Story at-a-glance Ghost poops — bowel movements that leave no residue when wiping and sink in the toilet — are indicators of excellent gut health and proper digestion, showing your body is efficiently processing nutrients Many digestive issues that prevent ghost poops stem from poor diet, stress, dehydration or insufficient physical activity, all of which disrupt your gut microbiome Contrary to popular belief, healing your gut often requires increasing digestible carbohydrates (200 to 350 grams daily) rather than focusing on fiber-heavy foods that might worsen symptoms in an unhealthy gut Proper toilet posture significantly impacts elimination — using a footstool or leaning forward opens your colon for more complete evacuation Floating or sticky stools signal issues with fat absorption or gut inflammation, while regular ghost poops indicate your digestive system is functioning optimally