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As the old saying goes, “Everybody poops” but that doesn’t mean that all restroom stops are created equal. While most people don’t pay attention to their bowel movements unless they’re feeling ill, checking out the color of your poop regularly is a good idea. A poop color chart will tell you when something important has changed.
What Gives Poop Its Color?
Generally, the color of your waste is caused by two important factors – what you eat and the amount of bile the poop contains.
Bile is produced by the liver and its purpose is to break down the fat that you’ve eaten.
It’s usually yellow-green but undergoes some color changes as it moves through the digestive system.
If these two elements vary then it’s expected that the final color of your poop will change as well.
In fact, it’s possible to see colors like red, yellow, green, and brown without there being any serious issues.
It’s still important to pay attention to what’s going on though because, in a few rare cases, changes in poop color can mean that something is very wrong with your digestive system.
What Do The Different Shades Mean?
In many instances, it’s possible to track changes in the color of waste to what you’ve eaten or having digestive issues. Here’s what different colors can mean.
- Green Poop
– This color can be caused by iron supplements, the green food colors used in beverages or snacks, as well as dark, green leafy vegetables. If you have diarrhea, the waste may also be green because things are moving too fast through the digestive system to be handled properly. - Yellow Poop– This color is usually normal unless the stool is also smelly and greasy.
- Black Poop– Certain anti-diarrheal medications can cause this color. Foods that are very dark such as black licorice and iron supplements can also darken the stool. In rare cases, bleeding in the stomach is the cause.
- Red Poop– Eating bright red foods regularly can give your waste this color. For example, beets, tomato soup, red berries, and tomato juice. The key question is whether or not the color returns to brown after taking a break from these foods.
- Orange Poop
– This color is typically related to foods that are very orange. The list includes carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and foods that are high in orange coloring. Again, there is no need for concern if your waste returns to being brown when you don’t eat them. Having diarrhea can also lead to orange poop.
When You Need to See a Doctor About Your Poop
Health professionals recommend seeing a doctor if your stool is bright red or black. While it’s possible for these colors to be caused by certain foods or supplements, they can also indicate that there’s bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
It may also be a sign of non-cancerous tumors, polyps, or ulcers.
If your waste is yellow, seems greasy, and has an overly foul smell, it’s usually a sign that fat is not being properly absorbed during the digestive process.
Additionally, your body may not be able to absorb gluten effectively so foods that contain wheat, barley, or rye are not being digested well. Disorders such as Celiac disease could be the cause so it’s best to have it investigated.
However, it pays to take a look every once in a while. Changes in color, smell, consistency, and texture can all indicate that you need to give your doctor a call.
