For most of us, our bodily functions mean one of two things: either they’re disgusting aspects of our daily lives, which we should avoid looking at and talking about; or they’re the source of many great jokes and (often guilty) laughter. But whether you personally view your poo with disgust or with fascination, we now know that you’ll learn a lot from studying it more thoroughly.

Our bodily functions aren’t simply mechanisms that keep our bodies functioning: they also give us a vital glimpse into what’s going on inside us. As uncomfortable as some individuals might be with the idea of looking down into the toilet when they’re done, doing so can alert them to problems within their body, and help doctors intervene before these issues get any worse.

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