If your poop is white or very pale, there might not be enough bile reaching your digestive tract, Yadlapati said.

Celiac disease, a gluten intolerance in which eating wheat, barley, or rye damages the small intestines and triggers the production of certain antibodies. These antibodies flatten the small intestines villi—structures crucial to proper nutrient absorption. If your poop is pale, it’s not likely directly due to a food. But medicines for diarrhea like bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can sometimes cause pale or clay-colored poop. So can barium, a chalky liquid you drink before you get X-rays of the upper part of your digestive tract. Kim BS, Li BT, Engel A, et al. Diagnosis of gastrointestinal bleeding: A practical guide for clinicians. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2014;5(4):467-78. doi:10.4291/wjgp.v5.i4.467

Green stool

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your digestive system and how it works. Santos Silva E, Moreira Silva H, Azevedo Lijnzaat L, et al. Clinical practices among healthcare professionals concerning neonatal jaundice and pale stools. Eur J Pediatr. 2017;176(3):361-369. doi:10.1007/s00431-016-2847-y Bleeding in the lower intestinal tract, such as the large intestine or rectum, often from hemorrhoids.

Healthy poop can be as varied and as unique as the individuals who make it. But there are a few general rules to follow if you want to assess your poo artistry for optimum health. Color National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, diet, and nutrition for gallstones. Alongside the above causes of constipation, it may also result from lifestyle or routine changes such as physical inactivity or the overuse of laxatives. You’re probably not surprised to hear that red poop can mean bleeding, either due to hemorrhoids or to bleeding in the lower intestinal tract. If your stool is a little red, however, there may be no need to immediately fret. A somewhat log-like shape is how most poop should come out due to its formation within the intestines. However, as we’ll get to later, there are a variety of shapes that poop can have.While brown poop is considered the “usual” color of poop, some greenish-brown hues may also be acceptable. Strong-smelling: Bacteria in excrement emit gases that contain the unpleasant odor associated with poop. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th edition. Fiber acts as a binding substance to give stool its form. It also helps poop to move smoothly through the digestive tract. A diet low in fiber-rich foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can lead to bowel problems.

That could be in the form of, sometimes, hemorrhoids, present with bright red blood in the toilet paper or bright red blood in the toilet bowl, but not necessarily mixed in with the stool,” she added.

When to call the doctor

Melena is a symptom of internal bleeding in typically the upper GI tract — the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel.

Poops shouldn’t come out in small pellets— something else we’ll get to later — but instead should be a couple of inches in length, and comfortable and easy to pass. ConsistencyNot drinking enough water and other fluids can lead to constipation, as stool requires moisture to move more easily through the digestive tract. Too much caffeine and alcohol can contribute to dehydration. If you have red poop because of blood in the stool, honestly, that’s usually not the only symptom you’re having,” Corkins said. Red poop unassociated with anything you recently consumed may also come with stomach pain or fatigue. Stress. The brain can signal distress to the gut, affecting how the gut functions. Stress can cause disruptive changes to how nutrients pass through the digestive system. Appearance: Small, like the first ones, but soft and easy to pass; the blobs also have clear cut edges.