. They removed the gallbladder, and she has not had an attack since (this was 10 years ago). She also was diagnosed with hemochromatosis, which was the reason for the changes to the liver. I hope this information will benefit other people suffering from pancreatitis. — S.P.

ANSWER: Thank you for your note. Several people have written that pancreatitis is too often assumed to be due to alcohol abuse. Gallstones are the other common cause, and usually are diagnosed with an ultrasound. However, it sounds like you had acalculous cholecystitis (a serious gallbladder inflammation without stones), and you probably had a HIDA scan, which is sometimes needed to make the diagnosis. Pancreatitis is less common with acalculous cholecystitis, and may represent gangrene of the gallbladder, a surgical emergency.

I assume you have been tested for hemochromatosis? It also runs in families.

DEAR DR. ROACH: In your column, I read that for vaginal atrophy (dryness/itching) you suggest that a woman use topical cream instead of estrogen cream. I am 59 years old, and have been using Premarin cream externally for a month with noticeable results. I use a dab every other day. Should I continue to use it even when I don’t have symptoms, or only as needed? If you think non-hormonal cream would be better, could you suggest one? I have tried one, but it didn’t seem to be effective. — A.A.

ANSWER: I’m sorry I wasn’t clear. “Topical” in this case meant a vaginal estrogen cream, as opposed to estrogen taken by mouth. I would continue using it, since it has been effective. Most women use it twice a week after initial treatment.

Non-estrogen creams are fine for many women, but estrogen creams like Premarin usually are more effective.

Dryness and itching may be caused by recurring vaginal infections, which are often troubling to women. The booklet on that topic explains them and their treatment. Readers can order a copy by writing: Dr. Roach — No. 1203, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6. Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

* * *

Dr. Roach regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but will incorporate them in the column whenever possible. Readers may email questions to ToYourGoodHealth@med. cornell.edu or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Health newsletters may be ordered from www.rbmamall.com.

Are floating stools associated with specific functional bowel disorders?

Background:

Functional bowel disorders are recognized as being common, but remain very difficult to diagnose accurately and to differentiate from one another, despite their significant impact on the quality of life of patients.The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the clinical sign of ‘floating stools’ is associated with psychological disorders, colonic transit time, or other specific bowel disorders as defined by the Rome III diagnostic criteria.

Materials and methods:

A total of 1252 consecutive patients, referred for and found to have functional gastrointestinal disorders, filled in a standard clinical questionnaire on the basis of the Rome III diagnostic criteria and were asked to provide information on the presence of floating stools. Overall, 344 of these scored positive for functional bowel disorders and underwent psychometric testing and colonic transit time studies.

Results:

Floating stools were reported by 26% of functional bowel disorder patients and 3% of the other functional gastrointestinal disorder patients (P<0.001). The basic demographic characteristics, psychometric evaluation scores, Bristol stool form scales, and total and segmental colonic transit times were not statistically different according to the presence or not of floating stools in these patients. Logistic regression showed that mixed irritable bowel syndrome was the only functional gastrointestinal disorder associated independently with floating stools (P=0.003).

Conclusion:

Floating stools are a characteristic of patients with mixed irritable bowel syndrome.

Floating Poop – 10 Reasons and Causes of Floaters

Causes of Floating Poop

One day, all of a sudden, you notice that you have floating poop. The very next thing that comes to your mind is,  “Why?”

Usually, poop sinks to the bottom of the toilet, so you might be wondering why your poop floats. Diet and other contributing factors can cause changes in the stool’s structure, which can result in floating. However, floating stools are often not a cause for concern since they do not always indicate an illness. Stools are also more likely to return back to normal without treatment. 

The reason behind a floating or sinking poop is its density. Most people believe that too much fat in poop causes it to float since oil floats on water. The truth is that poop floats due to the presence of intestinal gas that did not pass as flatus (fart) but passed in the poop instead.  

Within your digestive system, more gas can be created if you eat something that does not agree with your body or if you have intolerance toward gluten or dairy. Excess gas can be transferred and get trapped in the poop, which causes it to float instead of sink. However, there are also other causes of floating poop. They include:

1. Steatorrhea

Steatorrhea is the medical term for a fatty stool or the presence of excess fat in the feces. This symptom is usually a result of fat malabsorption, which means that the body is either unable to properly absorb nutrients or unable to make bile or enzymes needed for proper food digestion. 

Steatorrhea is characterized by foul-smelling, bulky, and pale stools. Oily poop is usually difficult to flush away since they frequently stick to the toilet bowl. Another cause of steatorrhea is a gastrointestinal infection, which includes giardiasis (a parasitic intestinal infection). Passing oily poop can also be a result of taking certain medications or conditions that disrupt nutrient absorption, such as:

Steatorrhea can also be a symptom of problems in the liver, pancreas, or gallbladder.  

2. Dietary Intake

There are particular types of food that can cause gas in poop. These foods include large amounts of:

• Sugar
• Sugar-free candies
• Lactose
• Carbonated drinks
• Starch
• Fiber
• Cabbage
• Milk
• Beans
• Apples

3. Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that damages the small intestine lining when gluten is consumed. Gluten is a type of protein found in barley, rye, and wheat. There is currently no cure for celiac disease, but people with the disease can effectively manage their symptoms if they steer clear of gluten. 

4. Chronic Pancreatitis

Chronic pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas that gets worse over time. This condition is often linked to gallstone formation, alcoholism, and diabetes. Its symptoms include floating poop, abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, back pain, and weight loss.  

5. Choledocholithiasis

Choledocholithiasis is the medical term for the presence of gallstones in the common bile duct. This condition is often asymptomatic unless there is a bile duct obstruction (stones obstructing the bile duct). Aside from causing floating poop, its symptoms may include the following:

• Abdominal pain (right upper or middle upper abdomen)
• Jaundice
• Fever
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite

6. Sclerosing Cholangitis

It is a chronic disease that is characterized by scarring, inflammation, and damage to the bile ducts inside and outside the liver. This condition is often associated with ulcerative colitis. Its symptoms may include floating stools, dark-colored urine, jaundice, fever, chills, itchy skin, and fatigue. 

7. Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the buildup of thick, sticky mucus in the lungs, digestive tract, pancreas, and other body organs. People with cystic fibrosis often experience lung infections along with difficulty breathing over time. 

If there is an excessive buildup of mucus in the pancreas, there would be a disruption in the proper absorption of nutrients, which causes floating poop. In this case, a floating poop indicates that you are unable to absorb sufficient amounts of fat from the food you eat. Although cystic fibrosis has no cure, the symptoms can be managed by taking certain medications. 

8. Pancreatic Disease or Cancer

The pancreas produces different types of digestive enzymes. These enzymes are released into the duodenum of the small intestine. However, in people with pancreatic diseases, there may be an insufficient amount of digestive enzymes needed to break down food. As a result, nutrients build up in the lower bowels. Bacteria may feed on this nutrient buildup and then rapidly grow and multiply, producing more gas. A floating stool is also one of the symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

9. Short Bowel Syndrome

Floating poop can also be due to short bowel syndrome. Food may not be adequately digested and nutrients may not be properly absorbed if the bowels are shorter than normal. Short bowel syndrome happens when the bowels do not properly absorb nutrients. It can be due to intestinal diseases, genetic defect, or the surgical removal of a part of the small intestine.

10. Other Rare Diseases

Floating poop can also be due to rare genetic diseases, which include:

• Bassen-Kornzweig Syndrome: Also called abetalipoproteinemia (ABL), it is a genetic disease, which prevents the complete absorption of certain dietary fats. If the condition is left untreated, vitamin deficiencies that can cause long-term damage to a person’s health may arise. Vitamins and dietary fats are needed for the proper growth and development of many tissues and organs in the body, including the brain.  

• Biliary Atresia: It is a serious congenital condition that is characterized by the underdevelopment, absence, or blockage of the extrahepatic bile ducts. The condition makes the intestines less able to absorb fats. 

• Disaccharidase Deficiency: Disaccharidases are enzymes that break down complex sugars into simple sugars for intestinal absorption of nutrients. When there is a deficiency of these enzymes, a range of gastrointestinal symptoms can occur, such as diarrhea, bloating, and borborygmi (stomach rumbling). The persistent nature of these symptoms, especially in children, may be confused with food intolerance or food allergies. 

This Is What Your Poop Means | The Dr. Oz Show

When trying to figure out the significance of a symptom you may be having, it’s helpful to think in terms of what’s the most likely diagnosis and what’s the most lethal. Hopefully they are not the same. For example, the most likely cause of red blood in the stool is hemorrhoids, but the most lethal is colon cancer.

Watch: How to Poop Perfectly

Taking a close look at your stool can tell you a lot about what’s going on in your intestines and can lead you to make the right changes to improve your digestive and overall health. If you know what to look for, it’s like reading tea leaves! I tell my patients that if they pay close attention to what’s going on in the bowl, they might not need my services.

Here’s a guide to some of the most likely – and most lethal – conditions that can lead to changes in the shape, size, smell and shade of your stool.

Shape

Insufficient fiber in the diet, diverticulosis, bowel spasm or excessive straining are common causes of a change in stool shape. Diverticulosis causes pothole-like craters in the lining of the colon, as well as a narrowing of the internal diameter of the colon due to wall thickening. The result is narrow, pellet-like stools that often fall apart in the bowl and can be difficult to expel. Other associated symptoms of diverticulosis include a dull ache in the lower abdomen, a feeling of incomplete evacuation even though you may be having multiple bowel movements, and lots of gas and bloating. Endometriosis, uterine fibroids, masses in the abdomen or tumors in other organs, like the ovaries or bladder, can cause thin stools due to external compression of the colon. Colon cancer definitely needs to be excluded by a colonoscopy in anyone experiencing new onset of pencil-thin stools, which can occur as a tumor gets larger and grows inward, reducing the colonic diameter.

WATCH: Why Do People Poop Sitting Down? 

Size

Size matters. Small, hard stools are typical in people eating a low-fiber Western diet, and are associated with a higher risk for ultimately developing diverticulosis and colon cancer. Constipation is often associated with small, difficult-to-pass stools, and people suffering from constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are particularly prone to having small stools. A high-fiber diet or regular use of a bulking agent like psyllium husk will lead to larger, softer stools in most people, making defecation easier. Even though a fiber-deficient diet is the most likely culprit, colon cancer is again on the list as most lethal.

Smell

The odor of your stool is highly dependent on a number of factors, including how long it’s been sitting in your colon, your diet, medications you may be taking and, in some cases, the presence of infection. Bacterial imbalance (dysbiosis) in the GI tract and undigested fat can also lead to a change in odor.

The most common cause of smelly stool is bacterial fermentation of the food in your intestines that produces foul-smelling sulfide compounds. Antibiotics can also change the smell of stool and give it a medicinal odor. More lethal causes of malodorous stool, and fortunately much less common, include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) and pancreatic cancer. Both these conditions can result in floating, foul-smelling stool with an oily sheen.

WATCH: The Poop Primer

Diseases that cause malabsorption of nutrients like Crohn’s, celiac disease and cystic fibrosis can also lead to foul-smelling stool. Infection with parasites such as giardia lamblia can cause stool to have a very unpleasant odor.

New onset of diarrhea associated with a foul odor should prompt an evaluation for infection, whereas fat in the stool associated with a foul odor should raise concerns about malabsorption or pancreatic disorders. For most people, smelly stool is simply a byproduct of the beans they had for dinner the night before.

Shade

The color of stool can vary dramatically and can also be a clue as to whether various disease states are present.

Normal stool is brown due to its composition: bacteria, water, bile, bilirubin, broken-down red blood celIs and indigestible plant matter like cellulose, along with small amounts of protein and fat.

LEARN MORE: Use This Printable Poop Log

Red stool is most worrisome as it indicates bleeding in the lower GI tract from conditions like hemorrhoids or diverticulosis, or more serious conditions like rectal cancer. Red stool can also be caused by ingesting red food coloring or beets. While it should always be reported, it’s not always an ominous sign.

Green stool can occur with rapid transit through the intestines where bile doesn’t have a chance to be broken down to its final brown color. Green can also be a sign of Crohn’s disease, antibiotic use, ingestion of leafy greens or iron therapy.

Yellow stool can be the result of gallbladder dysfunction which causes improper handling of bile. Infection with giardia lamblia produces a characteristic yellow diarrhea. In addition to causing diarrhea, different types of infection in the GI tract, whether viral, bacterial or parasitic, may cause changes in stool color.

White stool can be a sign of fat malabsorption, as with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer, but barium used for X-rays can also give the same appearance. Mucus in the stool can give it a whitish appearance and may be due to inflammation or benign conditions like IBS.

WATCH: How to Poop Perfectly

Black stool should trigger a search for bleeding from the upper part of the GI tract (esophagus, stomach or small intestine), but can also be seen with iron therapy, heavy meat consumption, and bismuth-containing compounds.

Light-appearing clay-colored stools are characteristic of liver disease and decreased bile output, but can also be caused by antacids containing aluminum hydroxide. Vitamins and supplements commonly cause changes in urine color but may also change stool color. 

For Dr. Oz’s Poop Color Chart, click here.

what your child’s poop reveals about their health.

Poop – often the brunt of a joke, and a word triggering endless giggles amongst children.

Despite it being an often unpleasant necessity, monitoring your child’s poop can actually provide an invaluable window into what’s happening inside your child’s body and their overall health.

Poop can indicate anything from the balance of their gut microbes, to the way their bodies respond to foods, or whether they have sufficient stomach acid and bile

So, let’s dig a little deeper into what your child’s poop might be indicating about their overall health.

What actually is poop?

Put simply, poop is basically a combination of whatever is left over once food has passed through the digestive system. It consists of water, bacteria, undigested food, fibre, small amounts of fat, small amounts of mucus and other proteins.

Poop varies greatly from child to child, day to day and there is no universally accepted ‘gold standard’ for defining ‘normal’ poop. In saying this, generally healthy poop should take under 10 minutes to excrete, should come out without strain or pain, be a brown colour and shaped like a tube or a banana.

Does the colour matter?

Given that poop is made up mostly of broken down food, the foods your child eats can greatly impact and vary the resulting colour of poop!

Typically, in a healthy child, you’d expect poop to be brown. This is because it contains bilirubin – a pigment produced due to a normal process in which red blood cells are broken down in the body. A green stool is generally nothing to be concerned about as it’s usually related to eating green foods (e.g. spinach), or the stool may have moved through the intestines slightly faster than usual leaving less time to pick up as much of the brown bilirubin pigment. Similarly, a reddish poop usually indicates your child has eaten red foods such as beetroots or tomato juice.

We usually find breastfed babies’ poop is more likely to differ in colour, depending on what Mum has eaten, whereas formula fed babies get the same food daily so they may have less poop colour variations.

However, it’s important to understand different coloured poop can also indicate serious underlying issues. Pale or clay coloured poop could be an indication of a bile duct obstruction and if it’s black or dark red, this could be a sign of internal bleeding from the GI tract. The most important thing is to look out for unusual changes in your child’s poop colour which seem to linger for more than a couple of days, as further investigation may be needed.

Shades of poop. Image: Karobarmart.com

Minnow wobblers, fishing technique, the best floating wobblers Minnow

Minnow class wobblers are perhaps the most widespread volume lures among spinning players. Their excellent catchability is beyond doubt. Often this class has a weakly expressed game of its own. And the animation of the minnow wobblers is made directly by the angler. Usually jerk fishing is used, which eventually gave rise to a whole direction in spinning fishing called “twitching”.But there are also pitfalls here. Currently, minnow wobblers are presented on the fishing lures market not only in large quantities, but in huge ones. It is often very difficult for a beginner spinning player to understand such a variety.

So what is a minnow? Translated from English minnow means “fry”. Not very wide, not very thick, elongated, relatively long lures have a narrowing in the tail, which makes them look like fry. All this, of course, is strongly averaged, since in the assortment of wobblers you can find minnows flattened or swollen on the sides, they can be elongated in height, but the length of the wobbler always remains several times greater than the width and height of its own body.

Degrees of buoyancy

Minnow wobblers can be divided into three main buoyancy levels: floating, with neutral buoyancy and sinking. This is indicated as follows:

• F – floating, that is, floating;

• SP – suspending, with neutral buoyancy;

• S – sinking, sinking.

Recently, wobblers began to appear, which have intermediate degrees of buoyancy.On them you can find the following designations:

• SF – slow floating, weakly floating or weakly floating;

• MSF – medium slow floating, the wobbler pops up even slower than just SF;

• SS – slow sinking, that is, slowly sinking.

Abbreviation of wobblers

Such a fine differentiation of wobblers according to the degree of buoyancy significantly expands the freedom of the angler and makes it possible to use these lures in different fishing conditions.But by and large, the degree of buoyancy of the minnow does not have much effect on the degree of immersion, or rather on the depth of diving and passing. This factor largely depends on the size and angle of the nasal blade of the wobbler. And to make it easier to navigate at what depth this or that minnow wobbler dives, the manufacturers have a special abbreviation that indicates the depth of the bait. For example, SSR – Super Shallow Runner (super shallow models), which in some cases go a few centimeters deep or can run along the surface itself.Many manufacturers have such baits, in particular, Lucky Craft Pointer 100SSR series.

In other cases, some minnows can create gurgling sounds on the surface. For example, wobblers of the company Jackall –Jockie behave this way. As a rule, such lures have a positive degree of buoyancy, that is, they belong to floating models. This is understandable, they are designed for fishing in shallow water. And they become indispensable when overgrown areas of reservoirs or places where the top layer of clean water is only a few centimeters, and grass is deeper, are fished.In our conditions, they show themselves in the best way when fishing for pike.

Minnow wobblers with the abbreviation SR – Shallow Runner go a little deeper. Shallow wobblers go a little deeper than their super-shallow cousins. To what specific depth these baits can dive, it is impossible to say unequivocally. To a greater extent, this will depend on the size of the wobbler. For example, a 50 mm Shallow Runner minnow has a travel horizon of 50 – 70 cm. While a larger wobbler of 100 – 130 millimeters with the same abbreviation SR goes already at depths of 1.5 – 2 meters.This must be borne in mind when we purchase bait. Among SRok wobblers it is quite possible to find models with different degrees of buoyancy. It makes more sense when you compare them to SSR baits.

So which buoyancy to choose one or another SR class wobbler? It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Everything will depend on the fishing conditions and on what kind of fish the spinner is targeting. For example, when fishing for trout on the river, sinking minnow wobblers are best suited, and this is interpreted by the conditions of a turbulent river. If you give preference to fishing for pike or perch, then in most cases lures with a neutral degree of buoyancy – SP, the so-called suspenders, will be indispensable. However, floating models are also in great demand in many cases. Minnow class SP can fish almost any spinning fish. For example, a chub. But here you need to understand that in most cases this fish prefers minnow wobblers 50 – 70 mm in size.

Of course, as with every rule, you can find an exception here.Chub is also caught on larger wobblers. Sometimes it is incommensurable more. But still, this is a by-catch, rather than a purposeful catch of a chub. All the same about the size of wobblers can be said when fishing for perch. And in order to purposefully catch chub and perch with the same bait, you need to know the habitats of predators. They often coincide, but this is only at first glance. In fact, each of these types of fish takes its place or its own niche. On the shoals of large rivers, the chub often stands in the upper layers, and the perch occupies the lower horizon. Somewhere near the steep slopes, these two species can be located not far from each other, but in places with currents of different strengths.

Minnow wobblers with medium penetration are very good at catching pike and zander. Of course, here you need to have a clear idea of ​​the places where these baits are used. For example, if the depth permits, then pike can be well caught along the grass, feeding the bait as close to the vegetation as possible. Of course, one cannot count on catching a pike perch in such conditions.But fishing on large rivers or reservoirs along the edge gives a good result both when fishing for pike and while fishing for zander. Especially when it comes to baits with a size of 130 mm, or, as they are called lately, large-sized baits. The large size of the wobbler, the swirling of the water around the lure and the sound accompaniment during the drive – these are the main criteria that attract a predator and entice it to grip. Including pike perch, which during its activity controls not only the lower part of the brow, but also its upper border.

The next horizon is occupied by wobblers with the abbreviation MR – Medium Runner, that is, the average depth. Lures with the designation DR – Deep Runner, deep or deep running can dive even lower. And here, as in the case of SR minnows, the depth of passage of each particular bait will depend not only on its letter designation, but also on its size. In addition, many manufacturers have wobblers and deeper ones, which can be designated by the letters DD – Deep Diving or XD – Extra Deep.D in other words, baits that go as deep as possible.

As a hint to anglers, many wobblers’ packages can contain depths in meters or feet, which greatly simplifies the selection of lures. These deep minnow wobblers in some cases are able to work wonders and seduce even the most passive fish to bite, since we can apply the bait as close to the fish as possible.

These can be riverbed edges of reservoirs or catching local holes.Or spot fishing of a certain bottom anomaly: a snag sticking out separately at the bottom or an underwater hillock (sometimes fishermen call it a “table” or “bank”). It is the dips that make it possible to fish such places with the highest quality, which gives the angler every chance of success. What degree of buoyancy a wobbler should have when fishing these places will depend on several factors. For example, if we catch a snag from a boat and the contact of the bait with an underwater obstacle is inevitable, and there is a current in the place of fishing, then it is more expedient to use floating models.This will reduce the number of hooks. To do this, it is enough to stop the wiring after the first contact of the bait with the snag and give the spinning rod in the direction of the cast. Wait a while until the current pulls the bait away. Then, raising the rod whip up, pull the wobbler over the obstacle and continue fishing. (All this is relevant only if we make casts downstream or at a slight angle to it).

Summarizing the above, we present the named abbreviations in the table: