Is it harmful to ingest excrement?

Question

If you were truly starving, and ate a turd to survive, could that potentially harm you? Don't dogs do it all day!

Answer 1

First of all, dogs and humans have different digestive systems, so you can't compare the two. Generally speaking, most animals do not eat their own waste, since waste matter is what the organism is unable to digest or use as energy. Rabbits excrete caecal pellets, which are not feces per se, but semi-digested excreta which contain essential nutrients that are absorbed when reingested.

But as for humans, we are not meant to eat our own fecal matter. The problem is that human feces contains a high amount of indigestible products, as well as bacteria from the intestines. Aside from the disease potential from eating other people's feces, eating one's own stool would present an elevated risk of bacterial infection, long-term liver and renal toxicity, and digestive problems. One might be able to extract what little nutritive value remains, but it isn't significant, because the work needed to utilize the remaining nutrients is probably greater than what could be obtained.

In short, if you were stranded on a desert island with nothing to eat, you would still not want to eat your own feces, because it would likely make you physically ill before any added nutritional value could be extracted.

Answer 2

There is a reason why turds are pretty gross and diarrhea is so repulsive you don't even want to touch something that might have touched it. There are all kinds of digestive disease you can get that way.

For example,

Tape worms,

Bird flue,

Echolie,

salmonella,

Answer 3

Yes, but dogs can eat rancid fuzzy meat that's been baking in the summer sun, covered in maggots. I think I'd rather eat my own toenails first.

Answer 4

Yes you would. If you eat a turd that wont sustain you enough to keep you alive anyway. NASTY!

Answer 5

you make waste to get rid of toxins that your body doesn't need. ingesting it would have to be bad for you. and as for dogs, eating poo is just as bad for them

Answer 6

nah, you'd survive. i hear your urine has a lot of vitamins in it too. (you in general, not you you. Unless you're healthy and all that. I wouldn't know.)

Answer 7

If you're a dog then I guess it would be okay

Answer 8

Haven't you heard the old saying..."eat s**t and die" ?

Answer 9

i tink it might spread hepatitis

Answer 10

I dont think you would die.......but it is bodily waste.....i dont think it would sustain you.