What is your poo telling you?

It might not be dinner table talk, but your poo offers useful clues about your digestion. Healthy stool is usually medium brown, smooth, sausage-shaped and easy to pass without straining. Anywhere from three times a day to three times a week can be normal; what matters most is what's normal for you.

A few common patterns:

• Hard, pebbly pieces often point to needing more fiber, water or movement
• Loose stools may be linked with stress, a food that doesn't agree with you or an infection
• Floating, greasy stools can suggest fats aren't being absorbed well

See your doctor promptly for blood, black or tarry stools, very pale stools or any change that lasts more than a couple of weeks.

Try this: take a quick look before you flush for the next few days.