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The health of your gastrointestinal system can impact many aspects of your overall well-being, including your skin, immunity, and mental wellness. But, in taking a closer look at your gastrointestinal health, we can gather invaluable insight into your body’s overall condition. More specifically, your bowel movements can offer important clues about how well your body is functioning. 

In Ayurveda, an ancient Indian medical system, gut health is considered imperative to optimal well-being, and bowel movements are a key indicator of one’s physical, mental, and emotional health. This article will discuss how the doshas in Ayurveda can help us understand normal bowel movements for each individual. 

What Your Bowel Movements Say About You, According to Ayurveda

Doshas in Ayurvedic medicine are principles that comprise an individual’s unique makeup. Each dosha has particular traits and corresponds with specific signs of a healthy bowel movement. 

The three doshas are Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. Everyone is thought to have a combination of the three dosha energies. The regular bowel movements that correspond with each Dosha include:

• Vata: Firm, regular stools that are dark brown

Individuals that align with the Vata dosha tend to have one bowel movement per day, with a complete elimination of the bowels. These individuals don’t experience gas, and the stools have little to no odor. 

• Pitta: Firm stools that break up when flushed and are brown/yellow

Individuals that align with the Pitta dosha generally have two to three bowel movements per day, with stools that have a mild odor. 

• Kapha: Large, well-formed stools

Individuals that align with the Kapha dosha tend to have one bowel movement per day. The stools are brown in color and have minimal odor. In some cases, the stools have a slightly sweet smell. 

With these doshas in mind, constipation can point to an imbalance of Vata or Kapha, while diarrhea or loose bowel movements can point to an overabundance of the Pitta dosha, which leads to gut inflammation. 

To learn more about the health of your gut (and how to improve it), reach out to the team at Body Flow Wellness today!