What is ghost poop? Why you must pay attention to this spooky-sounding bowel movement, according to health experts

Boo … poo?In the spirit of spooky season and in celebration of gut health, we’re talking ghost poops and phantom feces.What is a ghost poop? “A ‘ghost poop’ is a term used to describe when one’s stool sinks to the bottom of the toilet and seemingly vanishes without a trace,” gut health expert and registered dietician Julie Balsamo previously told The Post.That “without a trace” includes an absence of evidence when you wipe — and experts say it is a scary good sign.“It’s the healthiest bowel movement, really, in a lot of ways,” Kate Scarlata, MPH, RDN, a Boston-based registered dietitian, gut health expert and cohost of “The Gut Health” podcast, recently told SELF.

There are a few conditions that contribute to spooky scat.The reason these poos seem to disappear? They are heavier and, thanks to fiber, sink faster.

Scarlata explains, “Unlike floating stools, which may be buoyant due to excess gas, or malabsorption of carbs or fats, ghost poops are packed with fiber, which gives them a heft that helps them sink and vanish.”The easy exit is also a sign that your sphincter and gut muscles are aligned to push out poo in a single, cohesive movement.And how about the ghostly absence of toilet paper proof? “The lack of residue points back to a good balance of fluids and fat in your poops since stool with too much water or malabsorbed fats can be ‘messy’ and ‘mashed-potato-like,'” Scarlata says.

If you’re more in the mashed-potato camp, Scarlata says you need not fear as “we all will have different kinds of poops one day to the next.” Factors including diet, stress, hydration and hormones have a direct bearing on the quality, quantity, and phantom activity of your feces, and experts note that not having a ghost poo does not mean you are unhealthy.However, a lack of fiber may be to blame for your less-than-stellar stool.While the American Heart Association recommends at least 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day to help ...