The Scoop
about Poop
What you should know
Why should you know this?
You may have heard about or studied information regarding the “Fatal Five”.
Knowing about “poop” ties in with what you have learned about
dehydration, constipation, and infections. For example:
Having diarrhea can lead to dehydration. The consistency and even
color of poop can give clues about this early.
Constipation can lead to bowel obstruction as well as behavior issues
and just plain not feeling well. Recognizing this early will help with
timely treatment.
A light-colored poop can give you clues that a liver or gallbladder issue
is present rather than reflux or GERD when someone complains about
abdominal pain.
Different colors can indicate an infection.
By knowing what is normal and what is abnormal, you will be able to report
problems earlier to medical providers, thus providing better care.
Poop can tell a lot about health
A bowel movement is the last stop food makes as it
goes through the digestive tract. Sometimes called
stool or feces, poop is what’s left of food and drink
after the body absorbs important nutrients.
What and how someone eats affects the digestive
system, and sometimes, bowel movements can
change simply because of changes in diet. Other
times, changes in bowel movements signify something
more serious.
What’s “normal” depends on each individual person
— but there are some signs to look for that mean
something may be off.
What is considered
normal?
Normal bowel movements
can vary for each person.
Color: Medium to dark brown
There are general Smell: Strong but familiar
guidelines to Feel: Painless, requiring minimal strain to pass
what is Texture: Formed or soft with clear-cut edges that are easy
considered to pass.
healthy: Frequency: As often as 3 times a day or as little as 3
times per week
If someone’s stool is different on a consistent basis, it may just be what’s
normal for the person, but it may be worth mentioning to a healthcare provider.
Color
Poop can vary a lot in color. Some
colors are not healthy and should be
reported to a health care provider.
Pale poop color
Bile salts in the intestines give stool its usual
brown color.
If stool color is light (either pale, white,
grey, or clay-colored), there could be a lack of
bile in the stool due to:
A blockage of the bile ducts from
gallstones
A condition affecting your gallbladder,
liver, or pancreas (hepatitis, gallstones, etc)
Stool may be pale after a barium enema test.
Steatorrhea
Poop that is pale or light-colored could also mean there is excessive fat
in the poop—a condition called steatorrhea. This can be caused by
anything that disrupts the intestinal lining, such as celiac disease or
disorders that affect the pancreas, liver, or gallbladder.
The stool may be pale or yellow as well as shiny or greasy, foul-
smelling, or frothy.
It may float in the toilet bowl.
It often sticks to the side of the bowl and is difficult to flush away.
Yellow color
There are different possible causes of
yellow poop, and significance ranges
widely.
Yellow poop may simply mean that
the diet is high in yellow food items
such as sweet potatoes, carrots,
turmeric, or yellow food coloring.
People with GERD and those taking
medication for GERD sometimes
have yellow poop.
The sudden appearance of yellow poop
can also be a sign of an infection that
affects the intestines.
Green color
There are some common reasons for a
green poop color:
Eating lots of leafy vegetables like kale
or spinach.
Iron supplements, some antibiotics, and
food coloring, including green, purple,
and blue dye (often in drink mixes).
Conditions that speed up intestinal
activity, such as a bowel disorder or
food poisoning.
People who are pregnant may also
occasionally have green stools.
Bright red
A bright red poop color can
be caused by:
Beets
Cranberries
Tomato juice or soup
Products containing red food
coloring, like Jell-O, Kool-Aid or red
licorice.
Red medicines, such as amoxicillin,
may also turn poop red.
Blood in poop
If there is blood in stool, the color depends on
where the bleeding takes place in the digestive
tract.
Blood from the upper part of the
gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach or
esophagus, will look dark by the time it exits
the body as a bowel movement
Blood that is bright red is more likely to come
from the lower gastrointestinal tract, such as
the large intestine or rectum and may
be caused by conditions such as
Hemorrhoids Anal fissures
Ulcerative colitis Diverticulosis
Colon cancer
Black or dark color
Certain foods, supplements, and medications
can temporarily cause a black poop color,
such as:
Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol,
Kaopectate)
Iron supplements
Activated charcoal supplements
Dark foods, such as black licorice, grape
juice, Oreo cookies, blackberries, blueberries
Stool can also appear darker with constipation.
Dark green stool from bile that hasn't had time
to break down may appear to have a black poop
color in certain lighting.
Consistency
Consistency and Form
The Bristol Stool Chart, developed in 1997 by
researchers from Bristol, England, is used by
medical professionals for clinical assessments.
By using the chart, stool can be monitored, and
changes tracked.
It is important to note that there can be some
natural variation in stool texture and shape from
day to day.
The
Bristol
Stool
Chart
Bristol Stool Chart -
Constipation
Stool types 1 and 2:
These types of stool are
hard, lumpy, and difficult
to pass. It can indicate
that an individual is
constipated and may be
dehydrated.
Bristol Stool Chart - Normal
Type 3: Stool is a combination of
solid and lumpy, but it is easier to
pass than Types 1 and 2. It is
considered normal and healthy.
Type 4: Stool is smooth and soft and
is considered the ideal type of feces.
It is easy to pass and indicates a
healthy digestive system.
Type 5: Stool is soft, but it has
distinct edges. It can indicate that an
individual might be lacking fiber but
is still considered normal.
Bristol Stool Chart – Diarrhea
Type 6: Mild diarrhea – mushy
consistency with ragged edges
Type 7: Severe diarrhea – liquid
consistency with no solid pieces
Diarrhea can be a sign of infection or a
more serious underlying health issue.
Stool consistency –
Pencil thin
Narrow, pencil-like stool: generally caused by
the narrowing of the intestinal passage due to:
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s,
Ulcerative colitis, etc.)
Irritable bowel syndrome
Colon cancer
Partial obstruction from a mass in the colon
A low-fiber diet and temporary infections may
also be to blame.
Frequency
Having frequent bowel movements is a condition in which a person
defecates more often than usual.
There isn’t a “normal” number for bowel movement frequency.
Many healthcare providers agree that healthy bowel movement
frequency can range from 3 times a day to 3 times a week.
The two main bowel movement conditions are:
Constipation – fewer than 3 bowel movements per week
Diarrhea – more than 3 movements of loose stools per day
THE SCOOP
- ABOUT POOP
Thank you
Jean Justad, MD
Medical Director DDP
2024
