Alongside the above causes of constipation, it may also result from lifestyle or routine changes such as physical inactivity or the overuse of laxatives. Dietary changes: The most common cause of green stool is eating green food, such as leafy greens like spinach or kale. Food coloring found in certain foods such as gelatin or ice pops can also be to blame.

Foods with beta-carotene: The compound- beta-carotene found in some vegetables and fruits, including carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and spinach, can turn stools orange. Anywhere between a firm and soft consistency is pretty much normal. If it sways too much one way or another, it could suggest some digestion or fiber issues. Length of time Indicates: These little pellets typically mean you’re constipated. It shouldn’t happen frequently. Type 2: Caterpillar Type 6 and Type 7 are in diarrhea territory and could signal an illness, food poisoning or some other digestive or intestinal issue. Stress can cause it, too. See a doctor if your stool consistently registers on this part of the chart.The “regular stool color” range will vary slightly from individual to individual, but most healthy stools are usually a shade of brown or green, well-formed, and easily passed.

Celiac disease, a gluten intolerance in which eating wheat, barley, or rye damages the small intestines and triggers the production of certain antibodies. These antibodies flatten the small intestines villi—structures crucial to proper nutrient absorption. Diagnostic testing to find the cause of changes in stool color typically start with blood tests including complete blood count Dark red or maroon blood can mean that you have bleeding higher up in your colon or your small intestine. Ghassemi KA, Jensen DM. Lower GI bleeding: epidemiology and management. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2013;15(7):333. doi:10.1007/s11894-013-0333-5This article was co-authored by Dale Prokupek, MD. Dale Prokupek, MD is a board-certified Internist and Gastroenterologist who runs a private practice based in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Prokupek is also a staff physician at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Prokupek has over 30 years of medical experience and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver, stomach, and colon, including chronic hepatitis C, colon cancer, hemorrhoids, anal condyloma, and digestive diseases related to chronic immune deficiency. He holds a BS in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and an MD from the Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed an internal medicine residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a gastroenterology fellowship at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. Bright red blood in your stool might be more alarming because it suggests active bleeding. Darker blood usually suggests older bleeding that’s not active anymore. But darker blood in your stool can be deceiving. It doesn’t always mean the bleeding has stopped, only that it’s coming from someplace higher up. nausea, vomiting of blood, diarrhea, and cramping due to the presence of blood in the stomach and/or intestines; and White poop is uncommon, but white is not a healthy color for stool. It could indicate a liver problem. Strong-smelling: Bacteria in excrement emit gases that contain the unpleasant odor associated with poop.

Overuse of caffeine, beer, or wine has a laxative effect on some individuals. The artificial sweeteners sorbitol and mannitol are known laxatives, as are some herbal supplements and some over-the-counter vitamin and mineral preparations. Usually, floating poop isn’t a cause for concern on its own. However, if you have other symptoms, such as significant weight loss, talk to your primary care provider to see what’s going on. Foul-smelling PoopCasias A, Newton L. Functional constipation: A case report. J Pediatr Health Care. 2021;35(1):99-103. doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.07.014 Poop can often come out the color of the food that went in, especially if you have diarrhea. If your poop has an orange hue, it’s most likely due to some orange foods.