Stool color rarely makes for dinner table talk—or social media posts. But the #bluepoopchallenge has gone viral on Twitter and Instagram, offering a fun glimpse into intestinal health. Blue stool signals how efficiently your gut processes food. Ready to try it?
The challenge comes from ZOE, a leading research firm conducting large-scale studies on the gut microbiome. This ecosystem comprises trillions of microbes—mostly bacteria, but also fungi, yeasts, viruses, and other single-celled organisms—primarily in the large intestine. It plays a crucial role in digestion and immune function.
ZOE designed the Blue Poop Challenge to help you measure food transit time through your digestive tract in an engaging way.
Bake two muffins using gel-based blue food dye (not water-based). Eat them for breakfast, noting the date and time. Monitor your stool until blue-green appears, then record that time too.
The time difference reveals your gut transit speed. Optionally, submit results (in English) on ZOE's site for a personalized report, including a match to a 'poo buddy' with similar transit and diet patterns, suggesting comparable microbiomes.
Across participants, the average is 28 hours and 42 seconds. No need to submit if you prefer not to.
Use the colorant in pancakes or even a fried egg—as long as it's solid food, not liquid.
ZOE researchers emphasize that transit time provides deeper insights into gut health than bowel frequency or stool shape alone.
Text: Manon Sickle
Image: Getty Images
Source: Joinzoe.com
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