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Anish Sheth, MD

aka "Doc Stool," is a board-certified gastroenterologist and coauthor of the book, What’s Your Poo Telling You?

Dr. Anish Sheth, MD is a Gastroenterology Specialist in Princeton, NJ. They specialize in Gastroenterology, has 23 years of experience, and is board certified in Gastroenterology. They graduated from Brown University Alpert Medical School and is affiliated with Penn Medicine Princeton Health.

Full Bio
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Ask the Expert: Q&A with "Doc Stool"

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Q:

What is considered a "healthy poop"?

A:

Your #2 may be an important indicator of your gastrointestinal health. Healthy bowel movements are generally soft, smooth and easy to pass. There’s even a scale designed to help you understand if bowel movements are healthy and which may help identify possible irregularities such as constipation. The Bristol Stool Form Scale is a tool that classifies bowel movements into seven numbered categories:

Type 1: consists of separate, hard lumps that are shaped like nuts and difficult to pass
Type 2: is sausage-shaped, but lumpy
Type 3: looks like a sausage, but with cracks on the surface
Type 4: is soft and smooth and looks like a thin sausage or snake
Type 5: consists of soft blobs with defined edges
Type 6: is fluffy pieces with ragged edges that are easy to pass
whats your poo telling you book coverType 7: is entirely liquid, with no solid pieces

For most people, types #3, #4 and #5 are the healthiest types of bowel movements. Types #1 and #2 may be too hard and may indicate constipation. Types #6 and #7 may be too soft and may indicate diarrhea. In short, an ideal #2 may not be a #2. Keep in mind that the Bristol Stool Form Scale is not intended to serve as a diagnostic tool. If you are experiencing constipation that keeps coming back, abdominal pain or any other gastrointestinal symptoms, make an appointment with your health care professional.

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