Pooping is a necessary function to expel waste materials and bacteria from the digestive system. Without it, toxins could build up and be harmful.
Fiber adds bulk to stool, helping it move more efficiently through the digestive tract and promoting regular bowel movements.
Poop's brown color comes from bile, a fluid produced by the liver that helps digest fats. As bile pigments pass through the intestines, they change color and contribute to the brown hue of stool.
The unpleasant smell of poop is due to bacteria breaking down waste in the intestines, producing gases like hydrogen sulfide, which have a strong odor.
Farts smell because of the gases produced by bacteria in the digestive system, particularly hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds that have a strong odor.
Farting is a natural way to release gas buildup in the digestive system. It prevents the gut from stretching too much, which could be harmful.
Why do we have to poop? Why does fiber make you poop? Why is poop brown? Why does it smell so bad? Why do farts smell bad, too? Yup, we’re going there! In this episode, Mary Roach, author of Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal), answers your questions about those things that we’re told not to talk about in polite company: poop and farts. We learn how astronauts use the bathroom in space and how many germs are in one ounce of poop.