Reading Your Poop

Many naturopathic practitioners says, “Follow the poop!” Sounds like a crappy idea, but it works.
In fact a good portion of our elimation processes are filled with pathogenic bacteria, not just the food and drink we consume.
“All bacteria multiply very quickly. They produce trillions of babies in the blink of an eye. They don’t live very long, they die. (Feces is) their dead bodies plus the organic matter that they live on in the bowel,” says Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride. (15:25)
McBride is a medical doctor, neurologist and neurosurgeon but is most well known for her GAPS protocol which heals the intestinal tract rebuilding the pathogen load relieving the person from the symptoms of autism, bipolar disorder, auto-immunity and other diseases.
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The fecal matter is made up of these bacteria, the organic matter they live on, toxic substances and byproducts from our metabolism as they are eliminated from all organs and muscles as well as food that is passing through.
“Many things inside the body will alter our beneficial flora. All pharmaceutical drugs taken on a regular basis will do that. Contraceptive(s) alter the gut flora and the whole flora quite substantially. It has a devastating effect,” she says.
The
Medicine.net says, “The presence of the bilirubin (a breakdown product of blood) in bile is generally responsible for stool color. Bilirubin concentration can vary the color of bile color from light yellow to almost black in color. Changes in bilirubin can cause stool to turn green, gray, or clay-like in color. Intestinal bleeding may turn stool black, tarry, red, maroon, or smelly stool. Medication and food may also affect stool color.”
WebMD says, “Bleeding that happens higher up in the digestive tract may make stool appear black and tarry.”
Bleeding in the lower region of the tract would appear more as wet bright red blood.
Red or dark stool is most often associated with eating beets. Green is often connected to eating certain vegetables but can also have other sources.
Continual blood in the stool is generally related to irritable bowel related inflammation and irritation. This happens when the microbiome is greatly damaged and can not process fiber. Raw vegetables are very damaging in this type of situation as it irritates the inflammation further. In situations like this it is best to be working with a practitioner who specializes in gut repair.
The Mayo Clinic says, “All shades of brown and even green are considered normal. Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition.”
They go on to say, “Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn’t have time to break down completely.”

Bile is generally the marker for stool color and concern. Tan or white colored stool is an indicator that the bile ducts may be clogged. This can be the result of parasites, stones or adverse responses to medications.
Metallic green is generally indicative of a specific breed of parasites.
Yellow or greasy looking stool is generally related to the fat content of the stool. If the person is eating plenty of healthy fats such as avocado, unrefined coconut oil, grass fed butter and pastured animal fats and the stool has this effect, is fuzzy in appearance and floats it could mean there is malabsorption due to an altered microbiome.
Fuzzy independent circles within the stool itself could indicate parasites.
Mucus in the stool is the bowel’s way of cleaning itself. Mucus in the stool works in much of the same way mucus in the nasal cavity lifts out offending pollen, dander, germs, etc. If parasites, worms or bacteria are being eliminated mucus will often be present lubricating the pathway out of the tract.

Yellow to tan colored gelatinous formations can be biofilm colonies. Click here or here to read more.
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*Nourishing Plot is written by Becky Plotner, ND, traditional naturopath, GAPS who sees clients in Rossville, Georgia. Since her son was delivered from the effects of autism (Asperger’s syndrome), ADHD, bipolar disorder/manic depression, hypoglycemia and dyslexia through food she continued her education specializing in Leaky Gut and parasitology through Duke University, finishing with distinction. This is not a news article published by a paper trying to make money. This blog is put out by a mom who sees first hand the effects of nourishing food vs food-ish items. No company pays her for writing these blogs, she considers this a form of missionary work. It is her desire to scream it from the rooftops so that others don’t suffer from the damaging effect of today’s “food”.