The Right Motion

Observing the condition of our bowel movements is one of the best diagnostic tools we have.  It can tell you a lot about the health of your Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) and your entire body. To maintain a healthy body wastes must be eliminated effectively and a continual supply of nutrients must be made available to the blood. This is the job of the GIT.

Practicing as a Naturopath I have found that no matter what condition people see me for, there is always an underlying digestive issue. Very important nutrients are missing from our diet which is why I developed a bowel nutrient fibre drink. Patients had either too much toxic waste in the GIT or poor nutrient absorption.

So how can you tell if your GIT is working effectively?

Dr SJ Lewis & KW Heaton at the University of Bristol developed the chart below. This acts as a valuable tool for determining the health of the bowel and understanding what a healthy stool should look like.

Numbers 1 & 2 indicate constipation, 3 & 4 being ideal (especially 4) as they are the easiest to pass. 5, 6 & 7 tending towards diarrhoea.

The number of bowel motions in a day should be comparable to the number of meals you eat. For example if you eat 2-3 large meals a day then you should be passing a bowel motion 2-3 times per day. Anything less than this is considered constipation. During constipation faecal matter stays in the bowel for too long, drying out and putrefying. This creates a toxic environment perfect for disease producing bacteria and parasites.

Diarrohea on the other hand is usually caused by toxic matter irritating the bowel. The body attempts to remove these toxins by purging the system. This process decreases the absorption of nutrients.

What are the characteristics of a healthy poo? Firstly your poo should float, not sink. It should be medium brown, well formed, and should leave you with a feeling of complete evacuation. You shouldn’t have to strain or push or spend more than a few minutes in the toilet. It also should not be overly smelly. You want fluffy floaties not stinky sinkies.

Here are a few ways to keep your bowel healthy. Take a healthy fibre supplement every day, drink plenty of water, exercise often and of course eat healthily.

A free ebook that goes into further depth on how to look after your bowels is available by emailing info@healthkultcha.com.au

Mark Gavins N.D.
www.motionpotion.com.au