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Are You Ready to Swallow a Pill Full of Poop?

  • November 03, 2016

A few years ago a fecal matter supplement would have seemed repellent to most people. Today, the refinement and ostensible improvement of oral fecal capsule technology is a multimillion dollar industry. Wired reports that new players are emerging and the technology in this field is rapidly evolving.

This lends itself to the question of what is a healthy stool? The Bristol Stool Chart is a useful tool for judging your health. Many gastrointestinal problems can be prevented or resolved by making simple changes to your diet and lifestyle. My nutrition plan is an excellent starting point and can considerably improve digestive issues.

As for fecal supplementation, it can be lifesaving in some circumstances but it is unlikely that you will need to resort to ingesting donated feces if you address your gut health on a daily basis. Avoid factors that kill off your beneficial gut bacteria, and continuously "reseed" your gut through a healthy diet. Any time you take an antibiotic, it is important to take probiotics to repopulate the beneficial bacteria in your gut. Antibiotics indiscriminately kill both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria.

In addition to probiotics, there are healthy lifestyle and dietary choices that can positively influence your gut health. Fermented foods are the best route to optimal digestive health, as long as you eat the traditionally made, unpasteurized versions. Fermented vegetables augment and nourish beneficial bacteria in our gut. They are also a great source of vitamin K2 if you ferment your own using the proper starter culture.