Yes, I said it.\u00a0 Poop.\u00a0 Not only did I just\u00a0 say it, I make it a point to say it in every, single one of my Living Wellness University lectures- whether it is about the digestive system or it\u2019s about your hormones- it applies and is critical to your health.\u00a0 This guarded act of defecation has somehow become such a secret affair for adults, as though all of your friends and acquaintances don\u2019t know you are doing it.\u00a0 Of course, we all poop.\u00a0 But, the real question is how well do you do the deed!<\/p>\n
Our new patient forms delve deep into this function of elimination because it is one of the key factors to good health.\u00a0 Ask these questions of yourself:<\/p>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How often do you have a bowel movement (BM)?<\/strong><\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You should have 1-2 BMs a day.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 It does not matter if you have had a BM every 3-4 days since you were a child.\u00a0 You still should be pooping daily.<\/p>\n 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you ever see blood in your stools?<\/strong><\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If it is bright red, on the toilet paper and you suffer from constipation, you likely have hemorrhoids.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If your stools are black and tarry or you have clotted blood mixed in your stools, you should see a doctor immediately to be sure you don\u2019t have a source of bleeding deeper in your digestive system.<\/p>\n 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What is the consistency of your stools?<\/strong><\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Toothpaste consistency stools are best.\u00a0 These are the poops that come out writing cursive into the water.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Torpedo or log roll poops are likely too hard.\u00a0 Plop, plop, splash, splash is not ideal.<\/p>\n c.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sprinkler poops are likely too loose.<\/p>\n d.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If your BMs don\u2019t settle down, but prefer to stay afloat, you may not be digesting your fats.\u00a0 (Olean chips, anyone?)<\/p>\n 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you have to strain or push your stools out?<\/strong><\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This is another sign that there is something wrong- likely that your stools are too firm.<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Straining during elimination can increase your risk of hemorrhoids.<\/p>\n 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Do you have bloating or abdominal pain?<\/strong><\/p>\n a.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If you have these symptoms coupled with constipation or diarrhea, you may have Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).<\/p>\n b.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Functional and Integrative Medicine is known for its above average ability to help these symptoms through the use of probiotics, carminatives, botanicals and lifestyle therapy.<\/p>\n So, the next time you are \u2018dropping the kids off at the pool,\u2019 be sure to assess your performance.\u00a0 You might just expose some truths about your body\u2019s ability to detoxify.\u00a0 The way that I see it, your body is constantly making garbage (just like your house), and if you continue to produce the \u2018Garbage In\u2019 and forget to prioritize the \u2018Garbage Out\u2019 part of the equation, your house is going to stink soon.\u00a0 And this stink will slowly permeate the rest of your house… until you make it a point to take the ‘garbage out.’\u00a0 This is the basis of optimal detoxification- a distinct therapeutic target for many holistic practitioners.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the connection:\u00a0 If you don\u2019t poop well, your thinking, your menopause, your appetite, your breathing, your ability to handle medications, your mood, your risk of colon cancer, your acid reflux, your migraines, your IBS (getting the point) will all be subject to worsen\u2026 further, you might be taking medicines unnecessarily for these conditions.\u00a0 An amazing integrative medicine patient story to come on my next post about this subject.\u00a0 Until then, happy, healthy visits to your small room!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yes, I said it.\u00a0 Poop.\u00a0 Not only did I just\u00a0 say it, I make it a point to say it in every, single one of my Living Wellness University lectures- whether it is about the digestive system or it\u2019s about your hormones- it applies and is critical to your health.\u00a0 This guarded act of defecation…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":220,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5],"tags":[41,31,17,44,43,16,42,15,45],"class_list":["post-106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-everyday-health-tips","category-medical-tips","tag-constipation","tag-functional-medicine","tag-healthy-living","tag-hemorrhoids","tag-ibs","tag-integrative-medicine","tag-irritable-bowel-syndrome","tag-lifestyle","tag-poop"],"yoast_head":"\n