Let’s Talk Poop, People

Poop gets a bad rap and yet it is something that each of us do, hopefully on a daily basis. Something smells funny with this topic, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Poop should smell…well, maybe not necessarily good, but not bad either. In fact, the more foul it smells the worse the diet that is being consumed.  If you have a virus or are chronically ill – read on.

Poop can go one of two ways – too much, or not enough. Truly, we are only looking for a happy medium here – middle of the road, or somewhere in between…you get the idea. What we really want is not to have to talk about it at all. EVER!

Poop is a scary topic for most people, and let’s face it – it’s just gross. Therefore, I repeat, the reason poop becomes extreme is that we are not eating or drinking right to start with, or both. The right food in, equals the right poop out.

I know, I know, you eat well enough. That is what I thought too. Then I went vegan and something magical happened. I stopped thinking about poop so much. I had hit that coveted balancing point smack dab in the middle – not too much and not too little. Success!

Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will great poops be. Start slowly and build your way to better poops. Eat more fruits and vegetables. No one is saying you have to go vegan overnight. Who does that? Oh right, me, but it is not required, and definitely not the only path to fabulous poops.

If you have chronically loose poop (diarrhea) or hard poop (constipation), your system is telling you it is out of balance. We need to be gentle to our systems and provide it with the nutrients that will bring our bodies back into balance.

Another wonderful thing to do for our systems is to exercise, good old-fashioned exercise. Movement equals…well…movement within the digestive track. Our systems do not perform well when we don’t move. We are designed to move. Walk, run, bike, hike, or aerobicize your way to better movements.

Try fruit juice or a fruit smoothie in the morning instead of coffee, or drink it alongside your coffee as you wean yourself off the multiple cup habit. Coffee is very hard on our systems and very acid. Remember your body wants to be in balance. Try adding fruit to your cereal or top your waffles and pancakes with a fruit puree instead of drowning it in sugary syrup.

Eating a plant based diet helps your body heal from chronic illness. I am living proof of that. Cells require fruits and vegetables to restore order. Substitute more greens and gluten-free grains into your diet. If your body is struggling, it will benefit greatly from the lack of gluten and may quickly correct your digestive system. Translation – better poops!

Make sure you are also drinking plenty of water. Your body needs a lot of water to produce quality poop, and quality poop is what you are looking for. If you stick to it consistently, and eat more plant-based foods, you will see real change within and out of your body. Happy pooping!

Simple Morning Fruit Smoothie

1-c water

1-c wild blueberries*

¼ – ½ of a papaya, depending on size

1 apple, cored

1-2 handfuls of your favorite greens – spinach, kale, arugula, etc.

Blend until smooth – Yummy!

Feel free to add whatever other fruit you have or desire, such as a banana.

*Wild blueberries are found in the freezer section in most grocery stores. Not there? Ask your grocer if they can stock them.