Stool types and colors: the fast "what does this mean?" guide
Bristol Types 1–7 + the main stool colors in one place. Spot patterns, know the red flags, and start a simple 7-day tracking plan.
Updated 2026-02-10
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Five popular guides. Each starts with the quick answer, shows sources, flags watch-outs, and ends with a simple 7-day experiment you can actually finish. Educational. Not medical advice.
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Start here
A consistent log starts with shared language (Bristol type + color). From there, you can test one change at a time.
Start with poop basicsRun an experiment
Pick a hypothesis, set a date range, and compare before/after. If red flags show up, stop and seek care.
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Start with a direct answer, then dive into FAQs, watch-outs, and a micro-experiment CTA.
Bristol Types 1–7 + the main stool colors in one place. Spot patterns, know the red flags, and start a simple 7-day tracking plan.
Updated 2026-02-10
Fibermaxxing means rapidly increasing daily fiber to 50g–100g. Fiber is good, but speed matters. Here is what actually happens, who should be careful, and a safer way to get the same benefits.
Updated 2026-02-09
Late-night eating disrupts your gut bacteria's circadian clock and impairs the MMC cleaning waves. Learn how chrononutrition affects digestion and run the 7-day Sunset Fast experiment.
Updated 2026-02-01
Your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) predicts how well you digest. Learn the vagus nerve connection and how to use HRV tracking alongside stool logging for real gut insights.
Updated 2026-02-01
Post-holiday bloating and constipation usually come from routine changes, big meals, dehydration, alcohol, and less movement. Here’s a simple 24–48 hour reset plus one clean 7-day experiment.
Updated 2025-12-24
A practical, non-hype guide to the gut microbiome: what it does, why stool patterns shift, and a simple 7-day plan you can track.
Updated 2025-12-23
A practical guide to the food categories that most often make stool looser, harder, or more regular — plus a clean way to test one change at a time.
Updated 2025-12-20
A structured 7-day method to identify food triggers for stool changes, urgency, bloating, or cramps — without turning meals into a guessing game.
Updated 2025-12-20
A practical guide to IBS: common patterns, red flags, and a simple 7-day baseline so you can test one change at a time (instead of changing everything at once).
Updated 2025-12-19
Most stool “worms” are food fibers or mucus. Use a simple symptom + exposure checklist before you panic, and know the red flags.
Updated 2025-12-18
Plain-English guide to the Bristol stool scale, what Types 1-7 usually mean, and how to use it in self-tracking.
Updated 2025-12-18
A calm, educational overview of constipation patterns, what to track, and a gentle 7-day reset to try before extreme cleanses.
Updated 2025-12-18
How StoolSense uses optional photos + AI suggestions to label Bristol type and stool color, so you can track patterns without overthinking.
Updated 2025-12-18
If you’re searching for a “stool test,” you usually want to understand what your poop means. Here are two options: clinical stool tests (screening or symptom workup) and StoolSense tracking (photos optional + AI-assisted tags).
Updated 2025-12-18
Why timing patterns matter, what to track, and a simple 7-day routine test (meal timing, coffee timing, and movement).
Updated 2025-12-18
Yes, it is a thing. Here is how to take useful poop photos for tracking (and optional AI tagging) without turning it into a production.
Updated 2025-12-18
A plain-English guide to common stool tests (infection, inflammation, bleeding, malabsorption), how collection works, and what to track so results make sense.
Updated 2025-12-18
A practical way to label what you see using Bristol Types 1-7 (form) plus stool color, so you can track patterns without overthinking.
Updated 2025-12-18
Many notice that moving coffee until after breakfast may calm Type 6 mornings. Try a 7‑day timing shift.
Updated 2025-12-18
A careful way to test whether gluten (or wheat) correlates with your symptoms: what to do first, what to track, and when to seek testing.
Updated 2025-12-18
A practical, cautious guide to common symptoms people attribute to gluten, what gluten can’t explain, and what patterns to track.
Updated 2025-12-18
Sugar alcohols (polyols) and some sweeteners may trigger gas or loose stool. Track for 7 days before guessing.
Updated 2025-12-18
Common reasons dairy can start bothering you, what patterns to look for in your poop log, and what to do next.
Updated 2025-12-18
Plain-English overview of blood in stool (poop), common causes like hemorrhoids vs red flags, and what to track before you seek care.
Updated 2025-12-18
Plain-English guide to mucus in stool (poop), common causes (constipation, IBS, infections), and when mucus is a red flag.
Updated 2025-12-18
Plain-English guide to red vs black stool, common non-urgent causes, and the red flags that should prompt medical care.
Updated 2025-12-18
Plain-English guide to seeing undigested food in stool (poop), when it’s normal (fiber skins), and when it may suggest faster transit or malabsorption.
Updated 2025-12-18
Elimination diets can help isolate patterns, but they can also add noise. Use a 7-day baseline + one-variable changes before cutting whole food groups.
Updated 2025-12-17
A practical guide to increasing fiber and fermented foods gradually, what to track, and when to slow down.
Updated 2025-12-17
A safety-forward look at popular “detox” trends (colon cleanses, enemas, extreme laxatives) and what to do instead.
Updated 2025-12-17
Simple steps to lower gut risk from travel meals, buffets, and undercooked foods.
Updated 2025-12-15
How to test lactose intolerance: what the breath test measures, and a clean 7-day pause you can run at home.
Updated 2025-12-15
Fiber changes can help stool form, but fast increases can backfire. Try a gentle ramp and track what happens.
Updated 2025-12-13
Gut transit time explained: why food takes 1-3 days to show up in your stool, and how tracking meals alongside poop helps you find real patterns.
Updated 2025-02-01
Common stool colors in plain English, what food or supplements can do, and when to seek medical care.
Educational, not medical advice
We share patterns and trackable experiments. Seek care for red-flag symptoms like blood, black stool, fever, severe pain, or weight loss.