{"categories":"Condition,Person Group Concept,Person Group Concept,Theme of Focus","keywords":"Diagnosable condition,Abnormal stool appearance,Age Concept,Adult,19 to 44 younger,Age Concept,Adult,45 to 64 middle,Clinical Focus Value Set,Causal Risk Factor","abstract":"\u003cp\u003eStool color is usually a result of diet and is only rarely a concern.\u003c/p\u003e","title":"Stool color: When to worry","body":"\u003cdiv class='section'\u003e\u003cdiv class='SectionHead'\u003eAnswer Section\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv class='SectionHTML'\u003e\u003cp\u003eStool comes in a range of colors. All shades of brown and even green are considered normal. Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile \u0026mdash; a yellow-green fluid that digests fats \u0026mdash; in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes, changing the pigments from green to brown.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsult your doctor if you're concerned about your stool color. If your stool is bright red or black \u0026mdash; which may indicate the presence of blood \u0026mdash; seek prompt medical attention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ctable summary=\"Stool color and possible dietary causes\"\u003e    \u003ccaption\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e    \u003cthead\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003cth\u003eStool quality\u003c/th\u003e            \u003cth\u003eWhat it may mean\u003c/th\u003e            \u003cth\u003ePossible dietary causes\u003c/th\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e    \u003c/thead\u003e    \u003ctfoot\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e    \u003ctbody\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eGreen\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eFood may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eGreen leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eLight-colored, white or clay-colored\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eA lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eCertain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eYellow, greasy, foul-smelling\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eExcess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eSometimes the protein gluten, such as in breads and cereals. See a doctor for evaluation.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBlack\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eIron supplements, bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), black licorice.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBright red\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBleeding in the lower intestinal tract, such as the large intestine or rectum, often from hemorrhoids.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eRed food coloring, beets, cranberries, tomato juice or soup, red gelatin or drink mixes.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e    \u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/div\u003e","doc_id":"FAQ-20058080","object_id":"6424fbf3-411f-4afa-85d9-b4e8d0dc424d","updated_at":"2019-02-19","meta_keywords":"","benefit_summary":"","sections":{"Answer Section":"\u003cp\u003eStool comes in a range of colors. All shades of brown and even green are considered normal. Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eStool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile \u0026mdash; a yellow-green fluid that digests fats \u0026mdash; in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes, changing the pigments from green to brown.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsult your doctor if you're concerned about your stool color. If your stool is bright red or black \u0026mdash; which may indicate the presence of blood \u0026mdash; seek prompt medical attention.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ctable summary=\"Stool color and possible dietary causes\"\u003e    \u003ccaption\u003e\u003c/caption\u003e    \u003cthead\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003cth\u003eStool quality\u003c/th\u003e            \u003cth\u003eWhat it may mean\u003c/th\u003e            \u003cth\u003ePossible dietary causes\u003c/th\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e    \u003c/thead\u003e    \u003ctfoot\u003e\u003c/tfoot\u003e    \u003ctbody\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eGreen\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eFood may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eGreen leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eLight-colored, white or clay-colored\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eA lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eCertain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eYellow, greasy, foul-smelling\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eExcess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eSometimes the protein gluten, such as in breads and cereals. See a doctor for evaluation.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBlack\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, such as the stomach.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eIron supplements, bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), black licorice.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e        \u003ctr\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBright red\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eBleeding in the lower intestinal tract, such as the large intestine or rectum, often from hemorrhoids.\u003c/td\u003e            \u003ctd\u003eRed food coloring, beets, cranberries, tomato juice or soup, red gelatin or drink mixes.\u003c/td\u003e        \u003c/tr\u003e    \u003c/tbody\u003e\u003c/table\u003e"},"has_flash":false,"flash_content_url":null,"flash_content_height":null,"flash_content_width":null}