by Olwen Anderson

Created on: November 06, 2010   Last Updated: November 07, 2010

Here is a new habit that is going to help you manage your health better. Next time you have a bowel motion, turn around and actually take a good look - your feces can give you some valuable clues about your bowel health.

Here are nine signs that can alert you to problems. Some disorders are minor, some can drain you of energy and nutrients, and some can be signs that something more sinister is going on in your abdomen.

1. Changes in form one day to the next can be indicative of a range of disorders. An extreme example is hard lumpy stools one day, and watery diarrhea the next. The ideal form is soft yet firm.

2. Can you see undigested food particles in your feces? This may indicate a shortage of digestive enzymes, or that your food is zooming through your intestines too quickly to be digested properly. Without adequate time for digestion, important nutrients may not be absorbed, leaving you malnourished in the long term.

3. Pale, clay coloured stools may indicate problems with your liver. It is mostly the bile produced by your liver that gives stools their brown colour. Generally speaking, the more bile produced, the darker the stool. Its normal for stool colour to vary between mid brown and dark brown depending on what you've eaten, and whether you're taking iron supplements.

4. Thin, ribbon-like stools indicate bowel inflammation of some description. Remember that the intestines are a tube. With inflammation comes swelling, so thin stools are a sign that all is not well.

5. Feces streaked with blood calls for immediate professional attention.

6. Explosive diarrhea can be the result of a parasite infestation. Is your water supply from a rainwater tank, a great breeding ground for parasites? When did you last worm yourself and your family? Or clean out your rainwater tank?

7. Persistent constipation for over three months may alert you to a problem, particularly when you know you're already eating the ideal 25-35g of fibre every day.

8. Feeling bloated can indicate a food intolerance, or a bacterial overgrowth in your small intestine. Identifying which one it is yourself can be tricky, particularly as food intolerance symptoms may occur up to four days after eating the problem food. Your naturopath can arrange a stool assessment to identify the culprit.

9. Persistent pain in the abdominal area occurs in a range of conditions, and should not be ignored. Some of these symptoms are collectively known as 'irritable bowel' although the causes behind them can vary from person to person.

Fortunately, there are a host of remedies available to successfully address this condition, and natural therapies excel in addressing bowel disorders. One of the most useful pathology tools we have available to us is the Comprehensive Stool Digestion Analysis; this painless test will explain exactly what is going on in your intestines so we can target your treatment more effectively.

As humans, we tend to forget just how long a problem has been going on. If you are unsure, try keeping a diary of your bowel movements for a week - frequency, form and colour - to get a clearer picture. Just remember to keep looking before you flush!

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