Bowel habits, often overlooked, can provide valuable insights into an individual's health, particularly regarding liver function. Changes in stool consistency, color, and frequency may indicate underlying liver issues.
In this article, discover key indicators of poor intestinal function.
The Role of the Intestine in Waste Elimination
What Is the Intestine?
The intestine is divided into two distinct parts: the small intestine, responsible for nutrient absorption, and the large intestine, which handles waste elimination. Their primary functions include breaking down fiber and undigested particles, reabsorbing water to regulate stool consistency, producing vitamins, and expelling waste through bowel movements.
Did you know? According to the article “The characterization of feces and urine”, stools are composed primarily of water (75%) and 25% biological waste.
How the Intestine Works
The process of waste elimination occurs in several stages.
Digestion in the Small Intestine
Partially digested food from the stomach enters the small intestine. Here, enzymes and digestive juices continue breaking down nutrients, making them absorbable by the body.
Nutrient Absorption
The nutrients resulting from digestion in the small intestine are absorbed through the intestinal wall and transported into the bloodstream. This absorption provides the body with essential nutrients and its primary source of energy.
Stool Formation in the Colon
Unabsorbed substances and excess water reach the colon. At this stage, the colon extracts water from the remaining waste, transforming liquid residues into solid stools.
Action of Gut Bacteria
The bacteria in the colon play a key role in the final stage of digestion by breaking down indigestible substances. This process generates gases and compounds that contribute to stool formation.
Storage of Fecal Matter in the Rectum
Once formed, stools are stored in the rectum, a temporary reservoir that allows the body to regulate the optimal time for elimination.
The Liver: Its Indirect Impact on Stool Formation
The Liver: A Key Player in the Composition of Digestive Residues
The liver is a multifunctional organ weighing approximately 1.5 kg and has been described as a “miraculous factory” by Pierre-Valentin Marchesseau, the father of naturopathy in France. Indeed, the liver performs countless functions, including storing iron, fat-soluble vitamins, and blood, as well as synthesizing plasma proteins, bile, and more.
When it comes to stool formation, the liver is responsible for producing bile, a yellow-green fluid essential for fat digestion. Bile is stored in the gallbladder between meals and released into the small intestine during digestion, making it easier to emulsify fats. While the liver does not directly influence stool formation, its role in fat digestion affects the composition of digestive residues that reach the colon and eventually form fecal matter.
Substances absorbed in the small intestine undergo modifications due to the liver and bile, contributing to the nutritional quality of stool by providing essential nutrients to the body.
What Do Your Stools Reveal About Your Health?
What Do Stools Contain?
Stools generally contain undigested dietary cellulose, intestinal mucosal cell debris, both beneficial and harmful bacteria, toxic residues from bile, digestive enzymes from the pancreas and intestines, and metabolic waste excreted by the intestinal lining.
Types of Stool and Their Consistency:
- Hard stools in small, round pellets: You may not be drinking enough water or consuming enough fiber. This condition is often accompanied by bloating and tender areas, indicating an accumulation of unpassed waste.
- Sausage-shaped but lumpy: You need to stay hydrated and increase your intake of fiber.
- Smooth, sausage-shaped: This is an ideal stool consistency.
- Soft pieces with well-defined edges: Close to diarrhea, indicating that your digestive system may not be functioning optimally.
- Foamy stools: Similar to diarrhea—pay attention to your diet, as it may be too high in fat.
- Liquid: This is diarrhea, likely your body's response to fighting off a virus.
Different Stool Colors and Their Meanings:
- Brown: This is the normal stool color, primarily due to the presence of bile.
- Black: Black stools may indicate digested blood, often a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding in the upper digestive tract, such as gastric ulcers or esophageal bleeding.
- Green: Green stools can result from rapid digestion or the presence of undigested bile. They may also be caused by certain foods or artificial colorants.
- Yellow: Often linked to rapid digestion, fat malabsorption, or excess bile, yellow stools may also indicate liver or bile-related issues, such as liver disorders.
- Red: Bright red blood in stools suggests bleeding in the rectum or colon, commonly caused by hemorrhoids or anal fissures.
- Gray or Clay-Colored: This may indicate a liver or gallbladder issue, as bile is responsible for stool coloration! A bile duct obstruction can reduce bile levels in the stool, making them appear gray or clay-like.
- White: Very pale or white stools often signal a liver or biliary issue, possibly caused by a blocked bile duct preventing bile from reaching the intestines.
Solmarie – Supporting Your Liver Health!
Have you heard of Milk Thistle? A member of the Asteraceae family, milk thistle is a medicinal plant whose seeds contain powerful active compounds, including silymarin. It has been valued for centuries in traditional medicine for its liver-protective properties. Since ancient times, milk thistle has been recognized for its benefits on liver health—protecting liver tissues, preventing damage, and defending against toxins. Quite impressive for such a small plant with vibrant purple petals!
Active liver support: Solmarie helps to regenerate and detoxify your liver from stress, medication, alcohol, and diet.
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Box of 60 capsules. 1-month supply (2 capsules/day). Vegan.
A Healthy Liver for Perfect Stools?
When the liver is affected by disease or damage, it can lead to abnormal stool color and consistency. This is why keeping your liver healthy is essential!
At the heart of Solmarie is milk thistle, which supports optimal liver function. Five times more absorbable than a standard extract, Solmarie benefits from patented phytosome technology*, which significantly enhances the absorption of silybin (the active compound in milk thistle), allowing for lower dosages.
*Developed by Dr. Gianni Belcaro in the 1980s, this technology was designed to overcome the absorption challenges of plant-based active ingredients, particularly flavonoids, polyphenols, and other bioactive compounds, which often have low water solubility and limited bioavailability in supplement form.
However, stool changes are not exclusive to liver disease and can result from various other factors. If you notice significant changes in the color, consistency, or smell of your stools, it is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
References :
- K W Heaton, J Radvan, H Cripp, R A Mountford, F E Braddon, A O Hughes - Defecation frequency and timing, and stool form in the general population : a prospective study - 1992, Jun, 1624166.
- G R Zuckermann, D R Treillis, T M Sherman, R E Clouse - An objective measure of stool color for differentiating upper from lower gastrointestinal bleeding - 1995 Aug, 7648958.
- C D Steer, A M Emond, J Golding, B Sandhu - The variation in stool patterns from 1 to 42 month : a population-based observational study - 2009 Mar, 18676434.
- Michael F.Picco, M.D - Stool color : When to worry - Oct 08, 2022.