How to tell if your poo is normal and the 5 warning signs you shouldn't ignore | Dr Trisha Pasricha

In this episode of Zoe Science & Nutrition, Dr. Tricia Pasricha, a Harvard Medical School gastroenterologist and author of 'You've Been Pooping All Wrong,' dives deep into the often-overlooked world of bowel health and its profound connection to brain function. She debunks the myth that pooping once a day is the gold standard, emphasizing that comfort, ease, and individual patterns matter more than frequency. Dr. Pasricha explains how stool color and consistency—using the Bristol Stool Scale as a guide—can reveal critical health insights, with red or black stool signaling potential serious issues like colorectal cancer, especially concerning given rising rates in younger populations. The episode highlights the gut-brain axis, revealing that the gut has its own nervous system (the enteric nervous system) and can actually initiate conditions like Parkinson’s disease decades before brain symptoms appear, with misfolded proteins traveling from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve. She also discusses how modern habits—like smartphone use in the bathroom, poor posture, and ultra-processed diets—contribute to constipation, hemorrhoids, and long-term health risks. Practical advice includes increasing fiber intake (30+ grams daily), eating diverse plants and fermented foods, improving posture with a footstool, reducing screen time in the bathroom, and prioritizing sleep and exercise for gut motility. The episode concludes with a strong call to pay attention to your body’s signals and embrace the gut as a vital organ in overall health and mental well-being.