Don’t let chemists, supermarkets and medicine companies make huge profits from sorting out the mix of foods you ate, that gave you a bad tummy. Of course if it’s serious, see your doctor. But constantly churning Rennies and the like is not going to solve the issue. The key is education. Know how your tummy works, then know how to solve issues. Read up on food safety for people & pets.
It Takes Guts is a fun educational book, to explain to children how their bodies turn food into fuel (and poop!) Designed to encourage youngsters to get interested in science and healthy eating, This illustrated guide to your digestive system is educational and funny. For children ages 9 to 13, learn the role that food and digestion play on your mood and immune system and how acids break down food without burning a hole in your stomach! And learn how billions of helpful bacteria help your gut. The author takes stomach-turning detours also to investigate the science behind burps, barfs and farts.
what your poo – says about you!
Ready for a big of fun ickiness? It’s totally true that your poo is good indicator of what’s going on inside your digestive system. All the experts now say to avoid red meat (or at least limit it) to reduce risks of stomach cancer and the like. But did you know that you can your use poo as a good barometer of what tweaks you need to make to your diet? Let’s get advice from nutritionist Joy McCarthy:
Eating licorice would turn poop black (even spinach and blueberries can make it darker), and eating lots of beets will temporarily turn it pink. Obviously see a GP for anything serious.
- Skid marks! Poop that sticks to the toilet is caused by mucous, which means either you have an intolerance to (or eat too much) dairy or wheat (gluten). Try leaving both out for a week, and see what happens. You can ‘repair your poop’ by eating high-fibre foods (fruits and veggies, lentils and beans) to help things along.
- Smelly poop. Usually it’s due to meat, which has no fibre and too much acid, so putrefies inside. Drink plenty of water and high-fibre foods, to ‘sweep out your intestines’.
- Greasy poop is often due to fast food, which messes your liver. Make a fruit salad! Joy says if your poop ‘looks like an oil spill in your toilet’, it’s your liver and gall bladder begging for love. Same advice as before, give up alcohol and take a vegan supplement.
- Race car poop! This is when the poop shoots out your butt like in Formula 1. Give up tea, coffee and energy drinks! Cut back slowly to avoid detox systems, get lots of rest, take up yoga and eat plant-based live yoghurt, to restore bacteria.
- Rabbit poop that plops! Usually this is due to dehydration/constipation, due to lack of fibre. Switch from white (bread, pasta, rice) to brown, eat your veggies and eat less meat.
