http://www.gutsense.org/constipation/normal_stools.html
This article sheds some light on what should be considered "normal stools". I have always wondered about this, because I have no idea what my stools looked like before I started with the explosive D. I never checked what was in the toilet bowl, as I had no reason to ..............
Love,
Kari
Norman might not be who you think :)
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Norman might not be who you think :)
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
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MBombardier
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karenswans
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The biggest surprise to me is that type 6 is considered to be "borderline normal" and that it results from a hyperactive gut and can occur because of stress. It seem to be like the "puff poopy" we talk about. I am feeling a lot more normal! Thanks, Kari.
Hugs,
Polly
Hugs,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Karen,
You're right - the author is wrong. That author belongs to the club that believes that 2 or 3 BMs per day is normal. 2 or 3 BMs per day is only normal for someone who eats a tremendous amount of indigestible food. Notice that according to the subtitle, the author believes that fiber causes constipation. How convoluted is that? This quote is from the first 6 items in the author's "How Often Should I Move My Bowels?" guidelines:
That's ridiculous, IMO. That website is designed to sell a book.
Here's a more logical assessment, with some additional helpful tips:
With this one, the type is correct, but a frequency of once every three days? IMO, once a day is more like normal. It just goes to show, though, that a wide range of normal apparently exists.
Tex
You're right - the author is wrong. That author belongs to the club that believes that 2 or 3 BMs per day is normal. 2 or 3 BMs per day is only normal for someone who eats a tremendous amount of indigestible food. Notice that according to the subtitle, the author believes that fiber causes constipation. How convoluted is that? This quote is from the first 6 items in the author's "How Often Should I Move My Bowels?" guidelines:
In view of the two guidelines that I've emphasized in red, we all have latent constipation.How do you determine if you are affected by “latent” constipation instead of mere “irregularity”:
— You do not move bowels at least every day;
— Your stools don’t match type 5 or 6 on the Bristol Stool Form scale;
— Your stool weight per bowel movement exceeds 150 grams.
— You have to strain, even very slightly, to complete a bowel movement;
— You already have enlarged hemorrhoids, or any other colorectal disorder;
— You are affected by bloating, flatulence, or abdominal cramps;
That's ridiculous, IMO. That website is designed to sell a book.
Here's a more logical assessment, with some additional helpful tips:
http://www.chirocolonics.com/stoolchart.htmlStools at the lower end of the scale are hard to pass and often require a lot of straining. In general, if you are constipated, you will be passing stools that are categorized as Type One or Two, and not very often at all. Those who are suffering from have diarrhea will be passing Type Six, Seven, or Eight stools on a very frequent basis. Stools at the loose or liquid end of the spectrum may pass through the system almost too easily, causing an urgency to defecate as well as potential “accidents.” The rule of thumb is that Types Three and Four stools that are passed once every three days qualifies as “normal.”
With this one, the type is correct, but a frequency of once every three days? IMO, once a day is more like normal. It just goes to show, though, that a wide range of normal apparently exists.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
.Another thought:
Perhaps what is considered "normal" varies with the population used to standardize the guide. A population that eats a typical American diet (bleached flour, sugar, lots of dairy, large amounts of beef, all of which are constipating) might consider numbers 1-3 to be normal, while a population that eats large amounts of fruits/veggies (like in Okinawa or the Meditarrean area, which incidently, can claim some of the world's best longevity), might find 4-6 more normal.
Surely diet would make a difference. Since eating paleo (where 50% of your daily food comes from fruits/veggies) I find that constipation is never an issue.
Hugs,
Polly
Perhaps what is considered "normal" varies with the population used to standardize the guide. A population that eats a typical American diet (bleached flour, sugar, lots of dairy, large amounts of beef, all of which are constipating) might consider numbers 1-3 to be normal, while a population that eats large amounts of fruits/veggies (like in Okinawa or the Meditarrean area, which incidently, can claim some of the world's best longevity), might find 4-6 more normal.
Surely diet would make a difference. Since eating paleo (where 50% of your daily food comes from fruits/veggies) I find that constipation is never an issue.
Hugs,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
I find it incredible that the genus "Homo" existed over 2 million years ago, and Homo sapiens evolved as a distinct species somewhere between 250,000 and 400,000 years ago, and after all this time, we still can't succinctly describe a unique typical pattern for a normal "scat" for the species. If we were three-toed wombats, or freckle-faced sapsuckers, scientists would have the description down to a "T", (especially if we were on the endangered species list). 
After all the research and studies done for zillions of years, obviously, we still don't know sh**. 
Tex
After all the research and studies done for zillions of years, obviously, we still don't know sh**. Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.