Scientists say that paying attention to poop is important because it tells a lot about the condition of the human body.

Justin Sewell from the University of California said that poop could come in different colors depending on what a person eats, and each tells something about the body. While an ideal poop does not exist, Sewell said that earth tones are the most common including brown, yellow, and green. Poop that falls outside the common colors are not necessarily unhealthy, but the colors black, gray, maroon or red signifies potential health issues.

Like Us on Facebook

The muddy colors of poop are the result of digested food mixed with broken pieces of dead red blood cells that are dumped into the small intestine along with bile, the enzyme produced by the liver that works to digest fats. Poop that looks pale gray could indicate that something is blocking the bile and the red blood cell waste from getting into the small intestine. Sewell suggests that the problem could lie anywhere from the liver or gallbladder.

Black, red or maroon poop indicate bleeding. An ulcer can cause tarry or sticky stools, and Chron's disease (an inflammatory bowel disease) or ulcerative colitis can cause the poop to turn dark red or maroon. Hemorrhoids, on the other hand, can cause the poop to contain bright red blood.

Frequency also matters, according to Sewell. Pooping for less than three times a week could mean constipation, and pooping more than can be too frequent. He suggests that people use the "Bristol Stoll Scale" as a guide.

Sewell told The Verge that "I think it's healthy for people to look at what they produce, note any major changes, and ask their doctor about it."