Your stool can tell you a lot about the state of your body. It might sound yucky, but it is very important to pay keen attention to your bowel movements as they indicate how strong or weak your digestive health is.

If you have not made it a practice to always check what leaves your body, start doing so now!

There are different types of stool people release and it can vary in colour, shape and size. Your stool can tell you that you may need a check up at the doctor. It is even said that if we don’t pass stool at least three times per day we are considered constipated and, on average, many persons do a #2 at least once or twice a day.

Lets take a look at the different types of stool shapes and what they indicate.

Type 1

These are separate hard lumps that are hard to pass. They can be as hard as nuts and usually passing this type of stool will leave on the toilet for what feels like hours. This type has spent a long time in your bowel and it can indicate constipation. If this progresses, see a doctor!

Type 2

This type is sausage shaped but lumpy. Like type 1, this could be an indication that you are constipated. You need to increase your fibre intake and the amount of water you drink.

Type 3

This type is sausage shaped but with cracks at the surface. This is considered fairly normal as it is soft and there shouldn’t be any difficulties with it passing through. If everything is as it should be, you will only spend a few seconds on the toilet.

Type 4

This type is described as being sausage or snake-like and smooth and soft. A close resemblance to type 3, excluding the cracks, type 4 is what doctors recommend you aim for. This stool shows signs that your bowel movement is healthy. Ideally, you should have one type 4 every one to three days.

Type 5

This type is easy to pass and looks like soft blobs with clear cut edges. Despite being easy to pass, you may feel the need to go to the bathroom pronto. This cold indicate mild diarrhea and in most cases it goes away on its own.

Type 6

These fluffy pieces with ragged edges and mushy like texture means you need to replace the minerals your body is losing. Releasing this more than three times a day indicates that you are suffering from diarrhea. It is important that you drink plenty of fluids including water and fruit juice.

Type 7

This type is entirely liquid, there is absolutely no solidity. This stool passes through your bowel very quickly and if you pass this type of stool at least 3 times in over two days, a doctor visit is in order. Check with your doctor for a fever, dehydration, sleepiness, dizziness, a headache and pain in your tummy or rear.