- Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a gut scientist who helps people get healthy
- He frequently advises people to examine their stool shape and color
- From white poop to a bloody stool, here’s what Dr. Will says people should do
A world-renowned gut health doctor has revealed what the color and shape of your poop can tell you about your body.
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is a gut scientist and author of the book Fiber Fueled.
He is on a mission to teach people how they can improve their health through food and lifestyle changes.
And to help solve the ‘epidemic’ of gut health issues, Dr. Will is sharing the truth behind your stool, which can be indicative of whether or not you have cancer or other serious health issues.
Dr. Will has lifted the lid on the various states of stool – including the one color that will make you want to rush to see a doctor.
In an episode of the podcast, The Diary of a CEO, hosted by Steve Bartlett, Dr. Will dished on how humans can be healthier – from incorporating specific foods to examining their poop.
‘We are currently living through an epidemic of gut health issues and if we want to be healthy humans we absolutely need a healthy gut microbiome,’ he said at the beginning of the clip.
Dr. Will also touched on what foods help you produce healthy poops.
‘For a healthy gut microbiome [you should eat] fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seeds, nuts and legumes – it’s not just veggies,’ he explained.
He then showed various shapes of poops before describing what each meant.
The first poop shape – which he labeled as type one – was ‘hard lumps.’
These small but difficult to pass lumps mean you’re ‘very constipated,’ according to the doctor.
Stool number two was described as ‘lumpy and sausage like,’ and it means you’re slightly constipated.
‘Type three is a sausage shape with cracks in the surface,’ he said before noting that this indicated you were healthy.
If you looked in the toilet and saw a ‘smooth, soft sausage or snake,’ you also have a healthy gut.
The fifth type of poop was shown as ‘soft blobs with clear-cut edges.’ If this is what your stool looks like, then you’re lacking fiber.
If you’re stool is a ‘mushy consistency with ragged edges,’ then it’s a sign of inflammation.
And lastly, ‘liquid’ stool is due to inflammation and diarrhea.
Moving on from the shapes of poop, the gut health expert shared what different colored stools meant.
‘If you have white poop, there’s a blockage that stops the bile from mixing with their intestines,’ he said.
A shocked Steve responded: ‘People have white poop?’
Dr. Will nodded his head and let out a chuckle before moving on.
He then showed a yellow piece of Playdoh, which was formed to look like stool.
‘If you’re struggling to process your fat, you have yellow poop,’ he said.
The gut health expert noted that green poop wasn’t usually a sign of concern – adding that while it could indicate an infection, it often meant you have had too many cups of green juice.
If you see blue poop in the toilet, you have just eaten too many blueberries, the doctor explained.
Dr. Will noted that when you saw red poop – or if your stool was even partially red – you needed to see a doctor right away.
‘That’s blood in your stool. That’s not normal and is grounds to talk to your doctor,’ he explained.
The gut health expert added that it was often a result of colon cancer or hemorrhoids.
The last color of poop that the doctor described was black.
‘If you have black stool, you had Pepto Bismol or you have bleeding in your stomach,’ he said.
Dr. Will added: ‘The stool will turn black it will smell terrible and it will be like tar.’
The gut health expert then discussed what alcohol did to your gut and why you should ditch the booze.
‘Our gut is damaged by alcohol. It destroys microbes,’ he explained.
The doctor then ended the clip by sharing what to eat for a healthy diet, including – ‘fruit, greens, and unrefined grains like whole grains, omega 3, super seeds so that’s Chia, flax, hemp, and also walnuts.’
He also advised viewers to eat ‘onions, garlic and shallots because they’re great for your heart and protect you from cancer.’
Lastly, Dr. Will told people to eat beans, peas, lentils, and mushrooms to boost their fiber intake.
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
