7 Things Your Stool Tells You About Your Digestive Health

Don't flush the toilet the next time you poop. Take a look at your stool because it may contain pieces of information about your health.

You can tell by the shape, color, and smell of your stool whether something inside you isn't working properly.

Here are signs you need to look for the next time you go:

1. Small, dark stools, often accompanied by pain and bloating, indicate a chronic problem such as bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
   
2. Floaters, or stools that don’t sink to the bottom, can be a sign of fat malabsorption. You should see your GI doctor if you have floaters that keep getting worse.
   
   
   
   
3. Bloating, pain, and diarrhea could mean a number of things, such as an imbalance in your gut bacteria, or your intestine having difficulty in transporting poop.
   
4. Poop that is not brown: Healthy poop is usually brown because of the breakdown of red blood cells. But sometimes, you might see a different color. What you eat during the day may affect the color of your poop. BUT, a different colored poop can also indicate a larger problem, such as liver failure.
   
5. Pencil-thin poop: Small, thin poop might seem strange, but it's nothing to worry about. This could mean your intestines are getting rid of waste faster than it can pile up. It is becoming a regular thing, you'll want to ask your GI doctor about it.
   
   
   
   
6. Poop that suddenly smells different: If the smell of your poop changes suddenly, you may be suffering from bacterial imbalance. Over time, bacterial imbalance will lead to weight gain and sugar cravings.
   
7. How often you poop: Some people poop several times a day, some just a few times per week. Either way, as long as it's consistent, it's fine. But if the pattern is inconsistent, you may have an underlying digestive problem.