How much do humans poop in a lifetime? Science has the answer
Thekabarnews.com—It may sound like a weird scientific question, but scientists have spent a long time investigating one unexpected universal feature of human life: poop. Bowel movements reveal far...
Thekabarnews.com—It may sound like a weird scientific question, but scientists have spent a long time investigating one unexpected universal feature of human life: poop.
Bowel movements reveal far more about health and biology than most realize. Scientists say they tell us about the speed of digestion and how much waste we produce in a year.
“Most animals have the same digestive process, including pooping,” said Kim Barrett, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
The body takes in nutrients from food and drink and then gets rid of waste as urine and feces.
Healthy human stool is usually about 70 percent solids and 30 percent fluids, Barrett told Live Science.
Males and females tend to pass stools at about the same frequency on average (about once a day) despite the different bathroom habits.
That daily process produces about 14 to 17 ounces, or about 400 to 500 grams, of feces per day.
That might seem small, but if you measure over time, the numbers get much more surprising.
Researchers have even calculated the speed at which humans make stool.
Previous Live Science reports have found the average speed of defecation to be about 0.8 inches, or 2 centimeters, per second.
David Hu, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and biology at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Patricia Yang, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, found that normal, unobstructed defecation takes about 12 seconds per stool.
Interestingly, they found that this timing is fairly similar across many animal species, regardless of body size.
Constipation can significantly prolong the process and increase discomfort. But in nature, the mechanics of defecation seem surprisingly efficient outside the laboratory.
The yearly totals are particularly stunning. The average person produces about 6 pounds (2.8 kg) of feces a week, beginning with an average of 400 grams a day.
That’s about 320 pounds, or 145 kilograms, over the course of a year—a bit heavier than an adult panda. Over the decades, this accumulation amounts to a significant financial burden.
A regular person may generate several tons of waste in his lifetime. But the numbers are more than just fun facts. They help scientists learn how digestion works, how nutrition works, and how diseases affect the human body.
Changes in stool consistency, frequency, or bowel habits can serve as early indicators of more serious health issues.
Scientists stress that poop is one of the body’s most reliable health indicators. Some of the most ordinary biological functions can tell some of the most important medical stories.
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