The perfect poop
In my off-line conversations with many of you, I’ve found that 1) most people have issues in the poop department and 2) that many are unclear as to what a ’normal’ 💩 looks like. So here it goes...
THE IDEAL STOOL
The perfect bowel movement happens daily in the AM or after lunch, it’s brown, banana shaped, does not stick to the toilet, easy and clean to wipe, minimal effort, odor, and gas and makes you feel lighter after. In the Bristol Stool Chart below, the ideal stool fits somewhere in between #3 and #4.
HOW TO ACHIEVE THE IDEAL STOOL?
AIR
Main issue: you often experience dry, hard stool, scanty, pellet shaped, infrequent = less than once a day, dark brown, gas, flatulence, foul odor
💩 Stay hydrated, digestive system needs water to function & AIR types tend to run really dry (poop #1 & 2 in next picture)
💩 Relax & take time to eat meals and pass bowel movements in the AM
💩 Cook with & eat more healthy fats like ghee, olive oil, avocado, chia seeds to lubricate the insides
💩 Have regular meals, on a regular schedule
💩 Drink a cup of Senna tea (or milk of magnesia) before bed, take Haritaki before meals, drink a warm lemon water upon waking
FIRE
Main issue: you often experience loose stool, yellow-brown or yellow-green, strong odor, bloating, burping, hot-burning stool
💩 Don’t eat spicy foods
💩 Eat more slowly
💩 Add more fibers like oats, flax seeds, pears, lentils, banana to protect the gut from inflammation
💩 Eat more greens which will bulk up your stool (FIRE types tend to have loose stool like #5,6,7 of next pic)
💩 Take amalaki after meals, it helps prevent looser stool
EARTH
Main issue: you often experience mucous in stool, sticks to toilet bowl, hard to wipe clean, light brown or clay colored due to liver congestion
💩 Get more exercise
💩 Enjoy 3 good meals a day, no snacking. Snacking bogs down digestion
💩 Avoid comfort foods: fried, dairy, wheat & sweets
💩 Eat more leafy greens, broccoli, lentils, split peas, quinoa, beets, fenugreek, cinnamon
💩 Take triphala before going to bed
