By Dr. Krystosik
Most people understand that regular bowel movements play an important part in good health. If bowel movements are not regular, waste products and toxins can accumulate in the body and the health of the individual is jeopardized. We cannot overestimate the value of putting healthy food into our bodies. However, we often underestimate the value of getting harmful things out of our bodies in due time. The amount of time it takes for food to enter the body, then exit the body is called stool transit time.
The following is a simple-home test I routinely use to measure the stool transit time of my patients. You can easily due this simple test to gain valuable information about your stool transit time.
First, record the time and date of your next bowel movement. Next, tag your food by consuming one of the following items immediately following your next meal: ½ cup of beets or ½ cup of corn or six activated black charcoal capsules (available at your local drugstore). You can simply swallow the charcoal capsules with a glass of water. However, I prefer to have patients open the capsules. Remove the charcoal from the capsules and put the contents into a 12 ounce glass of water. Don’t worry, there is no taste to the charcoal water. You can chew the beets as you do normally, however try to chew the corn sparingly and make sure to even swallow some whole kernels of corn. Now that your meal is tagged with one of these substances, you will be able to record your stool transit time.
During the next 3 to 7 days watch for signs of the red color of beets, undigested kernels of corn or charcoal in the stool. You can expect to see a red colored stool from the beets, some undigested kernels of corn, or a black colored stool from the charcoal. Be sure to record the date and time you first notice the tagged stool, and the last time you see one of the three substances in the stool.
Stool Transit Time Test
- Following your next bowel movement, tag the very next meal with 1/2 cup of corn, beets or 6 charcoal capsules. Record the date and time you completed this task.
DATE___________
- Next, examine each bowel movement. Record the time and date you first see the corn, beets or charcoal in the stool.
DATE___________ TIME___________
- Record when the corn, beets, or charcoal are last seen in the stool.
DATE___________ TIME___________
If you observed the tagged stool within 18 to 24 hours, you have a normal stool transit time. If your colon transit time is more than 24 hours you have a sluggish bowel and are considered constipated. A sluggish bowel is most often caused by insufficient fiber or water in the diet or hidden food allergies. On the other hand, if your colon transit time is less than 18 hours, you have malabsorption syndrome. Too quick of a colon transit time (malabsorption) is usually triggered by hidden food allergies, lactose or gluten intolerance.
The good news is, regardless of your current stool transit time, with a Personalized Plan to Digestive Wellness you will be able to say goodbye to bloating, gas, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, heartburn and more. Go to www.TheOtherSideofMedicine.com to get your FREE copy of a Personalized Plan to Digestive Wellness.
