Stool, commonly known as Poop or faeces, is an ordinary part of the digestive process. Stool comprises of waste products that are removed from the body. This may include bacteria, undigested food particles, proteins, salts or any other substance that are produced and later released by the intestines. Although Poop may vary in its color, amount, texture, shape or odor, there are a few things that can possibly indicate a healthy or unhealthy stool.
In this article, we have discussed the different types of Poop, including the signs that indicate a healthy or unhealthy poop. Keep reading to acquire more information.
What is a healthy stool?
Healthy faeces can be as different and as unique as the people produce it. Nevertheless, there are a few general tips to follow if you want to assess your stool artistry for optimum health.
The following are the general characteristics of normal or healthy Poop:
- Medium to dark brown: Poop contains a pigment called bilirubin, which is formed when red blood cells are broken down.
- Strong-smelling: Bacteria in excrement release gases that contain the unpleasant smell associated with Poop.
- Soft to a firm in texture: faecal matter that is released in a single piece or a few smaller pieces is usually considered a sign of a healthy bowel. The shape of the intestines forms the long, sausage-like shape of stool.
- It should be painless to pass: Normal and healthy Poop should be pain-free to pass and should require minimal strain.
- Passed once or twice daily: While most people pass stool once or twice a day, others may poop up to three times a day. On average, a healthy person should pass the bowel at least three times a week.
- It should be consistent in its characteristics: You should monitor any changes in the smell, color, texture or frequency of your Poop, as changes may indicate health issues.
Color
The table in this section, indicates the various colors of Poop, potential cause and possible solutions or precautions.
| color | Potential cause | What to do |
| Black | GI bleeding Iron, bismuth | This is an emergency. Visit an emergency department |
| Maroon | Gastrointestinal bleeding | This is an emergency. Consult an emergency department |
| Red- bright red blood | Haemorrhoids, annal fissure | Consult a health-care professional |
| Red- maroon/dark red, sometimes with mucus or clots | Inflammatory bowel disease, infection, tumour, diverticular bleed, rapid upper gastrointestinal bleeding | Urgently consult a doctor |
| Green | sometimes normal. A diet rich in green vegetables is usually associated with diarrhoea | Consult a doctor |
| Brown | Normal color | Keep eating healthy |
| Yellow | Pancreatic diseases, malabsorption, cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Giardia infection | Consult a doctor |
| Clay, pale yellow, or white | Lack of bile in the stool which causes liver or biliary disease | Consult your health care practitioner |
Normal Poop is usually light to dark brown in color. This is due to bilirubin- a pigment compound formed during the breakdown of red blood cells our body. Bilirubin is responsible for the brown coloring. Although differences in stool color or texture may be normal, other noticeable changes should be evaluated by a doctor since the symptoms associated with poop color changes are most likely the symptoms of underlying issues or illnesses. The color of Poop may change due to many reasons, including:
- over-the Diet (e.g. beets, green vegetables, liquorice)
- Illnesses such as Gastrointestinal diseases, tumor, cancer, biliary diseases, diarrhoea, among others
- Bismuth, for example, Pepto-Bismol
- Intake of drinks.
- Certain -counter drugs and prescription medications
- Stool that comes out in an unusual color, especially yellow, may be as a result of diarrhoea, intestinal bleeding, liver or pancreatic diseases, or over the counter and prescribed medications.
- Green Poop is usually a common color change. If stool passes through the intestines too fast, there might not be enough time for bile to be broken down to provide the standard brownish color of stool. This is mainly due to diarrhoea or due to certain foods such as green, leafy vegetables or green food coloring.
- Black or red Poop is normally associated with bleeding within the digestive system, that is, from the oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine/colon. You should visit a doctor immediately if you notice this color change.
- The yellow, greasy and foul-smelling stool may be due to the intestine’s inability to digest and absorb fat due to illnesses of the intestinal lining such as cystic fibrosis, or celiac diseases. It may also be as a result of the inability of the pancreas to manufacture adequate digestive enzymes or lack of enough bile in the intestines.
- Bright red stools may be as a result of bleeding from haemorrhoids in adults or annal fissure for infants. Other common causes may be intestinal infections, tumors, inflammatory bowel diseases, among others.
- Black tarry stools are usually due to a large amount of bleeding into the digestive system, especially from the upper gastrointestinal tract. This is a worrisome symptom as it can result in a medical emergency if left untreated.
- White stools or pale stools are often caused by liver diseases or bile ducts. These may be due to pancreatic cancer which often blocks the bile ducts. Lack of bile makes the Poop to lose its brown color, thus leaving it to appear pale.
- Maroon stools are usually caused by Gastrointestinal bleeding, especially the upper GI tract. They result from partial digestion of blood in the ileum and proximal colon. The color may also partially depend on how rapidly the blood travels through the intestines. The faster the speed of the stool through the GI tract, the brighter red the color. This is also an emergency that should never be ignored.
- When stool color changes, the type of tests needed to be conducted depends on what is suspected to be the cause of the color change. For instance, a gastrointestinal tract endoscopy may be needed to evaluate black, maroon or red Poop if bleeding is suspected.
Shape
A long sausage-like shape is how most Poops come out, due to the shape of the intestines. However, Poop may come out in various shapes. When Poop differentiates from the normal log-like shape, it is trying to inform you that something is up. Faecal matter should not come out in small pellets but instead, should be a few inches in length which should be comfortable and easy to pass with less or minimal strain.
When to see a doctor
You should consider booking an appointment with your doctor if changes to Poop last for more than two weeks.
If your stool is bright red, black, maroon or looks like coffee grounds, seek immediate medical treatment. This is because it indicates blood loss, which can result in a medical emergency if left untreated.
Key Takeaways
The default color of normal Poop is brown. It is often soft to firm in texture, and it is easy to pass. If you ever experience differences in poop color, shape or texture, monitor the changes carefully and visit a doctor if the issues do not resolve within two weeks.
Make it your habit to eat foods that are rich in fibre, exercise regularly, minimize your stress levels, and stay hydrated by drinking lots of water to encourage a normal bowel function.
Free Stool Color Chart Templates
Monitoring the changes in your stool color, texture, shape or odor daily, may seem like a very daunting task. However, it doesn’t have to be. Download our free, easily customizable and professionally designed stool color chart templates, which will help you to navigate through the whole process quickly and effectively.
Chart
or Pictures
nd Meaning
olor Chart
Monitoring the changes in your stool color, texture, shape or odor daily, may seem like a very daunting task. However, it doesn’t have to be. Download our free, easily customizable and professionally designed stool color chart templates, which will help you to navigate through the whole process quickly and effectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brown and green color in Poop is considered normal. Stool color rarely indicates a potentially serious intestinal condition. This is mainly because stool color is influenced by your daily diet and by the amount of bile in your intestines which digests fats in your stool.
The various categories of Poop are:
Separate hard lumps like nuts which are usually difficult to pass and are black-severe constipation
Lumpy, sausage-like shaped poop-mild constipation
Sausage-like shaped but cracks on its surface and tends to be black sometimes-normal
Soft blobs with clear cut edges-lacks fiber
Average stool- snake or sausage-like, usually smooth and soft-normal
Liquid consistency with no solid pieces-severe diarrhea
Mushy consistency with ragged edges-mild diarrhea
Some over the counter drugs and prescribed medications contain Pepto Bismol, which causes dark stools. Iron is also a common cause of dark stools. Licorice, blueberries, or any food with a dark red, blue, purple, or green food coloring may also cause darker stools.
Check with your doctor if you are concerned about the changes in your stool color. Seek immediate medical attention if your stool is bright red or black and tarry. This color changes indicate the presence of excessive blood. In cases of severe diarrhea for more than two weeks, seek medical attention, as food may be moving through the large intestines too promptly.
Conclusion
The default color of bowel movements is usually light-dark brown or sometimes green. However, there are moderate variations among individuals concerning stool form, amount, and color. When differences in stool type occur, it implies that there may be certain conditions or illnesses that are affecting the gastrointestinal tract of the whole body. If these changes persist for more than two weeks, it is recommended that you seek medical attention. To foster a healthy bowel movement system, you should exercise regularly, drink many fluids, eat fibre-filled foods and regularly monitor your stool color, texture, shape and odor using stool color chart templates.
