Green stools should i be concerned

The chlorophyll that gives those vegetables their green color can do the same to your poop. A less organic force — green food dye — also could be behind the Hulk-like hue on a 2. Consider this the consequence of eating a St.

In any food-related case, the funky tint should disappear within a day or two once the source is flushed out of your system, says Dr. Antibiotics can lead to small — and potentially colorful — changes to the way your body digests food.

The reason? The medication can alter the bacteria flora in your gut, which can add a greenish tint to what comes out. If any discoloration persists, it is important that a person see a doctor instead of trying to work it out on their own. In addition to any traces of blood in the stool or bleeding from the anus, pay attention to any other symptoms that occur with stool discoloration.

These may include nausea, vomiting blood, or a feeling of fullness. Common causes of rectal bleeding include :. It is worth having a quick look at stool before flushing it away. Stool is a very good indicator of whether the digestive system is working properly. It may provide a clue to illnesses such as those mentioned above. According to the Bristol Stool Chart , there are seven shapes and consistencies of human stool.

As a general rule, type 3 or 4 is the ideal stool, as it is easy to pass but not too watery. Type 1 or 2 means that a person is probably constipated. Type 5, 6, or 7 indicates that a person probably has diarrhea. This chart helps doctors identify problems and correlate the time food takes to pass through the digestive system. The shape and form of stool may also help doctors make a correct diagnosis. The most important thing to do to regulate stool color is to eat a healthy diet.

The ideal stool color is light to dark brown. Some people who eat large quantities of greens may pass green poop. However, it is important to keep an eye on both the color and the texture of stool. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Request Appointment. See, your stool is mostly made of your digested food and bacteria, Shanti Eswaran, MD , a gastroenterologist at Michigan Medicine, tells Health.

Typically, reasons for green poop fall under two categories: illness or food. Here, doctors explain, specifically, the top seven reasons your poop might have a greenish color—and what you can or should do about it. If you've recently been ill and taken an antibiotic, it's not uncommon to see a color change in your stool, says Eswaran.

It's also not uncommon to have antibiotic-induced diarrhea, which could cause your stomach to hurt. Luckily, this should clear up within a few days, after you complete your course of the medication. Not dissimilar to the reason antibiotics do a number on your poop, bacteria invading the GI tract could cause a green tinge to your stool. Diarrhea itself always increases the odds of green stool, too.