Laten we het hebben over nummer twee
From former model to nutrition consultant, Michelle den Hollander flew around the world from shoot to show, but also experienced the struggles of having the ‘right’ sizes. This brought her to where she is now and on Amayzine she gives tips. This week about what you need to know about number two.
Okay, let’s do this. There are many descriptions for your ‘number two’: the big message, pooping, pushing, molding, shitting, crapping, bolts, you give it a name. It is clear what we are talking about: your stool.
Do you ever look back at what you left in the bowl?
No? Then it’s really time for that now. Your stool tells you a lot about your health. So; what is the color, the texture, does it take effort to go to the toilet?
Let me start by telling you how your stool should be.
A good number two should be the following:
1. You go to the toilet with some regularity.
2. You can easily go to the toilet and therefore do not need to push.
3. It doesn’t just come out.
4. It is brown in color.
5. You only need to wipe once or twice.
6. You do not experience cramps or pain before or during your number two.
7. Your stool looks like a sausage. Smooth and shiny or with slight cracks on the outside (type 3 or 4 according to the Bristol Stool).
8. Your stool does not stick to the bowl or float.
9. And finally, it really doesn’t have to smell like flowers, but it’s also not the intention that you completely gag from the stench and can’t come near the toilet for the next few hours.
Everything else is therefore abnormal and not as it should be. If you regularly have constipation or just a loose stool, that is not ‘normal’ and enough reason to read further.
What does the color say about your health?
Black; can indicate bleeding higher up in the intestine
Red; can indicate bleeding lower in the intestine
Yellow; lack of bile
Gray; lack of enzymes, bile or stomach acid
White spots; usually indicates the presence of worms
Note: some foods contain so much coloring that this can still be seen in the color of your stool. If this happens a few times in a row, do consult a doctor.
What does the texture say about your health?
Hard; often indicates an unhealthy lifestyle, too little fluid, too little exercise and/or stress.
Loose; hypersensitivity or intolerances, parasites or pathogenic bacteria, lack of stomach acid and/or digestive enzymes, not optimally functioning liver, overactive thyroid, lack of fats/fibers and/or stress
Diarrhea
Slimy; does not have to be serious, but can occur with inflammation. Allergies and intolerances also cause mucus.
What is good for a healthy gut flora?
- Prebiotic foods; fibers, vegetables and fruits
- Probiotic foods; fermented vegetables and dairy products with live bacteria
- Good fats; coconut oil, butter, fish, olive oil
- Antioxidants; vegetables, fruits, fish(oil), berries, nuts, seeds
- Sufficient water
- Remove products from your diet that you do not react well to
- A varied diet
- Rest and relaxation
- Sufficient exercise
What should you avoid?
- Refined sugar
- Alcohol and cigarettes
- White products, fast food, chips, cookies, cake, soda and other empty foods
- Stress
Don't you go to the toilet that easily?
1. Don't hold it in and go as soon as possible
2. Use a stool under your feet so that you sit more in a squatting position
3. Don't push, but rather move your legs a bit back and forth
What you need to do from now on? Just take a look in the bowl to see what you've left behind!
Of course, your stool can sometimes be different (for example, diarrhea can help you get rid of a small virus), but it shouldn't last too long. If this is the case or if you're in doubt, please contact your doctor.
Michelle den Hollander is a nutrition consultant and hormone expert. With Michelle's Good Food, she shows that a healthy lifestyle is not a punishment and can also be easy. This way, she helps you choose delicious and good food to feel better. Want to learn and read more? Visit her online.
Written by: Michelle den Hollander
