If you’ve never paid attention to your stool because you think it’s dirty, it might be time to reconsider. Observing your stool is one of the easiest ways to monitor your health. The color and texture can provide insight into your body’s internal condition.
- Light brown: Indicates good health and normal digestion. This color comes from bile during digestion.
- Green: Still considered normal, usually resulting from eating green vegetables.
- Red: Can be caused by eating red-colored foods like watermelon, tomatoes, or red drinks.
- Dark black: May result from consuming dark-colored foods like liver, black beans, or iron supplements.
- Tarry black: A warning sign of internal bleeding in the upper digestive tract. Immediate medical attention is necessary.
- Red with blood: Likely due to hemorrhoids or internal bleeding in the intestines, requiring a doctor’s examination.
- Yellow, greasy, foul-smelling: Indicates poor fat absorption, often associated with digestive disorders.
- Ashy gray: Suggests liver or pancreas issues, potentially indicating conditions like pancreatitis or hepatitis.
- Pale, white, or clay-colored: Could mean a lack of bile due to bile duct obstruction or side effects from medication.
Understanding what your stool can reveal about your health can help you detect issues early and seek treatment before they worsen.
