Healthy babies, animals and adults not subjected to the “refinements” of civilization have bowel movements shortly after each meal is eaten. So, assuming there is sufficient fibre and water available to the colon, one characteristic is a bowel movement shortly after a meal is eaten.

Once the urge to eliminate is honoured by a trip to the toilet, the elimination should be easy and take no more than a few seconds.

The stool will be long, large in diameter, light brown in colour, without offensive odour and should float or sink very slowly.

When the toilet is flushed, the stool immediately begins breaking apart by the action of water movement. As incredible as this may sound, it is true and commonly experienced in cultures where people live more naturally.