It's not common, but green stool can be a sign of a medical condition. Healthy stool tends to be brown with some variation in shade. Bile a substance that helps digest fat is secreted in the first part of the small intestine and is actually green. As stool continues through the digestive tract and passes through the large intestine, the bile becomes darker brown.
If the stool is still green by the time it comes out, it could mean that it went through the large intestine too fast to be turned brown. This is known as "rapid transit" or "decreased colonic transit time. This is especially true with green diarrhea rather than a full-formed stool. Food that is moving so quickly through the digestive system will not spend a long enough time in the large intestine for water to be absorbed, resulting in a loose stool.
Green stool is a normal occurrence in breastfed infants, especially in the first days after delivery, and is no cause for alarm. In infants, stools will gradually change to yellow and brown as the baby approaches their first birthday and more varied foods are added to the diet. For formula-fed babies, green stool may continue for several months.
This is likely due to the iron content of some formulas. In addition, giving an infant or a child an iron supplement as is commonly recommended by pediatricians may also cause green stools. Some parents say their children have green stools while teething.
There is no scientific evidence to support this common observation, however. In older children, green stool could be food-related or due to eating non-food items, such as crayons. There are some situations in which green diarrhea can be a sign of a more serious problem. You should call your doctor if:. Green stool is unusual but not typically something to worry about. The most common cause of green stool is diet. Eating green, blue, or purple foods is often the culprit—especially items prepared using food dyes.
A viral infection usually causes green diarrhea. This is likely the case if other symptoms are present, such as vomiting, stomach cramps, fatigue, or fever. Green diarrhea on its own that lasts for more than a few days or comes and goes could be a sign of a digestive issue. Call your doctor if diarrhea lasts longer than three days or is accompanied by vomiting for more than 24 hours. By itself, passing a solid green stool is not a sign of infection. In fact, it may simply be due to eating green-colored foods, like vegetables and fruits, or even green food dye.
Certain medications may be the cause of green poop and an upset stomach. If the medication interacts with the bacteria found in your gut, it can cause stool to have a greenish tint. If you experience these symptoms after taking your medication, it may be a good idea to talk to your prescriber about the issue. Common causes for sudden diarrhea include food poisoning and stomach flu. On the other hand, persistent diarrhea can be caused by celiac disease, food allergy or food intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease IBD , irritable bowel syndrome IBS , medication, and genetics.
Loose stool can be caused by a viral infection, stomach bug, and eating foods that are high in fat. Loose stool can also be the result of food traveling too quickly through the digestive system; if the large intestine doesn't have enough time to extract water from the food, this can result in loose stool. Gas pain? With Michael F. Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again.
Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Suneja M, et al. The abdomen, perineum, anus, and rectosigmoid. In: DeGowin's Diagnostic Examination. McGraw Hill; Accessed Sept. Feldman M, et al. Gastrointestinal bleeding. Elsevier; What is celiac disease? Celiac Disease Foundation. See also Mucus in stool: A concern? Narrow stools: Should I be concerned?
Undigested food in stool White stool: Should I be concerned? Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. Legal Conditions and Terms Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below.
It can also be caused by a bacterial infection e. Green baby poop can be caused by an excess amount of bile, certain formula brands, intolerance to a food in their mother's diet if they are breastfed , a newborn's first stool meconium , a viral or bacterial infection, or the introduction of solid foods into their diet specifically vegetables.
Drinking green tea can contribute to feeling a need to poop. This feeling can result from having drinks that contain caffeine, such as green tea or coffee. The color and shape of poop is determined by a number of factors.
Diet, underlying medical conditions, and medications can alter its appearance. For example, stool that is black or a tar-like color can indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and should be examined as soon as possible.
Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Green feces. Cleveland Clinic. Why Is Your Poop Green? August 27, Effects of caffeine on anorectal manometric findings. Dis Colon Rectum. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.
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When to See Your Healthcare Provider. How Bile Helps Digestion. Recognizing Healthy and Unhealthy Stool. Frequently Asked Questions Why is my poop green? Why is baby poop green?
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