Some people may not know that the texture and color of feces can be a picture of the condition of the body, especially the digestive tract. As one of the early detection steps, let's identify various types of color and texture of feces.
Before being excreted from the body in the form of feces, the food you consume will go through the digestive process first. The length of this process varies from person to person, but is normally 2–5 days.
The frequency of disposal of waste or feces can also vary, from 3 times a day to 3 times a week. Generally, healthy stools are brown in color and are shaped like sausages, with a soft or solid texture. In addition, feces should also be easy to pass and not so watery.
Stool color and its meaning
There are different types of stool color and each color can indicate a different condition. The following is an explanation of the color in feces and their meaning:
1. Green color
Green stools can actually be said to be normal. This condition occurs because you eat too many vegetables, foods and drinks with green coloring, or iron supplements.
In addition, green stools can also be a sign you have diarrhea. This can happen because food is transported to the large intestine too quickly, so bile doesn't have time to digest it properly.
2. Yellow color
Apart from browning, yellow stools are normal. This is due to the presence of bilirubin which is produced by the liver and excreted in the feces. Bacteria and digestive enzymes in the intestines also play a role in giving stool a yellow color.
However, if the yellow stool looks greasy and smells bad, it could be due to a digestive disorder such as celiac disease. This condition makes the feces have excess fat. The trigger is foods that have a high gluten content, such as bread and cereals.
3. White color
If the stool is white and looks pale like clay, this could be a sign that you have liver problems or a blockage in the bile ducts. In addition, the use of bismuth subsalicylate diarrhea medicine in high doses can also make stools white.
4. Bright red color
The red color of the stool can be caused by many factors, such as bleeding in the lower digestive tract, eating too many tomatoes or foods that contain red color, to hemorrhoids.
Colon cancer can also cause the stool to be bright red or black in color. If the red color of the stool does not go away within a few days, it is advisable to immediately consult a doctor.
5. Black color
This condition is caused by bleeding in the upper digestive tract, such as the stomach or esophagus. Another thing that can cause black stools is ulcers or cancer.
However, black stools can also be a common side effect when you take iron supplements or black foods.
Stool texture and its meaning
In addition to observing the color of feces, you can also know the condition of your body's health through its texture. The following are some types of stool texture and their meaning:
Type 1
Type 1 stool is usually in the form of small solid and separate lumps like beans. This type of stool is a sign that you are constipated.
Type 2
The shape of this type of stool looks like a sausage that is longer and denser. This indicates you are experiencing mild constipation.
Type 3
Type 3 stools look like sausages and have cracks on the surface. This form of stool is considered normal and indicates a healthy body condition.
Type 4
Stools look like sausages, but are softer and longer. This type of stool also indicates the body is in good health.
Type 5
Stools form like soft lumps with slightly brightly colored edges. This indicates that your body lacks fiber intake.
Type 6
This type of stool has a soft and irregular shape. This indicates that you are experiencing mild diarrhea.
Type 7
The appearance of feces tends to be liquid without solid pieces. Stool with this condition is a sign that you have severe diarrhea.
To keep the stool in a normal condition, increase the consumption of fibrous foods and meet fluid needs. In addition, exercising regularly can also increase the movement of the digestive tract, so you avoid constipation.
Changes in the texture of stool from initially normal to liquid or hard and do not improve after a few days you need to be aware of.
Likewise with changes in the color of the stool from the original brown or yellow to white, black, or fresh red (bloody stool). This condition requires immediate examination and treatment by a doctor.