But one’s digestion is just part of the equation. Diet also plays a significant role. That being said, tweaking what you eat can actually influence the odor of your poop. So, if you just changed your eating habits and noticed that your recent trips to the toilet are a bit less aromatic, there’s a good reason for that.
Plenty of research proves how plant-based diets are good for a person’s gut microbiome and overall digestive health. Because of a plant-based diet’s effect on one’s digestion, it makes sense if it also affects your poop’s smell. Dr Sheth shares with Fast Company that “plant-based diets create less smelly flatulence and stool because they’re low in mercaptans.”
When your body digests food like red meat, it produces these sulfur-containing compounds that lend your stool — and even your urine — its rancid, rotten cabbage or egg smell. If you’ve recently shifted to a diet that’s richer in vegetables and less meat, you might notice your poop doesn’t smell as strong. That’s because you’re likely taking in fewer of these smelly sulfuric compounds.
The Atlantic also highlights that numerous fruits and vegetables are abundant in probiotics, which foster beneficial gut bacteria and enhance digestive function. Additionally, as noted by Squatty Poop, these good bacteria play a role in not only promoting digestive health but also in helping you have better-smelling gas and poop.