Understanding the color of your stool may not be the most glamorous aspect of health, but knowing key indicators of your overall wellness can be extremely beneficial.
While small changes are common, the nuance of your bowel movements can provide important information about the health of your digestive system. Pattern changes can reflect anything from minor dietary adjustments to more serious underlying health conditions. Knowing what is normal for your body and recognizing deviations can help you maintain a healthy digestive system. We break it down and walk you through what each color means, like your very own poop color guide.
Small changes are normal. Other times they may be due to a digestive problem
It is important to note that stool color can naturally vary from day to day. Often, these changes are harmless and can be attributed to your eating habits, medications and the presence of bile due to its pigmentation. However, if the change is significant, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms, it could indicate a more serious problem. Each stool color represents different potential health concerns (or foods) that may be causing your stool to change color.
What Different Poop Colors Mean: Poop Color Chart Analysis
Brown (healthy) poop
Kimberly Flores, Nurse Practitioner and CEO of Sophrosyne Healthstates, “[A] Healthy stools will usually be brown due to the presence of bile, which is produced in the liver.” This hue is the result of bile, a fluid produced by the liver, which is released into the small intestine to aid in the digestion and absorption of fat. Initially, bile is yellow-green, but as it travels through the digestive system, it undergoes chemical changes that transform it into the brown color we see in stool. This color change is a sign that your digestive system is working properly. “Variations in brown may appear, but other colors may indicate problems,” he says. Because many shades of brown can appear, not knowing what is healthy and what might be the cause of a potential problem can be confusing. Dehydration, for example, can have varying degrees of severity and, while still brown, can significantly affect the color. Flores explains, “When the body is dehydrated, it tries to conserve water, leading to a decrease in the amount of water available in the intestines. This causes the stool to become harder and drier. Dehydrated stool often appears darker than normal because as water is reabsorbed from the stool in the large intestine, it becomes more concentrated with waste materials such as bile, which can darken the color. In severe cases, dehydration can lead to very dark brown or even black stools.”
Green Cape
Green stools can occur when food moves through the digestive tract too quickly, not allowing enough time for the bile to be fully broken down during digestion. It can also indicate a possible bacterial, viral or parasitic infection in the gut. However, eating certain foods such as green leafy vegetables (spinach and kale), chlorophyll supplements, or foods with green food coloring can also result in green stools.
Yellow cape
Yellow stools, especially if they look greasy and smell bad, may indicate a diet high in fatty foods (known as steatorrhea). Alternatively, it could also be due to malabsorption. Malabsorption occurs when your digestive system is unable to break down nutrients properly. This can be due to food intolerances (such as lactose and gluten), diseases or conditions affecting the gut. In addition to eating fatty foods, foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, can also turn your stool yellow.
Pale/Clay colored appendage
Light-colored stools or clay-colored stools may not be as common as some of the other colors, but they can still occur and are caused by certain medications, such as bismuth hyposalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or bariuma liquid consumed before taking an x-ray of the gastrointestinal tract. More seriously, they may indicate a lack of bile in the stool, which can be a sign of problems with the gallbladder, liver, or pancreas. Conditions such as gallbladder disease, hepatitis, and pancreatitis can reduce bile production and lead to this color change.
Black poop
Black stools can be worrisome in some cases. It can be something as simple as taking Pepto-Bismol, iron supplements, or charcoal. However, it can also be a sign of bleeding in the upper digestive tract, such as from a stomach ulcer or esophageal bleeding due to acid reflux. If you notice black stools, especially with accompanying symptoms such as bleeding, you should seek medical help immediately. Conversely, eating dark foods like blueberries and black licorice can also darken your stool, but this is mostly harmless.
Red sword
Red stools can be just as worrisome. Blood in the stool can be caused by gastrointestinal conditions such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer or diverticulitis. Bleeding almost always comes from the lower digestive tract. There are also a number of red foods that like to leave their stains on everything, even bowel movements. Foods like beets, strawberries, red food coloring, and tomato-based products (ie, soup and juice) can turn your stool red, so before you panic, think about your diet over the past few days and go from there.
While the color of your bowel movements provides critical information about your digestive health, it’s important to consider the size, shape, and consistency of your stool. Experts use it Bristol stool chart to help patients identify the type of stool they have. While types 1 and 2 present hard, lumpy (constipated) stools, types 5, 6 and 7 are the opposite: very soft, eventually turning liquid (diarrhea). The ideal type you want your stool to be is right in the middle of Types 3 and 4, which are firm, formed, but also easy to pass.
How long should I wait before seeking treatment?
It depends entirely on your condition and the severity of your bowel movements. Flores says, “If your bowel movements were normal and you notice they start to change color like they’re turning red when you haven’t eaten a food that would cause red stools, or you notice your stools are turning pale, you shouldn’t wait. [to] make an appointment to see a doctor.” He also recommends seeing a doctor for any changes in consistency. Not having either constipation or diarrhea for more than a few days is healthy and can actually become dangerous if left untreated. Some other signs to seek medical attention include excessive mucus in the stool, blood in the stool, or thin and pencil-like stool.
The Takeaway on the Poop Color Chart
Being aware of the color, consistency, and shape of your stool is an important aspect of maintaining digestive health. While small changes in stool color are often harmless and related to diet, persistent or significant changes can signal more serious health problems. Remember, your poop is a key indicator of your overall health—don’t ignore what it might be telling you.
