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Why is my poop like soft serve ice cream?

Imagine dispensing soft serve ice cream into your toilet, and you'll have the general, somewhat less delicious idea. This type of stool indicates you're getting plenty of water and fiber in your diet. An absence of either can produce firmer, broken-up, difficult-to-expel feces or constipation, Sheth says.

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Some say you are what you eat. But really, you are what you poop. “Not only does stool tell you about the health of your diet, but it shows you how your body’s digestive system is handling the foods you eat,” says Dr. Anish Sheth, a Princeton-based gastroenterologist and author of What’s Your Poo Telling You?

From hemorrhoids to cancer, diseases grave and small often show up first in your feces, Sheth says. And in recent years, health experts have learned your excrement also contains a wealth of information about your microbiome, the world of microscopic organisms that live and support your body’s many internal systems. Put simply, your poop is a window to your health—even if you don’t consider the view all that appealing. The first thing to consider when assessing your stool (a practice Dr. Sheth heartily advocates) is consistency, both in terms of physical attributes and regularity. “The ideal stool,” Dr. Sheth says, “has been described as a single soft piece.” You’re looking for something log-ish but not too firm, he continues. Imagine dispensing soft serve ice cream into your toilet, and you’ll have the general, somewhat less delicious idea. This type of stool indicates you’re getting plenty of water and fiber in your diet. An absence of either can produce firmer, broken-up, difficult-to-expel feces or constipation, Sheth says. How hard you have to push is also important, he adds. Ideally, you should “evacuate” your waste with almost zero effort and feel as though you’ve fully emptied yourself. Of course, everyone has the occasional bout of diarrhea or too-firm poo. But Sheth says neither should worry you much if it happens just once or twice before you’re back to normal. If a week passes without you passing healthy-looking stool, you should speak with a doctor. Even if you’re taking a number-two every day, hard or broken-apart poop is a sign that your diet is probably too low in fiber or water, which can lead to all sorts of gastrointestinal (GI) tract issues, Sheth says. The color of your feces is also important. If it appears black or tarry, that may be evidence of blood. “The darker the stool, the higher up in your GI tract the blood is likely coming from,” Sheth says. He explains that blood emanating from ulcers or stomach problems will darken as it passes through your digestive system. If you see maroon or dark red hues or streaks in your poop, that could mean inflammation, colitis, or certain intestinal cancers, Sheth explains. Bright red blood often indicates hemorrhoids or problems localized very near your anus. Even the buoyancy of your bowel movements can reveal concerns. If your poop usually floats, that may signal an issue with your body’s ability to absorb fat, which in turn might mean your pancreas is having problems, Sheth says. Some particularly bad odors could also be red flags for health issues, although you probably wouldn’t know them if you smelled them. “Some doctors can identify certain GI diseases just by the distinct smell, although people who don’t diagnose them all the time wouldn’t be able to,” Sheth explains. To keep your poop and your health in top form, Sheth recommends a diet than includes, again, plenty of fiber. “The average American gets about nine grams of fiber a day, when you need 25,” he says. He recommends lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and seeds like flax or chia. “Throw those in a daily smoothie,” he suggests. “And look before you flush!”

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What does diabetic urine smell like?

What Does Diabetic Urine Smell Like? One warning sign of diabetes or high blood sugar is urine that smells sweet or fruity. The sweetness comes from sugar in your urine and is a sign your body is trying to get rid of extra sugar in your blood.

Urine normally has a slight smell, but some unusual and strong smells may also be noticed. Odd smells along with feeling sick, pain, or bloody urine are a sign you should see your doctor. Why Does My Pee Smell? Urine is mostly waste products and water and normally has a mild smell and a light yellow color. If you have more waste than water in your urine, it can smell more strongly. In most cases, a strong smell isn’t a sign of disease. It’s usually from your diet and medications, or it means you need to drink more water. Certain urine smells can be a sign of some conditions, but your doctor might not consider that to be the case unless you have other symptoms. What Causes a Bad Urine Smell? Your food, vitamins, and medications are the most common cause of a bad urine smell. Foods. Some foods have compounds that naturally have a strong odor and can make your urine smell. These include: Asparagus

Coffee

Dried fruit

Honey

Alcohol

Fennel

Brussel sprouts

Garlic

Onion

Vitamins. B vitamins are water soluble, which means your body doesn’t store them, and whatever you don’t need is removed in your urine. B vitamins in your multivitamin are often the culprit of smelly urine. Medications. Some medicines like antibiotics can make your urine stink. Some antibiotics are made from mold and can make your urine smell yeasty. Drinking lots of water throughout the day can help with these smells and keep your urine clear.

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