Healthy Bowel Movements Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Poop Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Healthy Bowel Movements Why You Should Pay Attention to Your Poop Jul 08, 2020 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post Everyone poops, but most people still feel a little uncomfortable talking about their bowel movements. While the subject of poop might make you squeamish, it's important for your health to notice your bowel movements and be aware when something isn't right. "As humans, we often don't go around looking at each other's poop. We often don't realize what's not normal until we know what normal is." The most important thing to look for in your stool The main thing to know about healthy poop is that blood in the stool could indicate a serious health problem. "Blood should be the first thing you look for in your stool," says Dr. Mark Pimentel, a gastroenterologist at Cedars-Sinai. Blood in the stool (also known as rectal bleeding) could be a marker of cancer or other health issues, such as Crohn's disease or colitis. Read: How to Relieve and Avoid Constipation Naturally When it comes to poop what s considered healthy If you don't have blood in your stool, there are other things to monitor in your bowel movements. "As humans, we often don't go around looking at each other's poop," Dr. Pimentel says. "We often don't realize what's not normal until we know what normal is." To explain what healthy poop looks like, Dr. Pimentel will ask patients if they have any pets who poop. "Dog poop gives you a reference point for what human poop should look like," Dr. Pimentel says. Consistency color and smell Three things to observe are consistency, color and smell. When examining your stool, pay attention to its consistency, color and smell. Your poop should have a mainly solid, not loose, consistency. "If someone tells me that their stool looks like soup, gravy or mashed potatoes, and it's been like that for a long time, their stool is not normal," Dr. Pimentel says. Generally, healthy poop is brown, but the color can range from a very light brown to an almost greenish brown. "Those colors are all perfectly normal, and it also varies by what you eat," Dr. Pimentel says. Black poop is never normal. Black can mean decomposed blood, so this can be serious. However, Dr. Pimentel says your stool could also turn black if you're taking iron pills or certain over-the-counter stomach aids. As far as smell is concerned, if your poop is "extremely foul," this can be a sign of maldigestion or malabsorption, Dr. Pimentel says. Dr. Pimentel says the three primary causes of changes in your stool are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease or a lactose intolerance. Read: Is It IBS or IBD? What about fiber Adding more fiber to your diet is another misconception people have about maintaining regular bowel movements. "Fiber is confusing because it has benefits and harms," Dr. Pimentel says. "If you eat a healthy and balanced diet, you'll have plenty of fiber." Another myth is that drinking a lot of water can help improve your bowel movements. "Your bowel can absorb every single drop of water that you ingest," Dr. Pimentel says. "You can't overdrink water to treat constipation." Read: Why is Fiber Essential for a Healthy Diet? Exercise is key One thing that does make a difference is exercise. Exercise impacts the bowel, so it's good to engage in physical activity on a regular basis to keep your stool moving. Tags Expert Advice Gastroenterology Gut Health Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics Cancer Women's Health Heart Expert Advice Patient Stories Brain Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility