“The color of the stool, as well as their shape and consistency, generally reflect the quality of the food and are therefore closely related to the type of food consumed. However, color changes can also indicate bowel problems or diseases, such as hepatitis or gastric ulcer, for example.
In normal situations, stools should be brown, which should not be too dark, but also not too light. However, any color variation is very common and can occur without indicating a problem, as long as it does not last more than 3 days, as it may vary depending on the food consumed.
Find out what the shape and color of trash can say about your health
When the change in stool color persists for more than 3 days, it is important to consult a gastroenterologist to identify if there are any problems and start appropriate treatment if necessary.
See what changes in the shape and consistency of stool can indicate about health.
Green stools are more common when the gut works very fast and does not have enough time to properly digest bile salts, such as during stressful situations, diarrhea from bacterial infections or during irritable bowel attacks, for example.
In addition, dark green may also appear when eating many green vegetables, such as spinach, or during iron supplementation, and this color is common in newborns. Learn more about the causes of green stool.
What to do: You should evaluate whether there is an increase in green vegetable intake or if you are taking any iron-containing medicines in its composition. If this is not the case, it is advisable to consult a gastroenterologist if the problem persists for more than 3 days.
Dark or black stools are often accompanied by a much more fetid-than-normal smell and may be a sign of bleeding somewhere in the digestive system, due to ulcers or varicose esophageal veins, for example. However, black shit can also be produced using iron supplements.
Find out what can cause the appearance of dark stools
What to do: If you are not taking supplements or medicines containing iron, it is recommended that you consult a gastroenterologist as soon as possible or go to the emergency room if other symptoms such as fever, excessive fatigue or vomiting occur.
This type of shit is often a sign of difficulty digesting fat and can therefore be related to problems that decrease intestinal absorption capacity, such as coeliac disease, or be caused by a lack of enzyme production in the pancreas, which can indicate problems in this organ.
In addition, yellow poo can also occur in the case of intestinal infections, accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Learn more about the causes of yellow stool.
What to do: Be aware of other changes in stool characteristics, such as consistency and shape, and if the change lasts longer than 3 days, it is recommended to consult a gastroenterologist to identify the problem and begin appropriate treatment.
This color usually indicates the presence of blood and is therefore more common in hemorrhoid situations, for example. However, bleeding can also occur due to infections, inflammatory problems, such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, or more serious diseases, such as cancer.
Learn more about the causes of bright red blood in your stool
What to do: It is recommended to go to the emergency room or consult a gastroenterologist immediately to diagnose the problem and start appropriate treatment.
Clear or whitish stools appear when the digestive system has great difficulty digesting fats and is therefore a major sign of problems in the liver or bile ducts. See 11 other symptoms that may indicate liver problems.
What to do: It is advisable to consult a gastroenterologist for diagnostic tests, such as tomography or ultrasound, diagnosing the problem and initiating appropriate treatment.
The baby’s stools shortly after birth have a dark greenish color and a sticky, elastic texture, called meconium. During the first few days, the color becomes greener and then lighter, depending on the amount of fat and water present in the milk you drink. In general, stools are aqueous, with some lumps, which resemble the appearance of duck or chicken faeces.
In the first 15 days, it is common for babies to evacuate liquid stools 8 to 10 times a day or each time they breastfeed. When the mother is constipated, the child may go more than a day without evacuating, but during the evacuation, the stool should look the same aqueous and bulging.
At 6 months, or when the baby starts a diversified diet, the stool changes color and consistency again, becoming more similar to those of a child or adult, both in color, consistency and aroma. Indeed, the digestive capacity is already becoming more complex and the food it eats are increasingly similar to food in the rest of the family.
Know when changes in your baby’s stool can indicate problems.