Comments on: Poop: What’s Normal, What’s NOT + 7 Steps to Healthy Pooping

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 10:48:13 +0000

Thanks for this — so helpful. I didn’t see the floater vs. sinker topic covered. Do you have thoughts on that?

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 03:21:49 +0000

In reply to Jacq. They are different types of fiber so you want both in your diet because you want a balance of soluble and insoluble fiber

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:26:24 +0000

In reply to Bre. It may be caused by malabsorption or inflammation in your GI tract. I would focus on healing your gut. Check these out: https://draxe.com/health/7-signs-symptoms-you-have-leaky-gut/ https://draxe.com/health/7-signs-symptoms-you-have-leaky-gut/ https://draxe.com/health/leaky-gut-diet-treatment/

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 15:23:40 +0000

In reply to Sharon M. I would cut out sugars, grains and gluten completely from your diet. I would start consuming bone broth daily, omega d3, and probiotics and consume probiotic rich foods. I would continue to consult with your physician

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 02:26:00 +0000

In reply to Cindy. Check these out: https://draxe.com/health/gallbladder-diet-natural-treatment/ https://draxe.com/health/gallbladder-diet-natural-treatment/

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 02:06:45 +0000

In reply to Sheila. I would avoid gluten and foods that cause intestine inflammation. Also check out the tips in these articles: https://draxe.com/health/10-ways-balance-hormones-naturally/ https://draxe.com/health/leaky-gut-diet-treatment/ https://draxe.com/health/pms-symptoms/

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Tue, 27 Jan 2015 02:04:17 +0000

In reply to Audrey. Check this out: https://draxe.com/health/natural-constipation-relief-remedies/

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:33:20 +0000

In reply to Dee. I would cut out all grains, gluten, sugar and dairy for a time and add in 16oz of bone broth each day. Doing these things will help allow your body to heal and start working on its own.

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Mon, 26 Jan 2015 15:26:43 +0000

In reply to Annie. Probiotics could help. I would also look at a digestive enzyme and I would add 16oz of bone broth to your diet each day. I would cut out all gluten and dairy for a while as well

By: Dee

Dee — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 23:29:54 +0000

Dr Axe, I am so excited to start your detox on Monday and really praying its going to put an end to my GI & Thyroid problems… I have suffered with constipation/diverticulitis ever since I came to the USA from South Africa in 2005. I realize now I have “mismanaged” my constipation issues with herbal laxatives, teas and enemas and I have to stop using these methods. If I follow the advanced detox, what can I do to make sure I am eliminating adequately during this time? I don’t think my colon responds without help at this stage :(

By: DJ

DJ — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 22:18:03 +0000

In reply to Dr. Josh Axe. No, I mean it won't come all the way out. What causes that?

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 20:08:53 +0000

In reply to DJ. You feel as though you still have to go but are not able to do so

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 20:01:00 +0000

In reply to liz mans. Check these out: https://draxe.com/health/7-signs-symptoms-you-have-leaky-gut/ https://draxe.com/health/ibs-diet-food-cures/ https://draxe.com/health/7-signs-symptoms-you-have-leaky-gut/

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:59:18 +0000

In reply to jennifer. Everyone's body is different! That may be your normal

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:52:52 +0000

In reply to jennifer. Check this out: https://draxe.com/health/electromagnetic-radiation/

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:19:37 +0000

Dr. Axe, What is your take on microwaving some foods? I’ve heard conflicting things. It is So easy to zap instead of steam certain veggies, but I wonder if I’m also zapping away the nutrients too? Thanks for your time!

By: stacey

stacey — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:04:17 +0000

I have been ill for 2 years with EBV and now chronic fatigue/fibromyalgia. I am celiac since 6/2012 and follow a strict gluten free diet; paleo. Lots of grass fed beef and my homemade bone broth. During the 2 years I have had recurring SIBO which was treated 3X with neomycin and xifaxan. I had been complaining to my GI doctor of chronic constipation but when I did go, it was blond colored and looked like it had been run through a cheese grater. He did not have a comment. However, I also have complained of severe muscle weakness in my arms, legs, and core of my body where I could not sit up on my own. He tested me for carnitine; total and free. I am clinically low 15% on both. He recommended carnitine supplementation and and now my poo usually looks like a #4. Do you have any comment on this?

By: Sharon M

Sharon M — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:01:39 +0000

I typically have 2 – 3 bowel movements per day. After the 3rd one, I frequently experience anal burning and itching. Sometimes it is so severe that I get sick to my stomach and feel like I could drop to my knees because it is so intense. . I also have quite a bit of gas most of the time. After passing gas, I experience quite a bit of anal itching and burning as well that may last anywhere from 10 mins to 2 hours. On occasion my anal area looks red and sore. Anti-fungal oral and topical meds does provide some temporary relief but not always. I take probiotics daily and generally try to eat healthy foods. I have been to a gastorinterologist and have had a colonscopy. He prescribed anti-fungal and nitroglycerin. It burned so badly that I couldn’t stand it. Same with coconut oil. Any thoughts or insights to helping me get this figured out is really appreciated. Thank you in advance.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:02:01 +0000

I eat huge amounts of fiber and I poop 3-4 times EVERY morning…long hairy greenish snakes of poop, and sometimes again in the evening after a meal. Is that too often?

By: Ron

Ron — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 13:20:36 +0000

This is not always an easy subject to talk about but it is totally necessary. This is one of the best articles for explaning poop importance that I have ever come accross. I am a firm believer in taking a good quality Pro-Biotic supplement on a daily basis. I do a lot of searching for alternative health subjects over the internet due to the fact that where I live there are NO doctors here that believe in alternative medicine just convential medical practice. I read your articles on a regular basis and find them very helpful. Keep up the good work. I found your site while reading articles from Suzy Cohen’s ( dear pharm ).

By: gerri

gerri — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 10:51:05 +0000

My husband has several health problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, prostate problems, has been by-passed, ect) and takes medicine three times a day, after breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Having learned the properties of chia seeds regularly he take them 10 gr before lunch and dinner dissolved in a glass of water. At least we solved the problem of stool, he now , goes regularly.
Seeds placed in water become a gelatinous substance and absorb fat and sugar.
I worried if even they would cancel the effect of the medicines he is taking.

By: liz mans

liz mans — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 06:20:41 +0000

I have been diagnosed with diverticulitis what should I be eating and what should I not be eating? Thanks

By: leah

leah — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:13:50 +0000

poop that comes out like a sausage but is so soft it starts to desolve once it hits the water

By: Jacq

Jacq — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 03:53:40 +0000

Which is a better, healthier source of fiber; a “porridge” of chia seeds, flax meal, oat bran, all bran, psyllium husks, or a lot of root veggies and leafy greens?
I seem to have better bowels movements with the “porridge” than I do with the veggies, but I understand that some say that any grains are very bad for your gut and may in fact be destroying your gut lining and causing Leaky Gut. Is this true? I also heard that if you have constipation, you need to up your veggie carb intake? Is this true? Does my body just need more time to switch to a different source of fiber in order to have healthy bowel movements?
Thanks for answering. Sometimes there are so many different reports out there, that it can be confusing to know what’s true.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 01:54:33 +0000

In reply to vicky. Vicki- I would join obesityhelp.com as a resource. You need to take iron with vitamin C first thing in the morning after sipping on at least 8 oz of water. You need to take calcium with magnesium, vitamin K, and vitamin D at least 3 times a day and do not take it with iron. Your body is telling you it's lacking minerals and vitamins. I'd get your labs checked. If you don't have insurance you can order them yourself on walkinlab.com and they will email you the results. It's expensive but worth it. If you have any questions you can post here and I will try to help you. I've been 10 years post op and dealing with hypervitaminosis in Vitamin D and other issues. It's never easy and no option is really that great when it comes to this but at least finding a balance is the key. I had a BP/DS.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 00:00:14 +0000

What would you do for a fatty residue in the toilet bowl? I’m not digesting my fats properly. Gallbladder issues?

By: Linda

Linda — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 20:43:54 +0000

Love your site, glad you mention essential oils my husband and I use them “Doterra” and give classes we love how they help the body. Anyway I have a question regarding a friend that had the gastric bypass five years ago and lately her blood sugar will get really low she has not been diagnosed as diabetic but hypoglycemic, what should she be eating that would help, thanks!

By: Bre

Bre — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 20:35:44 +0000

What are some causes of chronic floating stools?

By: Sheila

Sheila — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:52:37 +0000

Important article. I’m a practitioner that works with a majority of the elderly. They talk about their bowels so often because they understand it’s effect on your well being!

My question is with the role of hormones and my poop.
My estrogen dominance makes me miserable.
Is the estrogen slowing my motility or is the estrogen blocking my thyroid with in turn causes constipation?
What can I take to prevent or help this (10 days a month)?

By: Audrey

Audrey — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:21:17 +0000

I have been abusing laxatives for 20 years. Now although I have a good diet and supplementation I cannot poop normally. How can I correct this lazy bowel situation?

By: Joyce Fowler

Joyce Fowler — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 17:21:31 +0000

Thank you so much for this article, good information given in an easy to understand way.

By: DJ

DJ — Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:57:46 +0000

What do incomplete movements mean?

By: Annie

Annie — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 18:32:32 +0000

Hi Dr. Axe,
I eat a Paleo diet–but not much meat or eggs, only a small amount of yogurt, and lots of veggies & fruits, and a few T of fermented kraut daily. I also do not eat much “bread” (i.e. almond flour, coconut flour, etc). I drink 80-100 oz of water daily. No caffeine. Despite this, I can never get to the desirable type 4 stool. I’m consistently between a 2 & a 3. I started Natural Calm magnesium a week ago. It helped for the first 4 days. Now, things are back to type 2/3 again.

Would a probiotic supplement help? Which strains help with stool softening? Any other suggestions?

Thank you!

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 15:23:06 +0000

In reply to vicky. I think doing a multivitamin, an omega 3 supplement, probiotics and a superfood greens powder would be extremely beneficial! You can find them here: http://store.draxe.com/collections/supplements/products/probiotics http://store.draxe.com/collections/supplements/products/multi-vitamin http://store.draxe.com/collections/supplements/products/fish-oil http://store.draxe.com/collections/supplements/products/greens-superfood

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 21:56:49 +0000

In reply to Dewey spencer. Could be hemorrhoids or another condition. I would consult with your physician about it

By: Dr. Josh Axe

Dr. Josh Axe — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 16:10:56 +0000

In reply to Denise. Agreed. I do think we should be eliminating more often than that but these are the official numbers

By: vicky

vicky — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 00:47:28 +0000

i had the baritrice bypass and im looking for what vitamines for me to take and mine reals that would be better for my health i have lost 100+ pounds and i feel tired and sometimes in a fog and starting to forget some dates times and thinking the date is different that it really is like its tuesday and i think its thursday or friday need to know what i can do to get a punch to get my self back to health again i think sometimes i was far more healthly before i had the surgery but weighting 300 lbs and at the sametime i lossing my hair and nails chipping and falling apart and i would like to ask what should i do to become healthy i do take iron and i do drink protein drinks that they have told me to drink but they never talked about vitamines and minerals or omgegas im 10months in to it so please help me

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 22:41:07 +0000

Poop only 3-5 times a week seems a little low, we eat 3-5 times a day, so should we not be ridding ourselves of the waste DAILY?…..especially Meat eaters.

By: Linda

Linda — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 13:19:06 +0000

Good post, we should be more open regarding our bowel moments, it ius part of out daily health after all :)

Thanks Dr Axe :)

By: Dewey spencer

Dewey spencer — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 06:50:47 +0000

What’s the problem when u poop and blood comes out a lot