I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I love sh*t.
You can learn so much about a person's health by what comes out the other end.
For the record, gut health is more than your gut microbiome, or your colon. Gut health includes your stomach, your 6m long small intestine & your 1.8m long colon. Of course your gut also has a few accomplices like the spleen, gall bladder, pancreas & liver who contribute to its functions as well.
Gut transit is really important. Food speeding through = diarrhoea = dehydration +
Ideally it should take <5mins from the time you enter the loo til you leave to defecate with relative ease.
Poop is actually a semi-solid bodily fluid. Poop from healthy individuals contains roughly 75% water & only 25% solids. Of the solids, 25–54% is bacteria, 2–25% is protein/nitrogenous matter, 25% carbohydrate or dietary fibre & 2–15% fat. Protein & fat are partially from undigested/unabsorbed dietary sources, & also from secretions in the colon, epithelial cells shed from the colon, & short chain fatty acids produced by bacteria. There are also trace amounts of calcium & iron. Amazing, right? You'll never look at your poop the same way.
Today I had the privilege of sharing my insights on stool texture (my mum is so proud) with journalist Helen Foster for her upcoming article in Reader's Digest Association Australia's magazine focusing on why gut transit time is important for gut health & the Blue Poo Challenge (measuring how long it takes for food to make it through from your mouth to, well, the other end). I also share a few tips on how to keep things moving along at a consistent pace. The truth is the more aware you are of your bodily functions, the more you will understand your body's health.
Ironically The New York Times recently explored the rise in gut health advice being spruiked on TikTok by uncredentialled influencers, bless their well-meaning souls. Every few months, there's a new trend: March was Aloe vera juice shots, April is Extra Virgin Olive Oil shots, May is yet to be confirmed. Truth is too much aloe vera juice can cause diarrhoea in some & too much oil can loosen stools while irritating the stomach.
According to Prof Justin Sonnenburg from Stanford University's microbiology & immunology department, “If somebody is claiming to have something that will immediately turn gut health around, you should be skeptical of that.” Flipside, Sonnenburg's research confirms long-term lifestyle habits benefits your gut health. Instead of TikTok, check out Sonnenburg's tips for your gut health. Your digestive tract will thank you for it.
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