Welcome to Day 2 of your 30-Day Opu Gut Health Journey!
Let's dive in & clear something up: Your "gut" is not just your intestine. It’s an entire system, starting at your mouth and running all the way to the "other end".
Your gut includes your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), and rectum. It’s like a giant processing plant 🏭 that absorbs nutrients, battles bad bugs 🦠, and keeps your whole body in check.
When your gut is happy ☺️ and balanced 🧘🏼 (thanks to things like probiotics, fiber, and hydration), the rest of you thrives. This affects everything from your immune system to your mood, energy, and even skin health!
This month, we are going to show you how to build a gut that is not just functioning but truly flourishing 🌺!
Now, let's have a very real talk about... 💩 your poop. (Hey, we promised to keep it real around here!) Understanding what’s happening in the bathroom 🚽 can tell you a lot about your gut health.
Enter: the Bristol Stool Chart, a handy visual tool created by doctors to help people describe and identify different types of poop.
There are seven types, ranging from hard little lumps (constipation) to completely liquid (diarrhea). Ideally, your poop should be a smooth, sausage shape - not too hard, not too soft. Think Goldilocks, but for bathroom habits.
Type 1: Separate hard lumps. Indicates severe constipation.
Type 2: Sausage-shaped but lumpy, suggesting mild constipation.
Type 3: Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface. Can be considered healthy, as long as it is easy to pass.
Type 4: Sausage-shaped or snake-like, smooth and soft. Similar to soft-served ice-cream. This is your 💩 goal!
Type 5: Soft blobs with clear-cut edges (easy to pass). Start of diarrhea.
Type 6: Fluffy pieces with ragged edges, mushy. More advanced diarrhea.
Type 7: Watery, no solid pieces, entirely liquid. Severe diarrhea.
Tracking your stool type can be a great way to monitor how well your gut is functioning. So don't be shy, take a peek before you flush!
Gut-Healthy Food for the Day:
Add a serving of oats 🥣 to your breakfast today! Oats are rich in soluble fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements and promotes the "just right" consistency we’re aiming for.
Random Health Fact (We Care About More Than Just Your Gut!):
Pickle juice naturally contains electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
Drinking a small amount can help with hydration and muscle cramps, no expensive sports drinks required!
(Pro tip: Just watch the sodium content if you’re sensitive.)
Tomorrow’s Sneak Peek:
We will break down Probiotics & Prebiotics and explain what they are, why you need them, and how to easily add them into your day!
