# Why was my poop crazy? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 28, 2005, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149 "2005-06-28T03:46:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/21 "2005-06-28T18:03:27Z")
> [@chaoticdonkey](#): > > I haven’t been to the doctor for a checkup since elementary school. Is this bad? How old are you? Have you had any other health screenings? I assume you have health insurance? ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/22 "2005-06-28T19:00:15Z")
I’m 18, other health screenings: Not really. I went to student health services last semester when I had a UTI, and I still have a kidney stone. Yes, I do have health insurance. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2005, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/23 "2005-06-28T19:20:08Z")
Well, at 18, it isn’t as critical as it is over 40, but yes, a physical isn’t a bad idea at all. Call your Doctors office and enquire. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/24 "2005-06-29T04:33:20Z")
Human digestive abilities do not include the breakdown of celllulose and lignin; during chewing, the teeth normally break the cell walls found in plant material apart. These cell walls consist of cellulose and lignin. With complete chewing, the contents of the cell will be exposed to the digestive processes. The contents will be reduced into smaller components that can then be absorbed throught the intestinal lining. If a single corn seed slips by the chewing process, the coating (made of cellulose and lignin) will keep the contents from being broken down, and the seed will complete its travel through the digestive tract intact. If the corn seed is chewed well, the coat will travel through the digestive tract but the individual fragments of material will not be visible to the naked eye. (As an aside, fecal materials if treated properly and then examined under the microscope will reveal many plant fragments, and the diet of the fecal maker can be determined to a great degree. Uhhh…I have had an interesting life…) ---
**Author:** ![newcrasher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b3f665/32.png) [@newcrasher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newcrasher)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/25 "2005-06-29T12:54:43Z")
What are probiotics? ---
**Author:** ![dlack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@dlack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dlack)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/26 "2005-06-29T13:24:24Z")
> [@EuroMDguy](#): > > Finding salad leaves in my poop happens to me quite frequently…it also happens to me with red/green peppers, cashews, beans… > > I guess my digestive system is quite off - and the same note I also notice that I will poop out stuff I ate like 8 hours earlier. > > Should I see a specialist about this or should the whole fiber/‘live’ culture incorpoartion to my diet change this? Have you experimented with chewing more? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/27 "2005-06-29T17:10:37Z")
> [@newcrasher](#): > > What are probiotics? _Lactobacillus Acidophilus_ and it’s little freinds. Sometimes just called Acidophilus, it’s what yogurt uses to turn milk into yogurt. So, if you see “live culture” on your yogurt container, then you have probiotics. You can also get pills and other supplements at a health-food store, if you prefer pills to eating yogurt. ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/28 "2005-06-29T18:57:21Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > One exception being the iron in spinach, which the human digestive system really can’t get at. Could I please get a cite for that. My mother always used to force me to eat spinach when I was a kid because of the iron and now my daughter has low iron, so I’ve been encouraging her to eat it (she likes it, go figure) but this is the first time that I am hearing that it is not bioavailable. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/29 "2005-06-29T20:10:49Z")
[http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/min\_iron.html](http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/min_iron.html) " References to Popeye and his spinach consumption perpetrates a popular myth – eat a lot of spinach to get your iron. While rich in iron, spinach also contains oxalic acid which inactivates the iron. Spinach with the oxalic acid removed is an excellent source of iron, and the plant material without the oxalic acid naturally chelates the iron for maximum assimilation. This form is probably only available to the average person in supplement form." ---
**Author:** ![Future\_Londonite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9dc877/32.png) [@Future\_Londonite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Future_Londonite)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/30 "2005-06-29T21:02:14Z")
DLECK Actually I a few weeks ago I started having trouble swallowing at times - especially with starchy products…so off to the doctor I went. Had to do the whole Barium-swallow with the X-ray thingy and such… Well it turns out I suffer from esaphogus spasms. I was told to chew more and longer and to drink more water while eating. Ever since doing that I hardly suffer from spasms as well as freaky poop ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/31 "2005-06-30T02:28:48Z")
_Your_ poop is crazy? I went to a free tasting at the Planter’s factory, and my poop went _nuts!_ ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/32 "2005-06-30T03:37:29Z")
The problem is that occasionally a Doper becomes his handle. You are turig into a donkey, and being a chaotic donkey, you have been eating too many leaves. Count yourself lucky. I’m turing into a muffin. ---
**Author:** ![chaoticbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@chaoticbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chaoticbear)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/33 "2005-06-30T04:51:34Z")
Ok, I didn’t have the problem today, but there were some other variables: I was eating romaine hearts today instead of romaine, it was organic today instead of the regular kind (it was on sale that day), and it was cut with baby spinach today instead of just straight romaine. Growl. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/34 "2005-06-30T05:25:15Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > The problem is that occasionally a Doper becomes his handle. You are turig into a donkey, and being a chaotic donkey, you have been eating too many leaves. > > Count yourself lucky. I’m turing into a muffin. when you’ve fully turned into a muffin, can I slather you with butter and…well, never mind. I’d hate to poop you out.That would make 'ole ageless6 a sad Panda, indeed. ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149/35 "2005-06-30T14:20:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > [Minerals ~ Iron](http://www.springboard4health.com/notebook/min_iron.html) > > " References to Popeye and his spinach consumption perpetrates a popular myth – eat a lot of spinach to get your iron. While rich in iron, spinach also contains oxalic acid which inactivates the iron. Spinach with the oxalic acid removed is an excellent source of iron, and the plant material without the oxalic acid naturally chelates the iron for maximum assimilation. This form is probably only available to the average person in supplement form." Damn! So I ate that nasty spinach for nothing! Is there any nutrional value to spinach at all then? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-was-my-poop-crazy/310149.md?page=1)