Poo On

 I just have to get a word in since the function of our gastrointestinal tract can tell us so much about our health! First of all, if you have a hard time going to the “loo” every day, you are not alone…constipation is a very common issue in today’s fast paced, “Standard American Diet” society. Remember our chat about Magnesium earlier this month? Magnesium is a great muscle relaxant, sleep aid AND bowel mover! If you find that you have a slow intestinal system, I would urge you to step away from the laxatives and choose a more natural option. 400-500 mg per day of Magnesium Citrate can be very helpful and don’t forget about our dear friend, exercise. Move your body, shake that booty and BAM…it gets your gut working too! Get adjusted by your Chiropractor…removing nerve interference through Chiropractic, helps ALL systems of the body function better! One of my other favorite recommendations for constipation is using George’s Aloe Vera Juice. A little bit goes a long way here and it is also a safe alternative for kids! Lastly….drink water! Our stool is made up of a lot of water and it you don’t have enough in your body…guess what?!?
As I mentioned, our intestinal tract can tell us a lot about our health. Did you know that if you have smelly toots, it is likely that you have a food intolerance or that you are not digesting protein properly?!? Plant digestive enzymes may be helpful for some, others benefit more from removing certain foods from their diet like gluten or dairy. During my nutrition training, I learned that a good healthy stool sinks down like a submarine. If you are dealing with floaters at the top, you may be getting too much fat in your diet OR you may be dealing with fat malabsorption, where your body is having trouble digesting fats.
If you have an artistic eye…this next part is really going to excite you!! The COLOR of your stool should be medium to dark brown. If it is very dark or black, it can be blood that is originating from higher up, like the stomach or intestine and you should contact your Physician to determine the cause. If you have yellow/tan/clay colored, it can indicate bile in your bowel…(gall bladder). Greenish…think infection! Visible blood is typically coming from the lower GI system indicating rectal tearing, hemorrhoids, etc.
Well, there you have it. The excitement is over. Time to wrap up the poo chat and move on...