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...⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣
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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