Like it or not, everybody has to poop. It’s part of being human, but talking about it is embarrassing for some. Here’s the thing, though: Our poop — its color, shape, and even smell — can tell us a lot about our health.
So what does healthy poop look like? It would contain some fluids, undigested food (mostly in the form of fiber), bacteria, and dead cells that have been shed from the lining of your intestines. Ideally, stool should be well-formed, tube-shaped, and brown in color, though the hue varies from person to person.
While changes in poop’s color, consistency, frequency, and even smell can very well indicate a digestive problem, it can just as easily be a false alarm. “Sometimes it’s just something they ate,” says Edward Loftus, MD, a professor of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
“You don’t want to react too much to one single change,” says Dr. Loftus. “But if it’s been going on for longer than a week and you don’t have a good explanation, you should tell your doctor about it.”
Here are some FAQs about human poop, what’s considered a normal bowel movement, and when you should see a doctor.
How Often Should You Poop?
If you’re straining or having difficulty passing stool, you might have constipation, which is defined simply as fewer bowel movements than usual.
What Color Should My Poop Be?
- Green Leafy green vegetables can end up as green-colored stools. Iron supplements can also turn your poop green. One possible problem associated with green stools is that when bile passes through the intestines too quickly, it stays green along with your poop.
- Black A vitamin that contains iron or medication that contains bismuth subsalicylate, such as Pepto-Bismol, can cause this, but black stools can also signal a more serious problem. “Dark, black stools could be caused by bleeding in the stomach, a duodenal ulcer, or a tumor,” says Dr. Loftus.
- White A pale or white color can be worrisome, too. This can happen because of a lack of bile and may indicate a blockage in the bile duct, Loftus says. This may be because of a problem in the liver, stones in the bile duct, or even bile duct cancer.
- Red Certain foods, such as beets, can turn your poop red. But it could also mean that blood is coming from the lower area of the colon, which could be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Blood in your feces can also be caused by hemorrhoids (swollen tissues around the anus) or colon cancer.
- Gray or Clay-Colored Light-colored or grayish stools may be related to a liver or gallbladder problem. Other common causes for stools that appear pale, gray, or clay-colored include viral hepatitis, gallstones, or alcoholic hepatitis.
