How much does poop weigh in your body. What does your poop reveal about your health. What are the characteristics of normal poop. How can poop color indicate health issues. What is the ideal timing for bowel movements.

The Surprising Weight of Poop in Your Body

Many people wonder about the amount of poop their bodies contain at any given time. While it’s not a topic often discussed in polite conversation, understanding the weight of fecal matter in your system can provide valuable insights into your digestive health and overall well-being.

On average, the human body typically contains between 1 to 4 pounds of poop at any given time. However, this can vary significantly depending on factors such as diet, hydration levels, and frequency of bowel movements. Some studies suggest that individuals who haven’t had a bowel movement in a few days could be carrying up to 8 pounds of fecal matter in their intestines.

Factors Influencing Poop Weight

• Dietary fiber intake
• Hydration levels
• Frequency of bowel movements
• Digestive system efficiency
• Overall health and medical conditions

Understanding the weight of poop in your body can help you gauge your digestive health and potentially identify issues that may require attention. If you consistently feel bloated or experience discomfort, it might be worth discussing with a healthcare professional to ensure your digestive system is functioning optimally.

Decoding Your Poop: What It Reveals About Your Health

Your poop can serve as a window into your overall health, providing valuable information about your diet, hydration, and digestive system function. By paying attention to the characteristics of your stool, you can gain insights into potential health issues and make necessary lifestyle adjustments.

Key Indicators in Your Poop

1. Fiber intake: Soft, well-formed stools indicate adequate fiber consumption
2. Hydration: Hard, pellet-like stools may suggest dehydration
3. Digestive speed: Frequent, loose stools could indicate rapid digestion, while infrequent, hard stools may suggest slow digestion
4. Nutrient absorption: Floating, greasy stools might indicate poor nutrient absorption
5. Potential health issues: Changes in color, consistency, or frequency can signal underlying medical conditions

By monitoring these aspects of your poop, you can take proactive steps to improve your digestive health and overall well-being. If you notice persistent changes or concerning symptoms, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation.

The Characteristics of Normal Poop: Size, Shape, and Consistency

Understanding what constitutes “normal” poop can help you better assess your digestive health. While individual variations are common, there are general guidelines for what healthy stools should look like.

Size and Shape

Healthy poop typically measures between 4 to 8 inches in length and takes on a cylindrical, log-like shape. This shape indicates that the stool has passed through the intestines smoothly and has the right consistency. Smaller, pellet-like stools or those with irregular shapes may suggest digestive issues or inadequate fiber intake.

Consistency

The ideal poop consistency falls somewhere between firm and soft. It should be easy to pass without straining, yet well-formed enough to maintain its shape. The Bristol Stool Chart, a medical tool used to classify stool consistency, identifies Type 3 and Type 4 stools as the healthiest forms.

Frequency

Normal bowel movement frequency can vary widely among individuals. While some people may have multiple bowel movements per day, others may only go every other day. As long as your pattern remains consistent and you’re not experiencing discomfort, your frequency is likely normal for you.

By familiarizing yourself with these characteristics, you can better monitor your digestive health and identify potential issues early on. Remember that occasional variations are normal, but persistent changes should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

The Rainbow of Poop Colors: What They Mean for Your Health

The color of your poop can provide valuable insights into your digestive health and overall well-being. While variations in stool color are often harmless and related to diet, certain colors can indicate underlying health issues that may require attention.

Brown: The Healthy Standard

Normal, healthy poop typically ranges from light tan to dark brown. This color is primarily due to the presence of bile and bilirubin, which are produced during the digestive process. Brown stools generally indicate a well-functioning digestive system.

Green: Diet or Transit Time

Green stools can result from consuming leafy greens or foods with green food coloring. They may also indicate that food is moving through your digestive system too quickly, not allowing enough time for bile to break down completely.

Red: Potential Bleeding or Dietary Factors

Red or reddish stools can be alarming but are often due to consuming red-colored foods like beets or tomato juice. However, they can also indicate bleeding in the lower digestive tract, which may require medical attention.

Black: Iron Supplements or Upper GI Bleeding

Black stools may result from iron supplements or medications containing bismuth. However, they can also indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, which is a serious condition requiring immediate medical evaluation.

Yellow: Excess Fat or Malabsorption

Yellow, greasy stools may suggest that your body is not properly absorbing fats. This could be due to conditions affecting the pancreas, gallbladder, or intestines.

Pale or Clay-Colored: Bile Duct Issues

Very light or clay-colored stools may indicate a lack of bile in the stool, which could be due to bile duct obstruction or certain medications. This color change warrants medical investigation.

By paying attention to the color of your stool and noting any persistent changes, you can gain valuable insights into your digestive health and potentially identify issues early on. If you observe unusual colors that persist or are accompanied by other symptoms, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional.

The Importance of Bowel Movement Timing and Frequency

The timing and frequency of your bowel movements can provide valuable information about your digestive health and overall well-being. While there’s no universal “normal” when it comes to bowel movement frequency, understanding your personal patterns can help you identify potential issues.

Ideal Timing

Many people find that their most regular bowel movements occur in the morning, often after waking up or having breakfast. This is due to the body’s natural circadian rhythm and the gastrocolic reflex, which stimulates bowel activity after eating. However, having bowel movements at other times of the day is also perfectly normal.

Frequency Variations

Bowel movement frequency can vary widely among individuals. Some people may have multiple movements per day, while others may only go every other day. As long as your pattern remains consistent and you’re not experiencing discomfort, your frequency is likely normal for you.

Signs of Potential Issues

• Sudden changes in frequency
• Prolonged constipation (less than three bowel movements per week)
• Chronic diarrhea (more than three loose stools per day)
• Straining or difficulty passing stools
• Feeling of incomplete evacuation

If you experience any of these symptoms persistently, it’s advisable to consult with a healthcare professional to rule out underlying health issues.

Factors Affecting Bowel Movement Timing and Frequency

1. Diet: Fiber intake, hydration, and overall food choices
2. Physical activity: Regular exercise can promote healthy bowel function
3. Stress levels: High stress can affect digestive processes
4. Medications: Certain drugs can impact bowel movements
5. Medical conditions: Various health issues can affect digestive function

By paying attention to your bowel movement patterns and understanding what’s normal for you, you can better monitor your digestive health and identify potential issues early on. Remember that occasional variations are normal, but persistent changes should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Optimizing Your Digestive Health: Diet and Lifestyle Tips

Maintaining good digestive health is crucial for overall well-being. By making informed dietary choices and adopting healthy lifestyle habits, you can promote regular bowel movements and optimize your digestive function.

Dietary Recommendations

• Increase fiber intake: Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber daily from sources like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes
• Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to support healthy digestion
• Incorporate probiotic-rich foods: Yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods can promote gut health
• Limit processed foods: Reduce intake of refined sugars and heavily processed items that can disrupt digestive balance
• Eat mindfully: Chew your food thoroughly and avoid eating on the go to support proper digestion

Lifestyle Habits for Better Digestion

1. Regular exercise: Engage in physical activity to stimulate bowel movements and promote overall digestive health
2. Stress management: Practice relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing to reduce stress-related digestive issues
3. Establish a routine: Try to have bowel movements at consistent times each day to promote regularity
4. Listen to your body: Don’t ignore the urge to have a bowel movement
5. Avoid overuse of laxatives: Relying too heavily on laxatives can disrupt natural bowel function

By implementing these dietary and lifestyle changes, you can support healthy digestion and promote regular, comfortable bowel movements. Remember that everyone’s digestive system is unique, so it may take some time to find the approach that works best for you.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Digestive Concerns

While occasional changes in bowel habits are normal, certain symptoms may indicate underlying health issues that require medical attention. Being aware of these warning signs can help you seek timely care and prevent potential complications.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Blood in the stool: Bright red or black, tarry stools
• Persistent changes in bowel habits: Lasting more than a few weeks
• Unexplained weight loss: Especially when accompanied by digestive symptoms
• Severe abdominal pain: Particularly if it’s new or worsening
• Chronic diarrhea or constipation: Lasting more than a few days
• Difficulty swallowing: Or feeling like food is stuck in your throat
• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin or eyes

Conditions That May Require Medical Evaluation

1. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis
2. Celiac disease: An autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten
3. Colorectal cancer: Especially if you’re over 45 or have a family history
4. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A common functional gastrointestinal disorder
5. Gallbladder issues: Such as gallstones or inflammation
6. Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas
7. Gastrointestinal infections: Caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites

If you experience any of these symptoms or have concerns about your digestive health, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional. They can perform necessary tests, provide an accurate diagnosis, and recommend appropriate treatment options.

Preparing for Your Doctor’s Visit

When seeking medical attention for digestive concerns, it’s helpful to come prepared with relevant information:

• Keep a detailed diary of your symptoms, including duration and severity
• Note any recent dietary changes or new medications
• Be prepared to discuss your family medical history
• Bring a list of questions or concerns you’d like to address

By being proactive about your digestive health and seeking timely medical attention when needed, you can ensure early detection and treatment of potential issues, leading to better overall health outcomes.

What your poop says about your health

Everybody poops, but nobody really talks about it. But while putting a lid on all potty talk may keep conversations civilized, it may mean we’re missing out on valuable clues to our health.

Your poop can tell you if you’re eating enough fiber and drinking enough water, or if your digestive system is processing food too slowly or too quickly. Also, lasting changes in your bowel habits or the appearance of your poop can be a sign of a medical condition that requires treatment.

Read on to learn what your poop can tell you, how you can easily describe it and why it’s good to talk about it. Just hold off on sharing the details of your latest bowel movement until after dinner. There should be some limits, after all.

Poop health 101: What’s normal?

After you go to the bathroom, turn around and take a look. Based on what you see, do you wonder: Is my poop normal? Do I have healthy poop?

From the earliest diapering and potty-training days to every age and stage that comes after, it’s important to be aware.

Turns out there’s a lot of variety in what’s normal. Just as everyone poops, everyone’s poop is different. And your poops may not be exactly the same every day. However, there are some general characteristics of “normal poop”.

Poop size

A normal stool size is at least a couple inches in length, and ideally between four and eight inches. Tiny poops aren’t good. You shouldn’t be pooping out pellets – not unless you’re a bunny, deer or other wild animal.

Poop shape

People use a lot of different expressions when they talk about having a bowel movement. But in terms of accuracy, the ones comparing poop to logs are probably the closest.

The healthiest shape for poop is a long cylinder. When poop takes on other shapes, it may indicate something could be going on with your digestive system.

Poop firmness or consistency

Ideally, your stool should be somewhere between firm and soft. Thankfully you can figure this out just by looking at it – there’s no need to do a touch test. If your poop is a well-formed log and it wasn’t too hard to squeeze out, it’s probably the right consistency.

Poop color

What’s a normal stool color? Normal poop is brown and comes in every color from tan to espresso. The brown color is largely due to bile and bilirubin.

Bile is a yellowish-green fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bilirubin is an orange-yellow substance that the body makes through the normal process of breaking down red blood cells. Through the digestive process, these fluids mix with your foods and usually make your poop brown.

Other poop color meanings

The color of your poop generally reflects what you consume – whether that’s food, beverages or medicines. While brown is the most typical color, there are other colors we may see in the toilet. Here’s what the color of your poop might mean about your health:

Black poop: There are a few reasons why your poop may be black, including taking iron supplements or a bismuth medication like Pepto Bismol. But black stool can also mean that you have bleeding in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Any internal bleeding is an issue, so if you can’t figure out why your poop is black, make a primary care appointment right away.

Green poop: If your poop is a little greenish, it’s totally fine. Green poop may signal that your food isn’t spending enough time in your digestive system or that you’re eating a ton of leafy greens like spinach. And if your poop suddenly looks like neon green playdough, the likely cause is artificial colors from drink mixes, bakery frosting or frozen novelties.

Red poop: There are dietary reasons why your poop may turn red – beets, cranberries, red gelatin or tomato juice. But red poop can be a cause for concern because it may mean you have bleeding in your colon – this can be a sign of colon cancer or digestive disorders. Bloody stool may look coated in red, or you may notice spots of red in it. If you can’t explain the red color by your food choices, get in touch with a primary care doctor.

Yellow poop: If your poop is yellow, greasy and stinky, it probably means that you’ve been eating too much fat. But sometimes it can be a sign of malabsorption, which means that your body isn’t able to pull nutrients from food during digestion. Malabsorption usually happens due to sickness, food intolerance or diseases that affect the intestinal lining.

Pale or white poop: Chalky is not a good look on poop. It may mean your body isn’t producing bile. It could be that you have an infection or that your bile duct is blocked. Pale poop could also be a side effect of medicines, including some used for diarrhea.

Timing of bowel movements

The most normal time to poop is in the morning after your body worked overnight processing your food. But there’s nothing wrong with having bowel movements at other times of the day.

How long it takes you to poop

It should take just a couple minutes for you to have a bowel movement – certainly not more than 10-15 minutes. If there’s pain or straining to get your poop out, you’re probably constipated.

How often should you poop

You don’t need to poop every day to be regular. It’s normal and healthy to have a bowel movement anywhere between three times a week to three times a day. If you’re producing soft, well-formed logs that aren’t hard to push out, your bowels are probably in good shape.

Poop smell

Poop never smells like a bouquet of roses. So if your poop stinks, you’re in good company. But if the smell of your poop makes your eyes water, that’s not normal. Most likely it’s due to an infection or a stomach bug, and your stinky poop will go away after you get better.

But in some cases, foul-smelling feces happens when your body is unable to process gluten or other nutrients. If you notice that your poop smells really bad after you eat certain things, bring it up to your doctor – especially if you’re experiencing unexplained weight loss, too.

Should poop sink or float?

Most poop sinks. But if your poop floats, it’s typically not something to worry about. Floaters are often caused by excess gas from eating things like beans or sugar-free candies. But if you have floating stools that are also stinky, it can be a sign your body isn’t processing food correctly because you have an infection, food intolerance, a digestive disorder or other medical condition.

The Bristol stool chart: Types of poop and what they mean

If you’re having pooping problems, you’re probably not thrilled at the idea of describing your bowel movements in detail when you visit the doctor. The good news is that you may not have to.

There’s a handy poop health chart that doctors often use to describe the type of bowel movements people have. The Bristol stool chart categorizes the shape and texture of bowel movements into seven types.

Chances are you’ll experience all these poop types at one time or another. But if you continue to have unhealthy poop types like constipation or diarrhea, you should talk to your doctor.

Type 1

Shape and consistency: Type 1 looks like smallish, roundish pellets that are surprisingly hard to squeeze out – especially for their size. They typically look like marbles, nuts or berries.

What it means: If your poop is coming out in small balls, it means you’re constipated, and your stool might have been hanging around in your digestive system for a couple extra days. Normally it takes about three days for food to complete the journey through your digestive system.

Constipation is usually caused by diet or lack of exercise. Other causes are a blockage in the digestive system and conditions that affect hormones such as pregnancy or diabetes. It’s normal to be constipated occasionally, but if you’re always blocked up, it’s not good for your health. Find out what causes constipation and how to get relief.

Type 2

Shape and consistency: Congrats! It’s a log – just not the healthiest kind. Type 2 poop looks like a lumpy log. You can tell it’s type 2 if it’s a log that took a bit of effort to get out.

What it means: If your number two is type 2, you probably have mild constipation. As with type 1, common causes can be diet, blockage and hormonal changes.

Type 3

Shape and consistency: Type 3 has a sausage shape with cracks on the surface. It can look a little bumpy like a cob of corn. This type of bowel movement should slide out quickly with little effort. When you flush it down it shouldn’t fall apart.

What it means: Hooray! Your poop is normal, and your digestive system is working the way it should.

Type 4

Shape and consistency: If you’re seeing a log that has a smooth surface like a sausage or a snake, then you have type 4 stool. This type is also easy to push out and should flush down in one piece.

What it means: Way to go! This shape is also normal. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up.

Type 5

Shape and consistency: Type 5 stools are soft blobs with defined edges. They are smallish like type 1 but easy to push out.

What it means: Your diet may not have enough soluble fiber and your food was pushed through your digestive system too quickly.

Type 6

Shape and consistency: With type 6, you’ll see mushy blobs with ragged edges. These stools can look a little like porridge.

What it means: You have mild diarrhea. This could be related to diet, illness or a medical condition. If you have chronic diarrhea, even a mild version, it can be difficult for you to get the nutrients you need from your food.

Type 7

Shape and consistency: Type 7 is pure liquid with no solid pieces – like gravy.

What it means: You’ve got diarrhea. It can be caused by a variety of things, such as food poisoning or an illness like norovirus. But it can also be caused by medical conditions or food intolerances to things like gluten or lactose.

Keep yourself (and your poop) healthy

Healthy poop – and a healthy you – depends on many factors, including diet, exercise, overall health, medications and stress. But lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise can go a long way toward producing perfect poo time after time.

Include colon-healthy foods in a diet that’s heavy on the fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eating a rainbow of foods can help your body get the widest array of vitamins and minerals for the best colon health. Plus, eating whole foods makes it easier to get the fiber you need to move things along.

Drink plenty of water

Water helps break down food during digestion, allowing your body to pull out all the helpful nutrients. If you’re dehydrated, your body doesn’t have enough fluids to make your poop the right consistency, causing constipation. To stay hydrated, make sure you drink regularly throughout the day, especially when you’re thirsty.

Eat on a schedule

Eating on a schedule may help keep digestion on track – and give your body time to process your food between meals. Try to eat breakfast within one hour of waking and lunch 4 to 5 hours after breakfast. For best digestion, don’t eat dinner within three hours of bedtime. And since it takes 3 to 4 hours for your digestive system to fully digest food, adding a mid-morning and an afternoon snack can keep digestion moving between mealtimes.

Get regular exercise

Getting your body moving is a great way to keep digestion moving, decreasing the time that food spends in your colon and helping with constipation. And it doesn’t take a lot of activity to support poop health. Even walking around 10 to 15 minutes a day may do the trick. Stretching and yoga can help, too.

Current colorectal cancer screening guidelines recommend you get screened beginning at age 45, or sooner if you have certain risk factors. There are different screening options available, including a colonoscopy and the FIT test, which is a poop test you can do at home. The starting age for colorectal cancer screening recently changed, so check with your insurance company to see what’s covered.

When to give your doctor the scoop about your poop

Sometimes a bad bathroom experience is just the result of a bad burrito. Sometimes constipation is caused by too much cheese. These things happen – even to the best of digestive systems.

But there are times when your symptoms may indicate a bigger problem, and you should talk to a doctor. So, watch out for changes in your bowel habits that last longer than a few days, including:

• Recurrent constipation
• Recurrent diarrhea
• Severe abdominal pain and indigestion
• Poop that is always very stinky and often floats
• Unintentional weight loss
• Red stools or black stools that cannot be explained by your diet. These poop colors may signal that you have bleeding in your digestive system, something that can be a symptom of a more serious condition. So, don’t put off making an appointment.

When you meet with the doctor, they’re going to want to know how your digestive system is – or is not – moving and grooving. Collecting this information can be as easy as keeping a tally of how often you’re going and the types of poop you have – there are even a variety of mobile apps out there to help you keep track.

It’s also a good idea to pay attention if the food you eat makes a difference to your bowel habits. And of course, make note of pain, bleeding, weight loss and other symptoms.

Based on your bowel habits and symptoms, your doctor will work with you to come up with a treatment plan. They may also refer you to a gastroenterologist, which is a doctor who specializes in digestive heath.

While no one really wants to talk about digestive problems, paying attention to what plops into the toilet can lead to a healthier poo – and you.

7 things you should know about poop

Although it is not necessarily the most pleasant of topics, we must, at least, respect its ubiquity: poop is everywhere. In this Spotlight, we bring you some fascinating stool-based knowledge.

Feces unites the entire animal kingdom. It is something we all have in common.

On average, we will do 1.2 poops every 24 hours. However, there is no such thing as “normal,” and healthy people can poop much more or less frequently than the average.

Roughly speaking, we produce around 128 grams of poop each day.

Poop is ubiquitous on earth and forms an essential cog in the wheel of life, acting as a fertilizer for some organisms and food for others.

Human excrement has even followed us beyond the limits of the earth’s atmosphere and into space: Neil Armstrong deposited four bags of poop on the moon’s surface.

Excrement is essential because, first and foremost, it carries waste away from our bodies, but that’s not the only reason why it is important. In this Spotlight, we discuss other reasons why we should all pay attention to poop.

Before we get started, it’s worth refreshing our understanding of precisely what poop is. Feces are the remains of food that bacteria have fermented in the gut and that the small intestine could not digest or absorb.

Poop is mostly water; and, as we all know from experience, the amount of water in each stool can vary, depending on several factors, including spicy food intake. Even so, on average, poop is around 75 percent water.

The second most significant ingredient after water is bacterial biomass — both alive and dead organisms; this makes up 25–54 percent of the dry weight of poop.

The rest is mostly undigested carbohydrate, fiber, protein, fat, and dead epithelial cells from the walls of the gastrointestinal tract.

Of course, if you accidentally swallow something indigestible, that will (hopefully) show up in your poop sooner or later, too.

Feces also contains small amounts of metabolic waste products. For instance, a breakdown product of red blood cells and bile, called stercobilin, is responsible for the brown color of poop with which we are all familiar.

However, poop can come in a range of colors from red to green and beyond. If you are interested in the varied hues of poop, this article has all of the details.

If you are reading this study in the Western world, you probably poop while sitting down. If you are reading this from somewhere in Africa or Asia, the chances are that you often poop while crouching.

This is, of course, a cultural thing; however, according to a study published in 2013, it might have medical relevance.

The scientists asked 28 healthy participants “to use a digital timer to record the net time needed for sensation of satisfactory emptying while defecating in three alternative positions.”

Share on PinterestSquatting toilets are common in many parts of the world.

The three positions were: sitting on a standard toilet, sitting on a toilet with a significantly lower bowl, and squatting.

Alongside the time it took, the researchers asked the participants “to note their subjective impression of the intensity of the defecation effort.”

The amount of effort a person exerts during defecation is important.

If one strains too much, it can cause damage to soft tissues due to a buildup of pressure; this can eventually lead to piles, prolapse — where the rectum protrudes out of the anus — or even vaginal varicose veins. Regular straining might also increase the risk of cardiovascular events, such as stroke.

According to the authors of the 2013 study, all 28 participants:

“[R]egistered a sharp reduction of time necessary for sensation of satisfactory bowel emptying in the squatting posture compared to either of the sitting positions.”

As for the subjective measurement, all participants noted that it felt easier when crouching.

As the authors record, this might help account for the “near absence of hemorrhoids, constipation, hiatus hernia, and diverticulosis coli” in less-developed countries.

Because pooping is such a regular occurrence across our entire lifespan, even if crouching only makes a small difference to our health, it might be worth considering.

Over the years, interest in gut bacteria has rushed to the foreground. These microbes are vital for digestion, of course, but they also play roles in the immune system and much further afield in the human body.

Indeed, the microbiome is so important that some scientists now refer to it as a microbial human organ.

When we lose these microscopic hitchhikers, our health can suffer. People who have taken long courses of antibiotics, for instance, can develop Clostridium difficile colitis — a severe gastrointestinal condition.

For some individuals, even after a further course of antibiotics has treated C. difficile colitis effectively, it returns after just a few weeks.

Doctors may offer a fecal transfer to those who have experienced recurrence and are over 65 years of age or have chronic conditions. In this procedure, a doctor will transplant stool from a healthy donor into the colon of the patient.

The transplant is done during a colonoscopy when a doctor advances a long tube through the colon. Then, as they pull the tube back, the donor’s stool sample remains.

Once in place, the beneficial bacteria in the donor feces can start to colonize their new home.

Currently, fecal transplants are only used to treat C. difficile-associated diarrhea; however, researchers are investigating their use in a range of conditions, including colitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease.

A study from January 2019 describes successful treatment of ulcerative colitis, a typically difficult-to-treat type of bowel disease. The scientists believe that their approach was successful because they processed the stool anaerobically — without oxygen.

It seems that there might be a bright future for fecal transplants.

Although fecal transplants can help some people overcome conditions that excessive use of antibiotics drive, feces might also play a part in the growing concern about antibiotic resistance.

Billions of humans produce an almost unimaginable quantity of feces each day. Safely treating this level of effluent is an ongoing challenge.

As the authors of a recent 2019 study write, it has only recently become clear that “[t]reated effluent from wastewater treatment plants […] is one of the most important point sources of resistant bacteria and resistance genes release to the environment.”

Their study found that we can link a virus specific to the bacteria we see in feces to antibiotic resistance. In their conclusion, the authors write:

“We find that the presence of resistance genes can largely be explained by fecal pollution [….]”

Despite poop’s intrinsic intrigue, it disgusts us; this, of course, is for a good reason. It is vital that we keep poop at arm’s length (at the very least). It carries the possibility of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infection.

Share on PinterestHumans display disgust similarly across most cultures.

Over evolutionary time, the human brain has come to detest the odor of feces.

We avoid it at all cost. The evolution of disgust is an interesting topic.

Diverse cultures across the planet respond in a similar way to disgusting stimuli, such as poop; for instance, we all recoil, pull the familiar, disgusted expression, and shudder.

In short, evolution has hardwired our entirely negative reaction to poop to protect us from disease. Disgust forms part of our so-called behavioral immune system; like our physical immune system, a disgusted reaction to poop protects us from pathogens.

Fecal bacteria, in general, are more resilient than bacteria we find elsewhere. This means that they are more likely to tolerate living in the harsh environment outside the body, giving them ample opportunity to infect passing humans.

As discussed above, one of the reasons we consider the smell of feces to be so abhorrent is a protective measure. However, objectively, poop certainly does have an overwhelmingly pungent stench.

Depending on a person’s diet and what is going on in their bodies, poop can smell quite different from person to person. However, certain chemicals are commonly involved in the aroma, including:

• Methyl sulfides — these chemicals also form part of the odor of certain vegetables we cook, such as cabbage.
• Indole — which a number of bacterial species produce. It also occurs in coal tar and, surprisingly, is a constituent of flower scents.
• Skatole — this is a breakdown product of the amino acid tryptophan. As with indole, skatole is present in flower scents, such as orange blossom.
• Hydrogen sulfide — this compound is colorless, corrosive, poisonous, flammable, and smells of rotten eggs.

Certain medical conditions can increase the odor of feces, including celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and cystic fibrosis.

In this article, we will leave you with one final poop-based tale. Although it is not directly about human health, it is a fascinating example of how feces can tell a story, albeit, a sad one.

In 2001, a group of researchers was studying right whales in Canada’s Bay of Fundy. Specifically, they were assessing the animals’ stress levels by measuring “stress-related fecal hormone metabolites.”

It just so happened that they were collecting data on September 11, 2001, a now infamous date.

The authors noted a distinct drop in stress levels during this time. Why? It seems that it was due to a steep decline in the amount of ocean-faring traffic and, consequently, a substantial reduction in underwater noise.

As the authors conclude, “This is the first evidence that exposure to low-frequency ship noise may be associated with chronic stress in whales.”

As we mentioned, this story is irrelevant to human health, but it serves as a good reminder that even the most seemingly unpleasant of bodily functions can reveal unexpected details about the world around us and within us.

10 facts about your body that you didn’t know for sure • Articles on the website of the publishing house BOMBOR

• Articles
• December 28, 2021

Let’s tell you what happens if you carry your phone to the toilet with you and sit at the computer every day

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Sharing a few facts about the human body

LOVE CABBAGE IS NOT YOUR FAULT

Well, maybe not quite true. Some people have a gene that makes certain vegetables so bitter that they find them too disgusting to eat, especially foods like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. Unfortunately, cries of “I can’t eat this! It’s all genetics! I don’t think they’ll spare you vegetables for dinner.

YOUR PHONE IS POO

Ha ha ha ha. Yes, if you have a phone, then it probably has a whole screen covered in poop, because after going to the toilet, the fumes of your excrement fall on everything, including him. The best way to avoid this is not to take your phone to the toilet with you, and this has its advantages, because then you will not be able to accidentally drop it into the toilet.

SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON A COMPUTER CAN INJURE YOUR HANDS

I’m sorry – I know that’s not what you want to hear. When you play a lot of computer games, you do the same actions with your hands over and over again. This can cause swelling around the tendons that move the fingers, known as tendinitis. Although I think it would be worth calling it Nintendoite.

THERE IS GOLD IN THE BLOOD

Blood contains small amounts of metals such as iron, copper and gold. However, don’t get too excited – there are ridiculously few of them, so you won’t earn money from it. You will have to take every drop of blood from all the people in the full football stadium to collect enough gold for a small ring. (Please don’t do this or I’ll have to call the police.)

DOCTORS USE GROGAR TO HEAL WOUNDS

If a patient has a lot of dead or infected tissue on their skin that doctors need to remove, they can use maggots to accomplish this task. When placed on a wound, they regurgitate special chemicals that break down flesh and then eat it all up. You understood correctly, they vomit on a person, and then not only eat him, but also absorb their own vomit back. In short, maggots are great doctors’ helpers, but terrible dinner companions.

ASTRONAUTS BREATHING URINE

There is no oxygen in space, so astronauts on the International Space Station must make it themselves. Getting oxygen from water is not that difficult – h3O (the chemical formula of water) breaks down neatly into H (hydrogen) and O (oxygen). But since no one delivers bottled water into space every morning, astronauts need to find other sources of gas right on board. For example, urine. It’s not as bad as you now think – first they clean it. But still, it’s gross.

HAND NAILS GROW FASTER THAN TOE

Fingernails grow two to three times faster than toenails, which is good because biting off toenails to the correct length is much more difficult. (Don’t pretend you haven’t tried.) We also know that nails grow faster on the hand you use more often, and the longer the finger, the faster the nail grows.

IN THE EVENING YOU ARE SMALLER THAN IN THE MORNING

After a whole day of trampling on your feet, the vertebrae eventually come closer to each other a little. When you go to bed, your spine stretches and replenishes synovial fluid. All this extra fluid between the vertebrae makes the spine longer. An inch, to be exact. I don’t know if you’ve ever been in space, but if you have, then remember that when you were there, you were taller than ever, and no gravity was pressing on your spine.

BABY CRYING IN THE WOMEN

Yes, you started whining before you were even born. Doctors who perform ultrasounds have noticed that babies sometimes cry in their stomachs, although you can’t actually hear them do it. If you’ve ever wondered why babies scream so well the moment they’re born, know that it’s because they’ve been rehearsing for months!

YOU USED TO DRINK YOUR OWN URINE

I’m sorry, but that’s true. In fact, that’s all you’ve been drinking non-stop for months. No, it’s not that school milk, it tastes a little weird – it happened when you were a baby growing in the womb. Before being born, the fetus drinks the liquid in which it floats, but wow, what a plot twist! — it also contains his urine. So you not only swallowed it, but also swam in it. I’m sorry I had to give you such terrible news.

What is hiccups, why is the blood red and the veins blue and is it true that if you eat a lot of carrots, the skin will turn orange? Answers to these and other burning questions in the book by Adam Kay “Fuuu, what a body!”.

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Scientists have found out how much shit is in a person

Varvara Lyutova

Author:

Varvara Lyutova

March 24, 2018 11:40

Tags: all about shit0010

5

Scientists from the University of San Diego have figured out everything about the human bowel movement! They learned how much waste a person produces in his life, whether there is a difference in their volumes between men and women, as well as what diseases constipation can serve as a harbinger of. Read the research materials – and you will learn a lot of interesting things about your own toilet habits.

Source:

It’s amazing how much time, it turns out, scientists spend on studying the processes of human defecation and its products! As scientists from the University of San Diego found out, a healthy person goes to the toilet in a large way at least once a day, producing about 400 grams of a secondary product at a time, which corresponds to 2.8 kilos per week, and over a lifetime this number is more than 11 tons. . Georgia Tech University researchers calculated the rate at which solid waste exits the human body – 2 centimeters per second in a healthy person. In addition, according to scientists, constipation in a person can be a symptom of serious health problems such as thyroid disease, diabetes and depression.

Source:

According to scientists from the University of San Diego, the weight of feces that a woman gets rid of throughout her life will exceed the weight of three adult hippos.