When people switch to a whole food Plant Based Diet, one of the first things they notice is the poop. The color, the form, and even the stink seems to change. If you have ever asked, Do plant based diets lead to better smelling poop? you’re not the only one. As it turns out, many such people notice far less gross poses after such a drastic diet change, including the lack of foul smelling stools. This article will focus on how a plant based diet can alter an individual’s bowel movement, including why it might smell different as well as the benefits of transitioning to such a diet.
What Is a Plant Based Diet?
Plant based diets place a strong emphasis on foods that come from plants. These foods include fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Only a small fraction of the population may use animal products, but those people primarily consume nutritious plant foods. Such a diet is high in fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which have a number of health advantages. But all this emphasizes the question – how does all this contribute to your digestive system and most importantly, the odor that your poop emits?
The Relationship Between Diet and Stool Odor
The odor of fecal matter is closely linked to the type of food eaten as well as the activity of bacteria within the intestines. Some foods like eggs, meat, and certain kinds of dairy are sulfur-rich and therefore create a more pronounced odor when digested. On the other hand, plants as a food group do not contain, as a rule, many sulfuric substances, and therefore their consumption can lead to development of fainter smelling feces.
Another aspect of the diet that dominates in the consumption of plant products is that there is less consumption of meat, which leads to changes in the digestive cycle. As a rule, foods made up of plants are relatively dense, thereby containing considerable amounts of fiber, thereby leading to an improvement in digestion and better bowel functions.
Why Does Poop Smell Less on a Plant Based Diet And What’s The Reason
There are many reasons why poop smell reduces while observing a plant based eating lifestyle. Let us understand the science behind it:
Lower Sulfur Content
As noted, meat and dairy, and other animal products are the highest source of sulfur in the diet. These foods containing sulfur produce hydrogen sulfide gas when it is broken down which produces strong odor and odor is what we dislike. On the other hand, plant based foods have a lower sulfur content which also lowers the amount of these gasses being produced.
The Improvement of the Gut Microbiome
The introduction of more fiber and prebiotics on a plant based dietary pattern really helps a lot in improving the gut microbiome diversity. Fiber feeds the good gut bacteria, hence maintaining its balance. This is best because if your gut bacteria are thriving, the efficiency of digestion increases, and the amount of foul-smelling gasses is reduced. On a regular Western diet dominated by processed and pro-meat consumption, the microbiome usually becomes poor in diversity, which affects the efficiency of digestion and the amount of smell of stools.
Improved Digestion and Decreased Transportation Time
Fiber-rich foods are beneficial to the movement of the digestive tract and minimize the duration of food in the large intestine. Prolonged retention of food within the colon leads to bacterial decay and bad smells. The inclusion of fiber in the diet lowers the transit time which means that waste materials spend less time in the alimentary canal therefore reducing chances of foul smell produced.
Fiber’s Impact on Stool Odor
In any fibrous tropical diet, fiber is an essential element and contributes a lot to the overall routines of the gut. Fiber can be classified into two categories: soluble and insoluble fibers. Both types contribute to improving digestion, and by extension, they help with reducing stool odor.
Soluble Fiber
Soluble fiber, as its name terms it, can be dissolved in water, which causes it to form a gel-like substance, the same which takes place in the intestines. It assists in the gradual digestion process which enables nutrients to be absorbed into the body and helps to control blood glucose levels. Soluble fibers can be seen in oats, beans, lentils, and certain fruits such as apples and oranges. Soluble fiber plays a role in promoting more regular digestion which in return helps to guard against excessive gas and bloating and hence less smelly poop.
Insoluble Fiber
Insoluble fiber acts to add “bulk” to the stool and speeds the transit of food Materials through the intestine as well. It can be found in whole grains, vegetables and nuts. This kind of fiber is important in the promotion of normal bowel frequency whilst alleviating constipation, which, in turn, makes the stools smell foul. Better waste removal will mean that the bacteria have less time to produce gas causing them bad odors and the stools in general will be less so thanks to better waste removal.
Plant Based Diet Foods That Help Prevent Odor From Poop
Some plant feeds are better than others at ensuring your poop doesn’t smell pungent and foul. Such includes the following :
- Leafy Greens: Kale, spinach, and Swiss chard are rich in fiber and chlorophyll, which may have a deodorizing effect in the gut.
- Whole Grains: Brown rice, quinoa, and barley are some grains that supply insoluble fiber and make it easy to move food materials through your digestive tract.
- Fruits: Apples, pears, and berries, being rich in soluble fibers, also promote bowel movements and reduce the chances of production of gas with a stinking odor.
- Legumes: Lentils, chickpeas, black beans provide fiber and protein which help to enhance the microbiota composition as well as minimizing stool odor.
- Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, chia seeds, flaxseeds contain unsaturated fats and fibers essential for easy digestion.
Hydration: A Missing Element in the Management of Poop Odor
One neglected parameter when attempting to minimize poop odor is hydration. Proper hydration is important in aiding the digestion and elimination of waste. Adopting a high-fiber diet such as a plant based diet necessitates an adequate intake of water. It also makes it easier to avoid constipation and keeps fiber functioning effectively. The presence of dehydration causes harder stools which need more time to traverse the intestines thereby increasing the odor due to more bacterial decomposition.
The Role of Processed Plant based Diets and the Smell of Stools
As some plant foods are beneficial in the reduction of odor, the converse can be said of processed plant products. Plant protein products such as meat and cheese masquerading themselves as vegan have many artificial components and oil that make a person develop bloating and gas. Likewise, these foods have low fiber content so it is expected that the digestion rate may decrease and in turn cause the stools to have a stronger odor.
In closing, it is preferable to use minimally processed plant based foods for an effective diet in order to lessen the level of the odor in the stools.
Health Benefits Past The Odor of Your Stool
There are so many other benefits of a plant based diet besides just not stinking in the toilet. Below are the other benefits:
Weight Loss And Maintenance
Compared to diets that emphasize meat, many plant-eating diets may contain fewer calories and fats. This is beneficial in weight management and may decrease chances of getting obese.
Enhancing the Health of the Heart
Plant based diets are known to lower cholesterol levels, manage blood pressure, and lessen the chances of having heart diseases. By cutting out saturated fats from animal sources, you promote healthier functioning within your cardiovascular system.
Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases
Having more fruits and vegetables can cut chances of acquiring type 2 diabetes, particular cancers, and other chronic syndromes. A plant based diet packs high levels of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds making the individual healthy in the long run.
Improved Energy Levels
One of the reasons why you feel fatigued after a meal is because your body is working very hard to digest the food you have eaten. Plant based foods are however easy to digest allowing your body to expend energy elsewhere leaving you feeling charged up throughout the day.
The Transition Phase: What You Should Know
Of course, if this is your first time trying a whole food or your dietary patterns might need some time for adjustment. In the process of transition you can have some disturbances or infections for the first few days which include an increase in the amount of gas or even some amount of constipation as your gut flora gets used to the higher fiber content of your diet. However, that is just an adjustment phase and eventually your digestive system will regulate itself and the majority of gas, bloating, and stinky poop would likely be absent.
Final Thoughts
There are a number of reasons why a plant –based diet reduces the smell of poop and they include strengthening the gut flora as well as vascularity of bile duct cells. Since it has more fiber with a lower sulfur level, a plant based diet is considered to have more odorless stools. The most important point is to eat as much whole food, unrefined plant based foods as possible even while drinking a sufficient amount of water so that the flow is simply smooth.
