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The Bristol Stool Chart
What Comes Out Can Tell You A Lot About What's Going On Inside
Your poo is one of the easiest ways to get an idea of how your gut is functioning, because the shape, consistency and ease of passing can give you a pretty good indication of what's happening internally.
The Bristol Stool Chart separates stool into seven types, with Types 3 & 4 generally considered the ideal because they are formed, easy to pass and usually require far less wiping.
One weird poo doesn't mean much, but if you are consistently sitting outside Types 3 & 4, that pattern can be a sign that your gut is not quite as balanced as it could be.
And while your bowel movements are one of the most obvious signs, they are only one part of what your gut influences day to day.
- Type 1 · Separate hard lumps Too hard
- Type 2 · Lumpy & sausage-shaped Too hard
- Type 3 · Sausage with surface cracks Ideal
- Type 4 · Smooth, soft sausage Ideal
- Type 5 · Soft blobs, clear edges Too loose
- Type 6 · Mushy, ragged edges Too loose
- Type 7 · Watery, no solid pieces Too loose
Adapted from the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Not a diagnostic tool.
