Stool Signs... Could Mean...
Black, tarry, sticky................... Bleeding in your upper digestive tract. The black color
comes from digested blood cells.
Very dark brown........................ You drank red wine last night, or your diet has too much
salt or not enough vegitables.
Glowing red or megenta................. You've eaten beats or other reddish foods.
Light green............................ You're consuming too much sugar, or too many fruits and
vegitables with not enough grains or salt.
Pale or clay-colored................... Minimal amounts of bile are being excreated, perhaps
because of gallbladder or liver problems.
Bloody or mucus-covered................ Herorrhoids, an overgrowth of certain bacteria in your
gastrointestinal tract, colitis (inflammation of the
colon), Crohn's disease (also known as inflammatory
bowel disease), or colon cancer. Red blood usually means
the ailment is located near the end of your digestive
tract; black blood signals partially digested blood coming
from an ailment higher up. Seek medical advice promptly.
Pencil-thin and ribbonlike............. A polyp or growth in your colon my be narrowing the
passage.
Large and floating, with
greasy film on the toilet water........ Malabsorption--your digestive system isn't getting the
full nutritional use of food.
Small, hard, round pellets............. Constipation--even if you're defecating frequently. Poss-
ible causes: too much dry food, including protein, and
not enough vegetables adn raw foods; laxative abuse;
worries; irritable bowel syndrome.
Loose and watery, sometimes
with undigested foodstuffs............. Possible causes of diarrhea: food poisoning, lactose intol-
erance, antibiotics, antacids, dietary changes, travel,
anxiety, stress, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel
syndrome.
Alternating bouts of
diarrhea and constipation.............. Irritable bowel syndrome. This cronic condition can be
aggravated by rad meat, spices, sugar, alcohol, lack
of fiber, allergy-causing foods, irregular hours, and
chaotic relationships.
Smells really bad...................... An imbalance of intestinal bacteria or eating too much
animal protein, which can putrefy your digestive tract.
~ Utne Reader July-August edition, 1999
Oh give me a home where the bowel movements roam and the deer and the antelope scat play.
Come into the air conditioning!
Email: levon_16@yahoo.com