The end result of digestion is the stool, a change in digestive health/ function is often the cause for a change in stool health (frequency, texture, colour etc). Any changes to the stools should be taken as a sign that the environment of the gut has shifted and it is also important to investigate gall bladder function, liver health, diet, emotional wellbeing and digestive capacity.
A hard stool may be indicative of:
- inadequate fibre intake
- dehydration
- adverse reactions from pharmaceutical medication
- lazy bowels
- stress
- low levels of healthy bacteria in the bowels
- insufficient digestive enzymes
- allergies
- recent illness
- Has your daughter had a history of constipation, flatulence, stomach pain or cramps, indigestion or digestive complaints?
OTHER CAUSES OF HARD STOOLS
- Fast bowel transit time, when the stool moves through the large intestines too fast. When this occurs not all of the cellulose (from vegetable matter), vitamins, nutrients and minerals have been absorbed from the foods. This usually results in diarrhea and loose green stools.
- May be indicative of inflammatory bowel problems such as Ulcerative Colitis, Crohnes Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Coeliacs Disease which cause inflammation to the intestines and results in undigested foods being moved through the bowels.
- The gall bladder stores bile which is green in colour and often a green bowel movement may be due to recent ingestion of too many fats in a meal, especially if it is a once only occurrence.
- Essential fatty acid deficiencies may cause a dry stool with ineffectual urging or constipation.
- In Chinese medicine a hard dry stool is related to liver function. This is because if the liver is overactive trying to remove toxins from the body it may become overheated which consequently causes the bowels to become dry or dehydrated
- Dehydration
- Stress