Not just poo

We all poop, but what do your turds really consist of? And what determines whether they are loose or hard?

The Bristol Scale, or the Bristol Stool Scale, is a tool used by medical staff to assess the consistency of poop (stool) and thereby work out how long it has taken for the stool to travel through the stomach and bowels (gastrointestinal tract).

Water content is what makes the biggest difference to the type of poo shown on the Bristol Stool Chart. The large intestine recycles what the body needs and this includes water. We use about 9 litres of fluid in digestion each day. This includes fluids like saliva, 1.5 litres; 2.5 litres digestive fluids and 0.8 litres of bile per day.

The longer it takes for food to pass through the large intestine, the more water needs to be regenerated. If it takes a long time between eating and pooing, our poo becomes drier.

Here, you can learn more about the digestive process.