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Saeces are a clear indicator of the health of your gastrointestinal tract. Active! Overcomes its squeamishness to ask the experts for a spot analysis

You are what you eat. We weren't quite sure how literally to take that until recently. The colour of stool can alert you to certain serious gastrointestinal conditions. After all, what you eat or drink determines the colour of faeces.



So what one should look out for? "One should worry if the stool is black, which means there is bleeding inside the upper part of the intestine. This could also be due to the consumption of iron tablets. Green stool is usually indicative of some kind of bacterial infection," says Dr Roy Patankar, gastroenterologist, Joy Hospital.
He adds, "Red stools are indicative of internal bleeding while white stools show that there is some internal obstruction due to which it is not flushing down properly."

Colour no bar
According to Ayurveda, the frequency of bowel movements is also a key indicator of gastrointestinal health. Dr Vinay Verma, ayurveda doctor, Ayushakti Centre, says, "Besides the clues regarding your diet, faeces can also indicate stress levels, anxiety, pressure, anger, and depression."

"Ideally, healthy faeces should sink and hit the toilet. When faeces floats, it usually means that the body did not properly absorb fat from food," adds Dr Verma. Unhealthy stools like this are typically greasy, foul smelling and yellow.

Time for fibre
Dr Amit Thadhani, Medical Director, Niramaya Hospitals reveals, "Dietary fibre is essential for a healthy diet, and can be found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. One should consume salads, drink plenty of water and avoid excessive refined foods."

Thadani also advises not delaying going to the bathroom. "One should not hold faeces back for longer hours, it may encourage constipation. Also, chew food thoroughly and avoid gulping down food. Yoga and meditation are also good to avoid stress and depression," advises Thadhani.