Thin stools: A sign that your body is lacking something.

Stool is an indicator of our health status. If the appearance or color of your stool is different from usual, it may indicate a problem with your body.

 

◇ Nutritional deficiency causes stool to become thin

 

You should carefully examine the shape of your stool. Generally, passing long, moderately thick stools resembling a banana is considered a sign of good health. If your stool has become thinner than usual, it may indicate poor nutritional status. Thin stools often occur when engaging in extreme dieting that neglects proper nutrition. Although rare, stools can also become thin if cancer develops in the colon or rectum. If thin stools persist rather than being temporary, it is advisable to undergo a colonoscopy. Conversely, if your stool becomes thicker than usual, breaks in the middle, or resembles small rabbit droppings, you should pay attention to your fluid intake.

◇ Green or yellow is normal; black or red is due to bleeding

 

The color of stool is also important. The reason stool is brown is due to bile. Bile is an enzyme that digests fats; it is produced in the liver and travels through the bile ducts to the duodenum. There, it meets food before descending into the intestines, where it changes color to brown, ochre, or yellow upon contact with intestinal bacteria. Bile is naturally green. Since each person differs in their diet and the distribution of intestinal bacteria, the color of the bile after denaturation varies. Passing stools that are brown, ochre, or yellow all fall within the normal range.

 

However, if stool is red, black, or whitish, it may be due to an underlying disease. Red stool indicates bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as the large intestine, which is the digestive organs closest to the anus. This may raise suspicion of conditions like colon cancer. Conversely, black stool is a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, including the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, and small intestine. This occurs when blood mixes with food and turns black over time. Bleeding is more likely to occur in cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastritis, or gastric ulcers.

If your stool is white, it may indicate biliary atresia. When the bile duct is blocked, bile cannot flow into the duodenum, so it does not mix with the stool. In this case, the stool resembles clumps of white rice or mashed tofu. Biliary ducts are usually blocked when there is cholangitis or bile duct cancer.

 

◇ Bowel movements vary from person to person

 

Meanwhile, the frequency of bowel movements varies from person to person. Some pass it two or three times a day, while others pass it once every two or three days. As long as you do not experience any discomfort, this is all considered normal. Vigorous exercise or high levels of stress can increase the frequency of bowel movements, while consuming large amounts of meat can decrease them. The smell of stool changes depending on the food consumed. Eating a lot of meat tends to increase the number of harmful bacteria in the gut, which can result in a stronger odor.

 

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Depending on the shape of the stool and the frequency

You can check your health.

 

My mom has constipation

I had a colonoscopy this time.

There is nothing peculiar or strange.

They say it is psychosomatic.