You probably don’t think of your poop as art or a book, but each time you finish doing your, um, business, your fecal matter tells a story. That’s because we are what we eat, and whatever we eat eventually plops into the toilet.
So if you’re interested in gazing upon what your bowels have unleashed, you may discover some clues about your health. For instance, if your stool is sticking to the toilet bowl, there’s a good chance your diet is too high in fat.
That said, no need to immediately rush out to the grocery store to revamp your entire diet. Sometimes a gross piece of fecal matter is just that ― kind of disgusting and something you can flush away and quickly forget about.
Still, while discussing poop can be yucky or amusing, obviously it’s not always fun and games. (For example, pencil-thin poop can be a sign of colon cancer.) So it’s never a bad idea to monitor your No. 2 and use it as a gauge for how your health is doing. And if you’ve noticed that your poop is sticking to the toilet bowl, you’ll want to start paying attention. Sticky poop can be a sign that you should start adjusting your eating habits or consider calling a doctor. It also may mean nothing at all.
Below, doctors break down the different types of sticky poop, along with other red flags. Here’s what to know.
