The shape of poo that’s a sign of a healthy body – this is ‘the gold standard’

Checking the toilet bowl after going for a number two might be the last thing you want to do, but paying attention to your bowel habits could reveal a lot about your health.

While the smell and frequency of your poos is probably something that you’re aware of, the shape and colour can only be spotted with your eyes.

Everyone’s stool looks different, but they all usually fall within one of the seven categories outlined by the Bristol Stool Chart.

Comparing stool to different objects like foods or organisms, the guide could help you understand your poop better.

What’s more, one specific shape could be a sign that you are healthy and have what’s called “the gold standard” poo, according to Healthline.

A poo that indicates that everything is going smoothly with your digestion is sausage-like. This type of stool is soft and easy to pass.

This gold standard of poop can be usually achieved through a healthy diet, regular exercise and a good hydration.

Another type that is considered normal is snake-shaped poop, which is easier to pass than the sausage type.

Healthline explains you should ideally get stools like these every one to three days.

However, if your poos look like marble-like pellets or amoebas, it might be time for some dietary and lifestyle changes. 

Marble-like pellets resemble nuts and are hard to pass, while amoeba-like poos are small and easy to pass.

Although they differ in their shape and consistency, both of these types mean you need to add some more fibre to your diet.

The carbohydrate helps to keep your digestive tract healthy and keep constipation away.

As part of a healthy balanced diet, you should strive to get 30 grams of fibre a day, according to the Government guidelines.

Fibre is hidden in the likes of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, pulses, nuts and seeds.

Furthermore, drinking plenty of water and moving could also benefit your bowel habits.

While your stool is likely to look slightly different every day, you should look out for any unexpected and persistent changes as they could be a sign of more serious health problems, ranging from inflammatory bowel diseases to bowel cancer.