Do you have a healthy or natural bowel movement?

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Poo is something nobody likes to talk about, but healthy, daily bowel movements are a good indicator of your overall health. They signal that your intestinal system is on task, your gut flora is doing its job, and your diet is working for you, rather than against you.
Not to mention the fact that a good bowel movement – dare I say it – is incredibly satisfying.
Medicinal laxatives are usually a go-to whenever bowel movements become difficult, but there are many things you can do to ensure these are never needed.
Let's start with what is considered a "healthy" or "natural" bowel movement.

Stools should be light/medium brown in colour, not dark brown, black, grey, orange, bright red, or containing mucous. They should be smooth, soft, and effortless to pass; not hard or mushy/watery, or requiring of any kind of strain to release.
Stools should gently "dive" into the toilet water, not sound like a hose has been turned on. They should also have a natural smell (a movement won't smell good, but it shouldn't be overwhelmingly offensive).
Any kind of bowel movement outside of these ideals should consider intervention, and if things don't improve, medical advice should be sought to uncover underlying problems.
Technique is the first thing to get right for healthy bowel movements. Believe it or not, the modern toilet – which sits at a 90-degree angle – isn't actually positioning you for optimal technique. Rather, two small changes can be made.

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One option is a squat position over the loo, which straightens the rectum and allows for complete emptying of the bowel without straining. The second option, which is somewhat easier, is simply lifting your heels while you sit. This emulates the squat technique (to some degree) to give greater pressure to the pelvic cavity, also allowing for less strain.
It's also important to never resist the urge to go. When you hold onto your stools rather than release them, they spend too much time in your colon and become hard.
As far as dietary changes go, start with hydration. Water is the most effective way to ensure healthy bowel movements, because it keeps everything you eat moving throughout your body.