Alternating between constipation and diarrhea, or having consistently abnormal stools (too hard, too loose, or containing undigested food), signals gut dysfunction. Healthy bowels produce 1-3 well-formed stools daily. If yours are unpredictable, it means the balance of bacteria, digestive enzymes, and gut motility is disrupted. The Bristol Stool Chart types 3-4 are ideal — anything else chronically indicates problems.