Yes, it’s somewhat of a taboo & embarrassing subject, but pooping and farting is a very necessary and important bodily function! Your bowel movements and flatulence indicates the health of your gut. Your gut is so important because it breaks down the food you eat, absorbs essential nutrients in your body, supports your immune system, mental health and even your skin.

So we want to make sure our digestive systems are in the best shape and we can do this by looking at our poops and farts.

Read on to find out what’s normal and what may be an indication of an unhappy gut.

1. Is your poop on a regular schedule?

Everyone has a different schedule and there is actually a wide variety in what is considered ‘normal’ in terms of how frequently you poop. It turns out ‘normal’ is considered anywhere from 3 times a day to 3 times a week! 

What you want to look out for is consistency. If your pooping schedule is regular then your gut should be A-okay! 

Less than 3 times a week

If you’re pooping less than 3 times a week, you may be constipated.

In this case, you could be dehydrated, which means you need to drink more water. Aim for around 2L per day and always carry a water bottle so you are constantly sipping.

Also up your fiber intake to make bowel movements smoother and more regular. Eat more wholegrain breads, pasta, rice, vegetables and fruits. Download your nutrition plan from your dashboard for guidance on what you should aim for relating to servings of wholegrains, veggies and fruits.  

Regular exercise is also excellent for constipation so get out to your local park for free cross-training, boxing and yoga or, check out our huge online on-demand workouts and livestreams to get those bowels moving!

More than 3 times a day

If you’re pooping more than 3 times a day this could be a sign you’re not eating enough of the right foods for good gut health or may have a food intolerance.

Try increasing your fiber intake and reducing highly processed foods  – because too much sugar, fat and salt can cause havoc in your gut! Also, keep a diary of what you eat and how it makes your tummy feel so you can find the culprit food that’s causing your gut to be upset. Download our Tummy Tracker to help you do this.

If you have been constipated or have had diarrhea for a long period of time, please contact your doctor or health practitioner so they can make sure everything is okay and provide some individual advice.

2. What does your poop look like?

Have a look at the chart below and find out what type your poop is usually like.

(source https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4760857/figure/F1/)

Types 1 & 2

Indicates constipation. Try increasing your fiber and water intake.

Types 3, 4 & 5

Hooray, this is normal! Keep doing what you’re doing and maintain your fiber and water intake.

Types 6 & 7

Indicates diarrhea. Try increasing your fiber intake, decreasing processed foods high in sugar, fat and salt, and keeping a food diary to see if you are reacting poorly to any specific foods.

When to see your doctor

Sometimes a certain food or food poisoning can trigger an unhappy gut. But, there are some signs you need to look out for, just incase you have something else going on down there. So book in to you see your doctor if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Recurrent constipation
• Recurrent diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Red, black or white poop

3. How often do you fart?

Passing wind is totally normal. The average person passes gas 15 times a day, but it’s normal to fart anywhere from a handful of times a day up to 40 times a day.

Farts are a normal, by-product of digestion of the foods we eat but they can also be caused by swallowing air, carbonated drinks, high fiber foods or a food intolerance like lactose or FODMAPs.

If you notice you are farting excessively or your farts are incredibly smelly, you may want to start to keep track of what you are eating and how often you fart. Use our tummy tracker to help you find the culprit.

Some foods known to cause excessive flatulence are:

• Dairy products
• Dried fruits
• Legumes like chickpeas, beans and lentils
• Some vegetables like eggplant, onion and cabbage
• Gluten
• Artificial sweeteners
• Find out more ways to control bloating and flatulence here

If you have a sudden change in your gut health please reach out to your doctor so they can check everything is okay!

Need to make some more healthy eating changes?

Download our Love Your Legumes recipe e-book. We make healthy versions of your favourite meals and boost their nutritional value by adding in legumes. Start feeling healthier now!

Love Your Legumes Recipe e-book

Download your very own food diary!

Keep a track of your food, mood and exercise. Start to make healthier changes, then start to see the changes in your mood, energy and body. This is a great place to start if you are wanting to make real change.

Download Here

Need some more inspiration?

Head to our RECIPE VIDEO HUB – we have lots of healthy snack ideas you might want to try!

Download our family healthy eating plan to find a 7-day meal plan full of yummy healthy eating or login to download your personal nutrition plan to help create a healthier eating pattern. This is FREE to all members.

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Sources:

• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28762379/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4760857/
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/flatulence