What Your Poo Reveals About You
We often just focus on what goes in — the food on our plate, the supplements we take, the drinks we sip — and not what comes out. But the truth is, your poo is just as important to pay attention to.
Most of us don’t talk about it, but we should. Your stool is one of the most valuable daily health reports you’ll ever get. It gives you real-time insights into your digestion, hydration, liver function, microbiome, and even your stress levels.
And here’s the fascinating part: around 60% of the dry weight of your stool is actually bacteria. You can’t see them, because they’re microscopic, but the colour, shape, and consistency of your stool give us incredible clues about how these microbes are behaving — and what that means for your overall gut health.
So, instead of seeing it as something to flush and forget, think of it as a free daily check-up from your body. Your gut is talking to you — all you need to do is pay attention
Stool Colour: The Hidden Messages
Colour changes can be caused by what you’ve eaten, but sometimes they reveal something more:
Natural Brown: This is the “all clear.” It means bile from your liver is breaking down fats properly. Remember, foods like spinach, blueberries, or beetroot can temporarily tint stool green, blue, or red — nothing to worry about.
Clay or Yellowish: Often linked to bile flow problems, liver stress, or poor fat digestion. It may mean your pancreas or gallbladder needs support.
Black or Tarry: If not explained by food (like black licorice or iron supplements), this could be a sign of bleeding in the digestive tract and requires urgent medical attention.
Bright Red: Can be food-related, but if unexplained, may indicate bleeding lower in the bowel — worth checking with your GP.
👉 Tip: Keep a simple journal of your food and stool colour for a week. You’ll quickly notice patterns and rule out food-related changes.
Stool Shape: The Bristol Stool Chart
Doctors use the Bristol Stool Chart to classify stool into seven types. It’s a simple but powerful tool to gauge gut health.
Type 1 – Separate hard lumps: Severe constipation. Often linked to dehydration, low fibre, stress, magnesium deficiency, or gut bacteria imbalance.
Type 2 – Sausage but lumpy: Milder constipation. Hydration and fibre are improving, but still sluggish.
Type 3 – Sausage with cracks: Healthy and normal.
Type 4 – Smooth snake: The “gold standard.” Easy to pass, well-formed. This is where your gut is thriving.
Type 5 – Soft blobs: Still healthy if occasional. If frequent, may signal fast transit, mild infection, food intolerance, or malabsorption.
Type 6 – Fluffy pieces, ragged edges: Diarrhoea. Food or stress may be moving things too quickly. Possible dysbiosis (imbalance in bacteria) or inflammation.
Type 7 – Watery, no solid pieces: Severe diarrhoea. Often linked to infection, food poisoning, parasites, or inflammation. Persistent Type 7 always needs investigating.
👉 Goal: Aim for Types 3–4 most of the time.
The Gut Garden Analogy
Your gut is like a garden. Every species of bacteria is like a different plant:
Hard, dry stools (Types 1–2): Like dry, compacted soil. Only a few hardy plants survive. Diversity suffers.
Watery stools (Types 6–7): Like a flooded garden. Nutrients wash away, and plants can’t take root.
Soft, well-formed stools (Types 3–4): Like rich, well-drained soil. Perfect for diversity and resilience.
The more diverse your “gut garden,” the more resilient you are against stress, inflammation, and illness.
👉 This is why scientists say your stool consistency is one of the best reflections of your microbiome diversity.
🚨 When to Seek Help
See your practitioner or GP if you notice:
Persistent black, red, or clay-coloured stools.
Sudden changes in bowel habits lasting more than 2–3 weeks.
Severe diarrhoea or constipation not improving with basic changes.
Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, or abdominal pain.
👉 Please don’t self-diagnose. Gut symptoms can look the same but have very different causes.
Final Word
Your poo is more than just waste — it’s a message.
It’s your gut’s way of telling you how your “garden” is doing. About 60% of that stool is bacteria, and while you can’t see them, the characteristics of your stool give incredible insights into their balance and activity.
Paying attention to these daily clues can help you prevent bigger health issues down the track, and guide you towards a happier gut, clearer mind, and more energy.
So next time you flush, remember — your gut just gave you a progress report. Did you read it?
👉 Want help understanding your gut garden? Book your free 15-minute call with me. We’ll explore your symptoms, testing options, and tailored steps to get your digestion — and your poo — back on track.
MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
The information found on Linda Conder Gut Feeling or any of its media platforms is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Any statements made on these platforms are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult with your medical practitioner before making any changes to your current diet and lifestyle.
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