AFRICA NEO-COLONIALISM

Introduction

People are generally delighted to tell you what they
e eating – in fact, a vast proportion of social media pictures are of the meals in front of them. Poop happens — to everyone. Although its natural to flush and hit the sink without a second glance, taking a peek at whats in the toilet bowl can benefit your health. And chances are, theres a lot you never knew, or thought to ask, about your number two. At the other end of our bodies, after our food has gone through a complicated digestive process, we eliminate the waste. This isn something we
e nearly as comfortable talking about – in fact its often a taboo subject. Many people admit to their anal retentiveness and how they couldn possibly poop in a public bathroom or when they
e away from home.Its surprising that there is such sensitivity around poop – after all, how your gut functions, resulting in the elimination of waste, is a crucial indicator of the health of your entire body. A healthy gut contributes not only to your bodys well-being but also to your mental state. Constipation, lack of nutrients, andbowel disorders all have an effect on your moods. Your poop can also alert you to a possible illness, so its a quick and easy way to self-diagnose. But still, many people tend to resist the subject and certainly shy away from conducting their own inspections. This needs to change!

WHAT IS POOP

Pooping is a necessary bodily function that removes waste from the body and makes space in the digestive system. The act of pooping has both physiological and psychological effects that may feel pleasurable, Very simply, when you eat food, you need to expel waste – along with toxins in your body. After a healthy gut has absorbed all usable nutrients from food, you don need what remains and its essential to get rid of it. Your gut, when its working well, is a healthy garbage disposal unit, effectively ridding your body of what it doesn require, and pooping is the way you do this.

HOW IS IT FORMED

There are many processes that occur as your food moves through your stomach and intestines and down to your colon. Various enzymes and hormones work in conjunction with your circulatory system toensure that food is broken down into usable nutrients that are then taken up in the body as needed. When your digestive system is working well, youll process food efficiently, and your waste will quickly and painlessly pass through your body. However, when even one part of this complex system isn functioning well, youll experience side effects and youll know it by your poop.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR POOH OF POOP

Now that you know the importance of poop, how do you know what signs to look for? Believe it or not, there is actually a chart, known as the Bristol Stool Form, that will be an excellent guide as you start to learn how to diagnose your poop.This scale classifies poop according to the time its taken to form in the colon, as well as its transit time through your digestive system. On this scale, there are 7 different groups of poop. If you fall into the diagrams for 1 and 2, you typically are constipated. Types 3 and 4 are ideal, while 5 to 7 indicate diarrhea. In addition, if your poop is constantly very skinny, this is a warning sign that you might have hemorrhoids or even colon cancer.If you fall in categories 1 or 2, you could drink more water and try eating more living foods such as fruit and vegetables. These foods are also rich in fiber, which will greatly assist with constipation. Categories 5, 6 and 7 often indicate diarrhea, which might show that you have an infection, a food intolerance, or even a disease such as irritable bowel disease (IBS). On-going diarrhea should definitely prompt you to seek medical advice.ctually, its not uncommon for people to experience a variety of different poops depending on what theyve been eating, as well as their location (e.g. away from home), and their stress levels. The rule of thumb is that your poop should usually be soft and easy to pass. Experts say that the ideal poop is connected in a smooth S shape – this indicates that you
e getting enough fiber and are drinking sufficient water.Poop, also known as stool or feces, is a normal part of the digestive process. Poop consists of waste products that are being eliminated from the body. It may include undigested food particles, bacteria, salts, and other substances.Sometimes, poop can vary in its color, texture, amount, and odor. These differences can be worrying, but usually, these changes are not significant and will resolve in a day or two. Other times, however, changes in poop indicate a more serious condition.Keep reading to discover more about the different types of poop, including what is and is not normal.Fast facts on types of poop:• Poop can come in different shapes, colors, and smells.• A person should pass a normal, healthy poop easily and with minimal strain.• Anyone who has blood in their stool should seek urgent medical attention

HOW LONG SHOULD A POOP TAKE?

At most, it should take no more than 10 to15 minutes to pass stool.People that take longer than this may have constipation, hemorrhoids, or another condition.

TYPES OF ABNORMAL POOP

The following situations may suggest a digestive issue:• pooping too often (more than three times daily)• not pooping often enough (less than three times a week)• excessive straining when pooping.• poop that is colored red, black, green, yellow, or white• greasy, fatty stools• pain when pooping• blood in the stool• bleeding while passing stool• watery poop (diarrhea)• very hard, dry poop that is difficult to pass People experiencing any of these types of poop should see a doctor caffeine consumption may cause abnormal poop. Staying hydrated can prevent constipation.

WHAT CAUSES ABNORMAL POOP

Abnormal poop can have many causes, ranging from minor to severe. Causes can include: Stress Digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can be triggered or exacerbated by stress. In some people, it can manifest as diarrhea and in others as constipation. Dehydration Not drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to constipation, as stool requires moisture to be able to move through the digestive tract. Too much caffeine and alcohol can contribute to dehydration. Lack of dietary fiberFiber acts as a binding substance to give stool its form. It also helps poop to move smoothly through the digestive tract. A diet that is low in fiber-rich foods, such as fruits,vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can lead to bowel problems. Food intolerances and allergies People with an intolerance or allergy to certain foods can often experience diarrhea, constipation, or other traits of abnormal poop when they consume a problematic food. For example, people with lactose intolerance often experience diarrhea if they have dairy, while those with celiac disease will have an adverse reaction to gluten.

MEDICAL CONDITIONS

Certain conditions can causeconstipation, diarrhea, or other poop abnormalities. Examples of such conditions include:• depression• cancer• an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)• Parkinsons diseaseThinkstockFirst, even though we often take poop for granted most days, sometimes your poop (stool) is not normal at all. Here are some poop concerns many people have:• Diarrhea happens when stool passes through the large intestine too quickly.• Constipation occurs when stool passes through the large intestine too slowly.• Bowel incontinence is a problem controlling your bowel movements.• Other abnormalities with poop may be signs of a digestive problem. Most people have experienced diarrhea, whether from a GI virus, an allergic reaction to food in the diet or even as a result of stress or anxiety. Diarrhea is loose, watery poop. You have diarrhea if you have loose stools three or more times in one day. Acute diarrhea is diarrhea that lasts a short time. This poop problem is common and usually lasts about one or two days, but it may last longer. Then it goes away on its own. Diarrhea lasting more than a few days may be a sign of a more serious problem. People who are constipated may experience any one or more of the following poop symptoms:• Difficulty passing stools• Feeling of incomplete emptying after defecation• Hard poop (stool)• Painful bowel movements• Reduced poop (stool) frequency• Straining with a bowel movement• The process of pooping is learned early in childhood and retains spontaneity throughout life in most people. However, some people may lose the spontaneity of pooping for a variety of reasons such as childbirth trauma, surgery, medications that slow bowel transit, or other reasons. Some common health conditions such as diabetes can weaken the nerves in the colon and result in severe constipation.• Normal poop (stools) are soft and formed (not hard or lumpy). They are passed without urgency or straining. A sudden change from apersons normal bowel pattern should be reported to a doctor.• So, brush up on this poop (stool) trivia, and then pay attention to how often you go, how long it takes, and what the end result looks and, yes, smells like. Simply put, know your poop.•

HOW LONG SHOULD A POOP TAKE?•

At most, it should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes to pass stool.• People that take longer than this may have constipation, hemorrhoids, or another condition.

TYPES OF ABNORMAL POOP

The following situations may suggest a digestive issue:• pooping too often (more than three times daily)• not pooping often enough (less than three times a week)• excessive straining when pooping.• poop that is colored red, black, green, yellow, or white• greasy, fatty stools• pain when pooping• blood in the stool• bleeding while passing stool• watery poop (diarrhea)• very hard, dry poop that is difficult to pass People experiencing any of these types of poop should see a doctor. What causes abnormal poop? Caffeine consumption may cause abnormal poop. Staying hydrated can prevent constipation. Abnormal poop can have many causes, ranging from minor to severe. Causes can include: Stress Digestive conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), can be triggered or exacerbated by stress. In some people, it can manifest as diarrhea and in others as constipation. Dehydration Not drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to constipation, as stool requires moisture to be able to move through the digestive tract. Too much caffeine and alcohol can contribute to dehydration.Lack of dietary fiber Fiber acts as a binding substance to give stool its form. It also helps poop to move smoothly through the digestive tract. A diet that is low in fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can lead to bowel problems. Food intolerances and allergies People with an intolerance or allergy to certain foods can ofte experience diarrhea, constipation, or other traits of abnormal poop when they consume a problematic food. For example, people with lactose intolerance often experience diarrhea if they have dairy, while those with celiac disease will have an adverse reaction to gluten. Medical conditionsCertain conditions can causeconstipation, diarrhea, or other poop abnormalities. Examples of such conditions include:• depression• cancer• an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism)• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)• Parkinsons disease• Does the color of your pooh matter?•• Poop doesn only contain the remainder of food, but also dead and live bacteria, mucus and dead cells. There could also be fiber, undigested fats, undigested food (corn and oats are well known for this) and cholesterol in your poop. As a result, color is another great indicator of the health of your body. Normal poop is brown in color, but you may notice your poop looking green, red, white, or black. Heres what you can learn from this: Green pooh- your food may have been digested too fast, which isn a reason for concernYellow pooh – this might mean your gut is having difficult digesting fats. As fats areessential for our wellbeing, you should find out whether you have malabsorption issues orsomething like Celiac DiseaseBlack pooh – this could be simply explained if youve been taking iron supplements. On the other hand, it could indicate internal bleeding, so pay attention.White poop – this usually suggests bile duct obstruction. If it continues, you should see a physician. Red poop – if youve been eating berries or beets, this is probably the explanation. If you haven , red poop usually indicates the presence of blood and this could be serious, so you should seek medical help. Floating poop – this isn a color, but its a different kind of poop that probably just means theres trapped gas. If this happens occasionally its no cause for concern, but if you keep passing floaters it could indicate that your body is not effectively absorbing fats and oils.The smell of your poop could be telling a story Depending on your diet, the smell of your poop will change. Ideally, humans are designed to be herbivores, but have been carnivores for centuries. Your digestive system is not optimally designed to process meat, so sometimes your poop might smell really bad when meat has passed slowly through your digestive system and has almost
otted inside of you. This is why vegetarians have poop that smells much less pungent than that of meat-eaters. Generally, you shouldn be too perturbed about the smell of your poop as this is, after all, a waste productcontaining eliminated toxins and bacteria. However, if the odor becomes particularly foul this could be a sign that something serious is happening in your gut and consulting a physician might be necessary. Healthy Poop (Stool) Should Sink in the ToiletThinkstockListen for the sound of your poop (stool) as it hits the water in the toilet. Floating stools are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can absorb enoughfat and other nutrients from the food you
e ingesting. When your poop (stool) floats, it is associated with celiac disease or chronic pancreatitis.Is there a normal pooping schedule? Many people are concerned if they miss a day without a bowel movement, but actually some very healthy people poop only every second day. If you go three days without needing to poop, this would indicate a problem, while if you need to poop three or more times a day, this is also not normal.Youll establish what your own normal rhythm is, so don be too alarmed. Some people even poop at specific times of the day, while others are not that regular in their habits. Some feel that pooping more than once a day is ideal as you
e getting rid of waste, but this isn true for everyone.Your digestive process is definitely influenced by your stress levels. The gastrointestinal tract is lined with the same serotonin receptors that are found in the brain, which means that your brain and your gut actually have a very close relationship. When you
e particularly tense, your gut wall can constrict, which causes constipation. Other people have a gut that works overtime when they
e nervous, leading to diarrhea. Something like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been definitively linked to ongoing, high levels of stress.Your diet also plays a big part in your pooping schedule. Cheese and other dairy products are known to slow your digestive system, as will foods that are hard to digest, like steak. Alcohol and coffee, on the other hand, can cause you to poop more often. Red flags when it comes to poop Regularity of pooping is important, but so is the experience of passing a stool. If you have pain or you find that you
e having to strain unnecessarily, this isa clear sign of an impacted poop that has been in your colon for some time.If theres blood in your poop, you should consult a physician healthy poop shouldn break up into multiple pieces Pooping too little or too frequently (several times aday) should also receive attention On-going diarrhea is definitely a sign of a health issue, which could indicate that you have a food sensitivity (for example, to gluten or dairy) or a number of other conditions such as ulcerative colitisorleaky gut. Solving gut problems – dos and don s Do:Work on your stress levels – try to get a good nights sleep and even try meditation if this helps to calm you. Eat fiber-rich foods – fiber is a binding agent that facilitates the whole digestive process. Foods like meat and refined carbohydrates are not good sources of fiber, while whole foods, such as fruit and vegetables, are much kinder to your gut. Pay attention to what you eat, as you may find that some foods are more digestible than others. This way you can mindfully modify your diet. Avoid alcohol andcaffeine – both of these dehydrate the colon, which causes digestive problems. Try not to drink either if you
e having issues with your gut. Drink a lot of water – dehydration is a major cause of gut problems and caffeine and alcohol make the situation worse. You should try to drink water regularly throughout the day, aiming for at least 8 glasses for maximum hydration. If you
e being very disciplined about having fiber in your diet, keeping yourself hydrated is even more important as fiber swells in your gut and needs water for optimum absorption. Fiber minus sufficient water is a major reason for bloating. Look after your liver – bile is essential to digest the fats in your gut. With insufficient bile, your system can back up quickly and constipation can result. A regular livercleanse is a good idea. Maintain your probiotics – a healthy gut is like a garden filled with micro-organisms, consisting of good and bad bacteria. If youve been taking antibiotics, youll destroy the good bacteria along with the bad, and this will seriously impact your digestion. Taking probiotic supplements will help keep your gut healthy and functioning well. There are also foods rich in probiotics such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and high quality yogurts. Don s Harsh laxatives are not the answer to constipation -they may even exacerbate the problem. Rather improve your diet and drink more water as a first step. Foods that contribute to inflammation are really bad for your gut, and should be avoided. Sugar is a major problem when it comes to good digestion as refined sugars actually destroy the healthy bacteria in your gut, while promoting growth of the ad bacteria. This often leads to autoimmune disease and leaky gut syndrome. Dairy and gluten can also be harmful to many peoples guts, and there may be certain foods that are uniquely bad for you if you have an allergenic reaction to them. Don be a couch potato – exercise is crucial for health, so keep moving as much as possible. Not only will this aid your digestion, it could also stave off dementia and lzheimers. In fact, health practitioners are increasingly adamant that even 10 minutes of exercise a day will have a remarkably positive effect on your health. In general, your gut is so important that some physicians refer to it as your second brain. The well-being of nearly every part of your body is influenced by the health of your gut, so its never been moreimportant to pay attention to your diet and to take good care of your digestion. Follow these steps, be aware of your poop, and youll find that youll quickly be able to greatly improve your overall health.There is no doubt that fiber is an important element of your diet. It is what makes up plan tissue, and even though it is a type of carbohydrate, our bodies cannot digest it. Fiber is important because it adds bulk to your diet, helps to make you feel fuller faster, and can help with weight control (1). While fiber is essential in the right amounts, is it possible to go overboard with it? While it is rare, you can, indeed, consume too much. The symptoms of too much fiber are not serious, but they are anything but fun. Many of us know at least one person who lives a gluten-free lifestyle, and while sometimes the motivation to do so is for general health purposes, many other individuals actually have to avoid gluten due to celiac disease in order to live a relatively normal life. Those with celiac disease often find that even just a little bit of gluten in their diet can cause a variety of uncomfortable and downright miserable symptoms. (1) But what causes celiac disease and how can it be treated? Do your friends who love bread have to go without it for the rest of their lives? Thankfully, new research is proving that other options might be on the table. The task of completely curing celiac disease, and any other autoimmune disorders that creep in once the gate has been opened, is exciting and promising, yet further studies will need to occur before anything can be promoted as a mainstream cure.

CONCLUSION

Pooping is an essential bodily function that eliminates waste and makes space in the digestive system. Pooping may feel good for a number of reasons. For example, passing stool involves the contraction and release of certain muscles, as well as the stimulation of certain nerves. Some of these nerves provide pleasurable feelings when activated. Also, because the urge to poop can feel uncomfortable, the act of pooping releases this discomfort, which may feel pleasurable. There are individual variations in the consistency, color, smell, and size of poop. However, anyone who notices a drastic change in their poop or in the frequency of their bowel movements that has no clear cause or does not resolve in few days should contact a doctor. Such changes can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue.