Dr. Will Bulsiewicz

So the blue poo, you could get a blue poo from eating blueberries, particularly if you eat a lot of them, or alternatively, of course, this is the blue muffin, the blue poo challenge. So, and perhaps what we could do in the show notes is give people the recipe for how they can go about doing that if they're interested. All right, red and black.

So we have to talk about, let's start with red, because of course, red, we think about blood. And I have a rule, which is that if you see blood in your stool, that's not normal. And to me, that's grounds to talk to a doctor. And then there's different levels of intensity of how seriously we check it out. But Stephen, colon cancer, which can present with red stool,

So we have to talk about, let's start with red, because of course, red, we think about blood. And I have a rule, which is that if you see blood in your stool, that's not normal. And to me, that's grounds to talk to a doctor. And then there's different levels of intensity of how seriously we check it out. But Stephen, colon cancer, which can present with red stool,

um colon cancer is the number two cause of cancer death in our countries in the united states 150 000 people are diagnosed per year it's highly preventable and it's shifting towards younger people there has been a change in the last few years in terms of colon cancer where you know as an example A person of your generation, you and I are pretty close, I think, but I'm a little bit older.

um colon cancer is the number two cause of cancer death in our countries in the united states 150 000 people are diagnosed per year it's highly preventable and it's shifting towards younger people there has been a change in the last few years in terms of colon cancer where you know as an example A person of your generation, you and I are pretty close, I think, but I'm a little bit older.

A person of your generation is four times more likely to be diagnosed with rectal cancer during their lifetime than my parents were. And twice times more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer compared to my parents' generation. So there's been this shift and it's also affecting younger people.

A person of your generation is four times more likely to be diagnosed with rectal cancer during their lifetime than my parents were. And twice times more likely to be diagnosed with colon cancer compared to my parents' generation. So there's been this shift and it's also affecting younger people.

So my point is this, I've had patients who come to me, they go, I saw a little bit of blood in my stool, do a colonoscopy and discover that they have a massive polyp, which is a precursor to cancer. And by removing the polyp, we just basically stopped them from developing cancer. So I take it seriously when you see a poop that is coated in red, All right.

So my point is this, I've had patients who come to me, they go, I saw a little bit of blood in my stool, do a colonoscopy and discover that they have a massive polyp, which is a precursor to cancer. And by removing the polyp, we just basically stopped them from developing cancer. So I take it seriously when you see a poop that is coated in red, All right.

Now that red may be just on parts of it like it is here where that's typically bright red coming from the bottom. So that would be either something in your rectum, could be hemorrhoids, could be an anal fissure, could also be a polyp in the rectum.

Now that red may be just on parts of it like it is here where that's typically bright red coming from the bottom. So that would be either something in your rectum, could be hemorrhoids, could be an anal fissure, could also be a polyp in the rectum.

But I think what I come back to is I would encourage people to get checked out because just seeing the bright red blood doesn't mean it's hemorrhoids. Don't assume that. Particularly with cancer shifting towards younger people. I think it's important to get checked out. On that point about cancer shifting towards younger people, is that because our diets are changing? I think so.

But I think what I come back to is I would encourage people to get checked out because just seeing the bright red blood doesn't mean it's hemorrhoids. Don't assume that. Particularly with cancer shifting towards younger people. I think it's important to get checked out. On that point about cancer shifting towards younger people, is that because our diets are changing? I think so.

I think it's the shift generationally that's taken place in terms of our diets. I also think that there's a microbiome element. The connections between the gut microbiome and colon cancer are as powerful as any type of cancer. And at the same time, what protects us? And I think you know what I'm gonna say, it's the fiber and the short chain fatty acids.

I think it's the shift generationally that's taken place in terms of our diets. I also think that there's a microbiome element. The connections between the gut microbiome and colon cancer are as powerful as any type of cancer. And at the same time, what protects us? And I think you know what I'm gonna say, it's the fiber and the short chain fatty acids.

And in that study that I was mentioning earlier from Andrew Reynolds, the professor from New Zealand, actually there was a powerful association between fiber consumption and protecting ourselves from colorectal cancer, so powerful, that for every five grams of fiber that we increase in our diet, we are getting a significant reduction in our risk.

And in that study that I was mentioning earlier from Andrew Reynolds, the professor from New Zealand, actually there was a powerful association between fiber consumption and protecting ourselves from colorectal cancer, so powerful, that for every five grams of fiber that we increase in our diet, we are getting a significant reduction in our risk.

So it's not just do you eat fiber or not, it's actually how much fiber do you eat and the more the better. You know what I should mention real quick, red stool can also come from eating beets. It will almost always happen like literally 24 to 48 hours after you eat the beets. So don't be surprised when that's the case, you may see a little bit of red stool.

So it's not just do you eat fiber or not, it's actually how much fiber do you eat and the more the better. You know what I should mention real quick, red stool can also come from eating beets. It will almost always happen like literally 24 to 48 hours after you eat the beets. So don't be surprised when that's the case, you may see a little bit of red stool.

Um, black stool can come from benign places. So an example is bismuth. So like Pepto-Bismol. So you have a, you have a stomach ache and then you take some Pepto-Bismol. And, um, so, but the issue with this is it'll actually give you black stool. So if you're having a bad stomach for a couple of days in a row, it could turn black.