Overview:
Poop can turn green for lots of reasons, these include eating a lot of high-chlorophyll plants, like spinach or kale, taking a class of antibiotics, or even a bacterial disease.
Although infrequently a cause for concern, changes in feces color ought to be explored.
Poop is usually brown, but, occasionally, it can turn red, green, black, yellow, or anything in between.
A number of these color changes do not signal a medical condition, but some can be a sign of something more serious.
This article discusses poop color, what it means, and if to speak with a doctor.
Quick facts on poop color:
- Particular foods and beverages can have a significant impact on poop color
- Poop may turn green because of diarrhea
- Long-term changes to feces color should be examined by a Physician
Causes:
Does green poop indicate illness? There are a lot of reasons why stool can alter the color.
What makes poop green? Green stool is normally the effect of a high quantity of leafy, green vegetables in someone’s diet.
Specifically, it’s the chlorophyll from the plant that generates the green color.
Alternatively, kids may have green stool after attending a birthday celebration where they ate the artificially colored frosting.
Diet-based motives for green poop are by far the most common, but there are others.
Individuals who do not eat a lot of greens or food coloring ought to be cautious, as green poop may have a more significant cause.
Bile pigment — stool might be green as a result of bile pigment in the stool.
If food moves too quickly through the intestine, bile pigment can not break down sufficiently.
1 potential reason behind this is nausea.
Antibiotics — a course of antibiotics changes the types of bacteria present in the gut.
Since bacteria influence the normal color of poop, an alteration in terms may mean a change in stool color, frequently to green.
Certain medical procedures — for example, if a bone marrow transplant is reversed, it can lead to graft versus host disease.
Among the consequences of this problem are diarrhea and green stool.
Parasites and bacteria-specific pathogens can lead to poop turning green, such as the Salmonella bacterium, Giardia (a parasite), and norovirus.
These unwelcome guests may cause the guts to work quicker than ordinary, affecting stool color.
People who believe their green stool is not the result of a diet full of vegetables or green food coloring ought to discuss it with their doctor.
Factors of poop color:
The typical color of stool should be light to dark brown.
A substance from red blood cells known as bilirubin gets damaged and ends up in the intestines.
Bacteria then break it up and turn it brown.
So, what does it means when the color of poop abruptly changes, and what are some of the possible causes?
Changes in diet may create varying stool colors; this is the most frequent cause.
Eating beets, green vegetables (because of their high chlorophyll content), or licorice can significantly alter the color of the stool.
Drinking Guinness or drinks that contain heavy dye like Kool-Aid may have a similar effect.
There are, nevertheless, more serious causes of non-brown stool color which should be taken care of immediately if detected.
Here’s a brief list of Possible disorders that may change the color of stool:
- Tears in the lining of the anus
- Gallbladder disease
- Celiac disease
- Ulcerative colitis — a condition where the top layer of the large intestine lining is inflamed
- Tumors
- Diverticular disease — a state where pouches form in the intestine
- Infections — germs and parasites may change stool color; for instance, Salmonella and Giardia can lead to green stools
- Cancers
- Bleeding from the gut
It’s tough to consistently relate an exact color to every illness. But, there are a number of general characteristics that could serve as a guide.
Reddish feces — may be due to bleeding at the lower gut or rectum.
Yellowish, greasy, smelly stool — may indicate an infection in the small intestine.
It might also be a sign of extra fat in the feces because of a malabsorption disorder, celiac disease for instance.
White, light, or clay-colored — this can indicate a deficiency of bile in the body, possibly from a blocked bile duct.
Certain medications may also cause this discoloration, such as bismuth subsalicylate (e.g. Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal medication.
Black or dark brown — could indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, for instance, the stomach. Alternately, it might be caused by iron supplements or bismuth subsalicylate.
Bright reddish — bleeding at the lower digestive tract (rectum, for example ) or, generally, hemorrhoids.
Alternatively, it can be due to red food coloring, cranberries, beets, tomato-based products, red gelatin, or beverages with red food coloring.
Green eating massive quantities of green dye, green vegetables; a class of antibiotics, or even a bacterial disease.
It’s essential that people see a doctor if any discoloration stays rather than attempting to work it out for themselves.
Symptoms:
It is important to understand what to look out for about the more serious causes of feces discoloration.
These may include conditions such as diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease, and cancer, which often manifest with bleeding from the anus.
Important symptoms to look out for include:
- Dark, tarry stools
- Large amounts of blood passed from the anus
- Itchy anus
- Swollen blood vessels in the anus
- Small rips in the skin of the anus
- An urge to maintain passing stools when the bowel is empty
- A small channel growing between the end of the gut and the skin of the anus
In addition to any traces of blood in the stool, or standard bleeding from the anus, pay attention to any other symptoms linked with feces discoloration.
These include light-headedness, dizziness, nausea, or vomiting, especially if vomit includes blood too.
People should seek the advice of a physician promptly if any of these symptoms persist.
Common causes of rectal bleeding include:
- Tears from the lining of the anus
- Piles (hemorrhoids)
- Anal fistula — a small channel that develops between the end of the gut and the skin of the anus
- Angiodysplasia — swollen blood vessels in the gut
- Gastroenteritis — inflammation of the intestine
- Bowel cancer (prostate or colon cancer)
Less common causes of rectal bleeding include:
- Medicines that treat blood clots
- Bowel polyps — small growths Which Are usually harmless
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Consistency:
It is worth having a glance at feces before flushing it off. The stool is a very good indicator of whether the digestive system is working correctly.
Whether there are any illnesses occurring in the body such as those mentioned above, stool might give a clue.
As stated by the Bristol Stool Chart, you will find seven shapes and configurations that characterize our stool.
Each denotes something about an individual’s body or diet.
The Bristol Stool Chart Types:
1: Separate, hard lumps, like nuts (that are often difficult to pass)
2: Sausage-shaped but lumpy
3: Sausage-shaped but with fractures on the surface
4: Sausage- or snake-like, soft and smooth
5: Soft blobs with straightforward borders (easy to maneuver )
6: Fluffy bits with ragged edges, mushy
7: Watery, no sound pieces (entirely liquid)
As a general rule, type 3 or 4 might be the ideal stool since it is not hard to pass without becoming too watery.
Type1 or 2 means that a person is likely constipated. Type 6, 5, or 7 indicates that a person likely has diarrhea.
This graph helps physicians identify problems, in addition, to quantify the time it takes for food to pass through the digestive tract.
The shape and form of feces may also help doctors to create a proper diagnosis.
Takeaway:
The main thing to do to regulate stool color is to eat healthily. As discussed earlier, the perfect stool color is light to dark brown.
Some men and women that have a high number of greens in their diet can pass poop which has a green color also.
Having green poop isn’t usually a cause for concern. However, it’s essential for people to watch on both the color and the feel of their feces.
Anyone who’s concerned about the color of their feces should discuss it with their physician.
Ask your friends and loved ones for support.
If you’re feeling anxious or depressed, consider joining a support group or seeking counseling. Believe in your ability to take control of the pain…
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