Surgeon, coloproctologist and oncologist Tatyana Garmanova has described what counts as a normal bowel movement and what it says about gut health, in comments cited by aif.ru.
Garmanova said the clearest sign of a healthy bowel movement is how long it takes. She said that if a person finishes the process easily and quickly, everything is fine, but if they sit in the bathroom for a long time, it is a warning sign.
Texture and color matter
Garmanova also advised checking the stool's consistency. She said it should normally be soft but well formed, with no blood, pus, streaks or undigested food visible.
Color matters too, she said. She named both very dark, almost black shades and unusually light ones as causes for concern, noting the lighter color can result from problems with bile outflow.
Frequency less important
Garmanova added that how often and when a person has a bowel movement matters little, since each person can have their own normal pattern. Still, she recommended paying attention if the frequency changes without an obvious reason or if the quality of stool worsens.
Dietitian Lauren Manaker previously said that plant fiber helps relieve constipation, adding that drinking enough water alongside plant-based food is important for the method to work.
