Tell me about your poo...

Well I didn't do as well as I hoped on my first mini, but i passed... barely.  Now we're on to the gastrointestinal system.  

Don't be so quick to flush the next time you have a bowel movement.  Carefully examine the texture, color, size, and smell of your bowel next time.  It may indicate more than you might expect.  The stools shown in the picture above indicates the amount of time it takes for your food to pass through your G.I. system.  Generally the food you eat is passed within a couple of days, however it can take up to 5 days for some stools to be passed, in which case your stools will likely look like type 1.  Most people with normal G.I. have type 3 or 4 looking stools.  For a test run, eat a bowl of sweet corn kernels, wait and observe.

Type 1 stools are the ones that have been sitting in the intestines the longest and generally indicate a lack of fluids or normal flora, stress or not enough fiber.  If you have this type of stool, avoid alcohol or at least drink plenty of water, as alcohol will cause dehydration and delay the passing of toxic materials out of your system.  Fiber acts as the "glue" keeping the stools together, as it is not digestible but is integral to the structure of the stools.  

The link between a decrease in dietary fiber and an increase in colonic cancer is due to the fact 

that some of the secondary products of bile acids are carcinogenic. However, by consuming 

dietary fiber, the excretion rate of bile acids increases and allows the individuals to get rid 

of them before carcinogenic products are produced. The excretion of bile acids also causes 

more cholesterol to be converted to bile acids in the liver, there by decreasing serum cholesterol 

levels.  Fiber for the win!  Some great sources are: beans, whole grains, brown rice, nuts, vegetables, fruit.

On the other end of the spectrum, are Type 7 stools.  Diarrhea is usually caused by a bacterial or virus infection from foods or water.  It is the body's way of rapid cleansing.  Once again, be sure to hydrate, as your body is losing water fast.