Why pooping feels good

Cancel anytime. Not being able to poop is a total bum-mer, while bombing the bowl can feel straight-up blissful.

Like, goosebumps-level good. Where it goes is to your digestive system , which takes all the nutrients from the food you eat and absorbs them into your body.

Anything leftover? Those undigested carbs, fibers, proteins and fats are bacterial biomass. The backdoor in this analogy is your bum. Your poo also contains water and bile, which both help along the digestive process. And, strangely, it includes cells from your gastrointestinal lining that shed themselves every couple days.

Yes, your body is a disgusting miracle. Bottom line, pooping is the final step of a healthy digestive process. Ya know that chilled out relaxed feeling you get from a perfect poop? A juicy load creates those feel-good sensations by stimulating your vagus nerve. Note: this is not to be confused with your Vegas nerve -- the Nevada-based conviction to dance on tables and drop a paycheck on bottle service at a Diplo show.

No, the vagus nerve is an actual nerve that starts in the brain and goes to your colon. This is one of those occasions where getting on your nerves is a good thing! Stimulating the vagus nerve can cause chills , lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

You may feel lightheaded and super-relaxed. Various enzymes and hormones work in conjunction with your circulatory system to ensure that food is broken down into usable nutrients that are then taken up in the body as needed. Now that you know the importance of poop, how do you know what signs to look for? Believe it or not, there is actually a chart, known as the Bristol Stool Form, that will be an excellent guide as you start to learn how to diagnose your poop.

On this scale, there are 7 different groups of poop. If you fall into the diagrams for 1 and 2, you typically are constipated.

Types 3 and 4 are ideal, while 5 to 7 indicate diarrhea. In addition, if your poop is constantly very skinny, this is a warning sign that you might have hemorrhoids or even colon cancer. These foods are also rich in fiber, which will greatly assist with constipation. Categories 5, 6 and 7 often indicate diarrhea, which might show that you have an infection, a food intolerance, or even a disease such as irritable bowel disease IBS.

On-going diarrhea should definitely prompt you to seek medical advice. The rule of thumb is that your poop should usually be soft and easy to pass.

There could also be fiber, undigested fats, undigested food corn and oats are well known for this and cholesterol in your poop. As a result, color is another great indicator of the health of your body. Normal poop is brown in color, but you may notice your poop looking green, red, white, or black. On the other hand, it could indicate internal bleeding, so pay attention. White poop — this usually suggests bile duct obstruction. If it continues, you should see a physician. The smell of your poop could be telling a story.

Depending on your diet, the smell of your poop will change. Ideally, humans are designed to be herbivores, but have been carnivores for centuries. This is why vegetarians have poop that smells much less pungent than that of meat-eaters.

However, if the odor becomes particularly foul this could be a sign that something serious is happening in your gut and consulting a physician might be necessary. Many people are concerned if they miss a day without a bowel movement, but actually some very healthy people poop only every second day.

If you go three days without needing to poop, this would indicate a problem, while if you need to poop three or more times a day, this is also not normal. Some people even poop at specific times of the day, while others are not that regular in their habits.

Your digestive process is definitely influenced by your stress levels. The gastrointestinal tract is lined with the same serotonin receptors that are found in the brain, which means that your brain and your gut actually have a very close relationship. Something like irritable bowel syndrome IBS has been definitively linked to ongoing, high levels of stress.

Your diet also plays a big part in your pooping schedule. United States. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. How to Eat Like Chris Hemsworth. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses.

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