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Sticky poop in adults is not uncommon. We often end up getting it irrespective of eating healthy homemade food. However, understanding what causes sticky poop in adults is important to get over this infuriating condition.
Sticky poops often look like peanut butter- neither too slimy nor too hard. Usually, it’s a result of consuming too much fat in your food. However, sometimes, it may also happen when the body is not able to absorb fat the way it should.
The consistency of poop depends upon a number of factors, among which diet and medications are the foremost. At the same time, your health and body’s ability to absorb fat also determines if the poop comes normal or sticky.
So, if you often notice that some poop sticks to the bowl after flushing, the article will help you understand the causes, preventive measures, and treatment behind it.
What Causes Sticky Poop in Adults?
1. Body’s Ability to Absorb Fat
How well your body responds to the foods you eat determines your poop’s quality. For instance, when you eat spicy food, you get a burning sensation while popping. In the same way, when you consume foods with high-fat content, the stool gets greasier and sticks to the bowl.
It is mainly because our body can absorb fat only up to a limit, and beyond that, the extra fat ends up in the stool, making it stickier.
2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
Sometimes, the reason behind sticky poop is not the extra fat in the food but certain medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and microscopic colitis. All these diseases come under IBD, which makes the poop sticky.
3. Stomach Ulcer
If your esophagus gets irritated or you have a stomach ulcer, the chances of sticky poop increase. In these conditions, sticky poop may be accompanied by blood. Ulcers often bleed, and the blood mixes with digestive fluid, making stool tarry.
4. Celiac Disease
People with celiac disease cannot digest a protein found in wheat and other grains called gluten. If such people eat wheat or it’s by-products, they end up getting sticky poop.
Like gluten intolerance, people with lactose intolerance may also face the same issue as their body lacks the enzyme lactase.
How to Treat Sticky Poop in Adults?
Once you know what causes sticky poop in adults, it becomes easy to treat the problem. Usually, making certain lifestyle changes and using over-the-counter medicines alone can help curb the problem.
Lifestyle Changes
- Increase your water intake- Keep your body hydrated all the time, as it promotes a healthy digestive system. Drink at least eight glasses of water every day.
- Exercise- To keep your metabolism, it is essential to keep your body physically active. Indulging in exercises or walking for just 30 minutes can help keep the digestive system on track.
OTC Medicines
- Supplements- Digestive enzyme supplements can help keep the digestive system up-to-date and help absorb excess fat as well.
- Probiotics- They are the healthy bacteria that upkeep the gut’s health. Instead of probiotics supplements, including yogurt and kefir in the diet, which are equally beneficial.
Natural Treatment
If you are having sticky poop even after making lifestyle changes and taking OTC solutions, make a visit to the doctor, who will prescribe traditional medicines for the same.
Do not take any traditional medicine on your own. A drug that suits your sibling may not suit your system. So, always consult a doctor before taking any medication.
D- Foods
Foods play a major role in determining the consistency of your poop. Making smart food choices can help tremendously in managing the sticky poop. To keep your poop healthy, start having a fibre-rich and low-fat diet.
Include vegetables like carrots, green beans, asparagus, broccoli, and fruits like mango, banana, oranges, etc in your daily routine. They are rich in fiber and thus ensure a healthy digestive system.
At the same time, people who are gluten intolerant should avoid foods that contain wheat, rye, barley, malt, etc. These foods will make their poop sticky, and their stomachs irritated. Likewise, those with lactose intolerance should avoid milk and its by-products like cheese, butter, ice cream, etc.
Besides, keep the level of fat in your food low. Try avoiding junk food, potato chips, cookies, pizza, burgers, etc., for a few days and see how the poop is. If it starts coming healthy and normal, you probably were eating a rich diet.
When to Seek Medical Help?
Usually, the problem of sticky poop comes and goes. If you have recently attended a get-together with family or friends and eaten a high-fat diet, it may result in sticky poop for the next day. Wait for another day to see how they poop. Most of the time, it will come back to normal.
However, if the consistency of poop is the same- greasy and sticky, and is accompanied by other symptoms like abdominal pain or blood in stool, talk to your doctor.
Conclusion
Now that we know the possible reasons for what causes sticky poop in adults, it’s time to work on the diet and lifestyle. Making a few adjustments alone can help treat the underlying issue and make your poop healthy.
However, if the problem arises due to underlying medical issues such as Crohn’s disease or ulcer, you may need to see the doctor.
Even though it may not seem pleasant, paying attention to the poop’s quality is essential, especially if you feel something’s not right in the stomach. It will ensure that you can take the right steps at the right time to prevent any digestive complications in the future.
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