Just because you’ve outgrown potty talk doesn’t mean you should ignore what’s going on in the bathroom. Having regular bowel movements is an important part of leading a healthy lifestyle and something you cannot afford to neglect. Your bowels will tell you much more than whether or not you’re getting enough fiber each day, so by sitting up and starting to listen, you can better learn the precise messages they’re sending you.

Dry Stools That Are Hard to Pass

If you notice a bit of a struggle to pass your stools and they feel hard and dry, this is a sign that dairy products may be giving you more problems than you think. Those who do have issues with dairy rich foods will often notice that their stools are harder and drier, which could indicate an issue with digesting lactose properly.

Remove dairy rich foods from your diet for a week or two and see if that makes a difference. 

Small, Lumpy Stools

If, on the other hand you are finding that your stools appear small and lumpy, resembling something like deer pellets, this indicates that you may not be getting enough fiber in your diet or you may be consuming an overabundance of protein without sufficient carbohydrates.

This is common in those following a high-protein/low-carb diet as a means to lose weight, so if that’s your approach, you may want to consider an alternative approach.

Liquidy Stools

If you have liquid-like stools or full-blown diarrhea, this often indicates that there may be a viral or bacterial infection present in your body. In most cases this will pass over time, but in more serious cases, you may want to consult your doctor.

Another issue that can cause this type of situation to occur is a sudden influx in fiber; dietary fiber should always be introduced slowly to avoid this from occurring.

Pencil-Thin Stools

If you suddenly start experiencing pencil thin stool, that is a much more serious sign and something that you should have checked out immediately. This could indicate colon cancer may be present, or could be also due to a blockage along the colon as well.

Both of these will need to be addressed quickly, so not something to take lightly.

Healthy Stools

In general it should be brown to light brown; formed but not hard; cylindrical, not flattened; fairly bulky and full-bodied, not compacted; somewhat textured but not too messy; and very easy to pass. And it shouldn’t smell—much. You’re passing methane and bacterial, degraded foodstuffs, so there’s always going to be an odor, but it shouldn’t be a very strong, pungent odor.