Let’s Talk About Poop!

Every once in a while, we sneak away to take a private moment behind closed doors. We don’t talk about it. And we definitely don’t want others to find out. Women especially don’t do it. Women go to the bathroom to “powder their nose” or to “freshen up”.

What am I talking about? Pooping of course!

Everybody does it! And yet, it is still a mysterious topic that most of us don’t want to bring up in a conversation. It is taboo and that is a shame. The reason why I think that is because most of us have NO IDEA about how often we’re supposed to go, how a poop is supposed to be and how it is supposed to look. Because it is such taboo, many people don’t ask for their doctor’s advice if something feels weird, looks or smells funny. Instead we walk around with the shame of having a problem that we don’t know how to solve.

So even though you didn’t ask for it, here is pooping 101!

What is poop?

It is a metabolic waste product that the body has no need to keep. It contains food that we can’t break down, for example fibres. In poop, we also find bacteria from the gut and water that makes it easier to pass out through the rectum.

How is it supposed to be in consistency, and what is it supposed to look like?

You can use the Bristol Stool Scale as a reference to how the consistency should be. Your poop should be either type 3 or 4. If it has the consistency of type 1, you might suffer from constipation which can be really unpleasant. If it is type 7 you have diarrhoea, which means that the food passes too fast through the system for the body to absorb the nutrients. The colour should be brown to yellow-brown. If it has a red or black colour, this means that you have blood in your poop and should seek a doctor to make sure everything is fine – unless you have been eating beetroot or dragon fruit!

How often am I supposed to go?

All bodies are different! 2-3 times a day is something to strive for, but some have a slow gut and others work fast. If your poop is coming out looking as it should, there is no need to worry.

How can I position myself in the best possible way?

In the western world, many of us sit on a “porcelain throne” when pooping and are very fearful of going to the toilet in foreign countries where squatting is necessary. Sitting upright is actually not the best way to go. An upright position closes your rectum as a small muscle is pulling the intestinal tract, so it is harder to pass the poop. When we squat the intestinal tract straightens and makes it easier and faster to go. It is recommended to either squat down or buy what is called a “poop stool”. You can put it under your feet when sitting on the toilet, and it will help you sit in the proper angle. It should be a common inventory in every bathroom!

Why is it important to know these things?

Our gut is a very important part of our body. It is responsible for absorbing all the nutrients from the food that we eat and contains a big amount of serotonin, which helps reduce depression, anxiety, heal wounds and much more. Furthermore, the gut plays a crucial part in our immune system. So, to stay healthy, happy and well, we need to take care of our precious gut. Where does poop fit in to all of this? How often we poop and how it looks is the easiest way for us to know if our gut is happy and thriving.

How does Natural Instinct Healing retreats support the gut?

To support the gut, we initially recommend a deep cleansing detox/fasting for 7-14 days. This will give the body time, and energy, to repair the whole digestive system and rejuvenate the body. We use bentonite clay and psyllium husk during the fast to draw out the toxins and help them pass out of the body. Imagine the clay drawing out the toxins, and the psyllium working like a broom to sweep out the toxins and parasites that get stuck in the pockets of the digestive tract. Extra support is given with enemas and colonics to flush the toxins from the body. To improve the gut flora, it also a good idea to eat food that supports the gut, such as fermented food and some probiotics. Probiotics is a passion for our team, and something incredibly relevant to the ‘seeding’ process outlined in Kate Reardon’s book “The Essential Cleanse”. The Essential Cleanse is a great option to move into a gentle and super beneficial cleanse for the gut, journeying for 21 days focused on the health of your mind, body and spirit.

Congratulations!

You are now aware of the art of pooping and know why it is important to always be curious about what comes out of your body – as well as what goes in. If you want to know more, I highly suggest that you read “Gut” by Giulia Enders, which is a wonderful book that goes into every detail about what goes on in your gut. Happy pooping!

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