Wait, a poop bank in Beijing?

 

Ever thought one day your poop might play a huge part in saving someone else’s lives? Well friends, here's something to think about next time you find yourself plopped on the toilet.

Beijing Fumate Biotechnology, a stool bank that takes aim at collecting poops to treat cancers and other gut diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, wants YOUR poop! If you are in good shape and have a regular bowel movement, you might consider visiting the place to actually get paid for pooping.

 

You might wonder what’s so valuable lying in our waste that makes it worth paying for. Well, the answer lies in the bacteria of our turds. Our body needs to maintain a good balance of natural bacteria to function properly – without them, our digestive and immune systems will be left in disorder. However, antibiotics will kill off all kinds of bacteria, including the good ones, which upsets the balance of our body and lets patients become prone to intestine diseases.

This is where poop comes into play. It turns out human feces contain a large amount of “good bacteria” for patients who are in desperate need due to antibiotics treatment. ("Fun" fact: around 25-54 percent of human poop is made up of bacteria and other microbes!) In other words, one person’s good-bacteria-filled poop is just what a sick person needs.

This is especially significant when you consider the fact that about 120 million people in China suffer from chronic gastritis, according to a report by the People’s Daily.

Many netizens expressed support for such acts. One netizen appeared excited with the idea. "If you are a pro at pooping, don't hesitate to poop for those in need," he wrote. Another netizen advocated for her husband to participate. "My husband will be a great candidate! He is a great thinker on a toilet," she commented. We're sure they must have a very loving relationship.