What your stool color says about your health

Understanding the color of your stool may not be the most eye-catching aspect of your health, but knowing the basic indicators of your overall health can be very helpful.

While small variations are common, the color of your poop can provide important insights into your digestive health. Pattern changes can reflect everything from minor dietary adjustments to more serious underlying health conditions. Understanding what’s normal for your body and identifying what’s abnormal can help you maintain a healthy digestive system. We’ll go through what each color means, one by one, like your own personal poop color chart guide.

Slight changes are normal; other times they may be due to digestive issues

It’s important to note that stool color can vary naturally from day to day. Often, these changes are harmless and can be attributed to your diet, medications, and the presence of bile due to pigmentation. However, if the changes are large, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms, it could indicate a more serious problem. Each stool color represents a different underlying health issue (or food) that may be causing your stool color to change.

What different poop colors mean: A breakdown of the poop color chart

Brown (Healthy) Poop

Kimberly Flores, nurse practitioner and CEO of Sophrosyne Health, said,[A] Healthy stool is typically brown because bile is produced by the liver. “This color is a result of bile, a fluid produced by the liver that is released into the small intestine to aid in digestion and fat absorption. Initially, bile is a yellow-green color, but as it travels through the digestive system, it undergoes chemical changes and turns into the brown color we see in stool. This color change is a sign that your digestive system is functioning properly. “The brown color may change, but other colors can indicate a problem,” she says. Since brown can come in many different shades, it can be confusing to not know what is healthy and what could be the cause of an underlying problem. For example, dehydration can have varying degrees of severity and, while still brown, significantly affect the color. Flores explains, “When the body becomes dehydrated, it tries to conserve water, resulting in less water available in the intestines. This causes the stool to become harder and drier. Dehydrated stool is typically a darker brown than normal because as water is reabsorbed from the stool in the colon, there is a higher concentration of waste products, such as bile, in the stool, which darkens the color. In severe cases, dehydration can cause stool to be dark brown or even black.”

Green poop

Green stool can occur when food moves through the digestive tract too quickly, without enough time for bile to fully break it down during digestion. It can also indicate an underlying bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection in the intestines. However, consuming certain foods, such as leafy greens (spinach and kale), chlorophyll supplements, or foods containing green food coloring can also cause green stool.

Yellow poop

Yellow stool, especially if it looks greasy and has a foul odor, can indicate a diet high in fatty foods (called steatorrhea). Alternatively, it can be due to malabsorption. Malabsorption occurs when your digestive system can’t break down nutrients properly. This can be due to food intolerances (such as lactose and gluten), illness, or a condition that affects the intestines. In addition to eating fatty foods, foods high in beta-carotene (such as carrots and sweet potatoes) can also cause yellow stool.

Pale or clay-colored stool

Pale or chalky stools may not be as common as other colors of stool, but they can still occur and are caused by certain medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or barium, a liquid taken before a gastrointestinal X-ray. 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 cause this color change.

Black poop

In some cases, black stool can be a cause for concern. It could be something as simple as taking Pepto-Bismol, iron supplements, or charcoal. However, it could also be a sign of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, such as bleeding in the esophagus from a stomach ulcer or acid reflux. If you notice black stool, especially if it’s accompanied by symptoms like bleeding, you should seek medical attention immediately. Conversely, eating dark foods like blueberries and black licorice can also turn your stool black, but this is mostly harmless.

Red poop

Red stool is equally worrisome. Blood in the stool can be caused by gastrointestinal conditions like hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colon cancer, or diverticular disease. Bleeding almost always originates in the lower digestive tract. And there are some red foods that love to stain everything – even bowel movements. Foods like beets, strawberries, red food coloring, and tomato products (i.e. soups and juices) can turn your stool red, so before you panic, think about what you’ve been eating for the past few days and make adjustments accordingly.

While the color of your bowel movements can reflect the health of your digestive system, it’s also important to consider the size, shape, and consistency of your stool. Experts use the Bristol Stool Scale to help patients determine their stool type. Type 1 and 2 stools are hard and lumpy (constipation), while types 5, 6, and 7 are the opposite: very soft and eventually become liquid (diarrhea). The ideal stool type is somewhere between types 3 and 4, which are hard and formed, but easy to pass.

How long should I wait before seeking treatment?

It all depends on your situation and the severity of your bowel movement. “If your bowel movements are normal but you notice they start to change color, like turning red when you haven’t eaten anything that would cause red stool, or you notice your stool turning pale, you shouldn’t wait to see if you have a bowel movement,” Flores says. [to] Schedule an appointment to see your doctor. She also advises that if constipation or diarrhea lasts for more than a few days, it is healthy but can actually become dangerous if not treated. Some other signs that you should see a doctor include excessive mucus in your stool, blood in your stool, or thin, pencil-shaped stools.

Key points of stool color chart

Paying attention to the color, consistency, and shape of your stool is an important aspect of maintaining digestive health. While minor changes in stool color are usually harmless and diet-related, persistent or significant changes may signal a more serious health problem. Remember, your stool is a key indicator of your overall health—don’t ignore what it may be telling you.