The Changing Colour Of Poo

Fact Sheet For
The Changing
Colour of Poo
Have you noticed your poo colour will vary
at different times? Poo also known as stool,
faeces, or poop, consists of waste products
that need to be eliminated from the body and
it can vary in colour, texture, volume, and smell
from person to person. It is the presence of
bile in the stool that gives it the characteristic
brown colour.
Any shade of brown ranging from
light to very dark brown is considered
normal. Certain foods will temporarily
change the colour of your poo, and
once they are digested your poo will
return to a brown colour. If colour
changes occur only irregularly, they are
less of a concern than those that are
persistent. Please contact your doctor
if colour changes are persistent.
The colour of your stool can be a helpful indicator about what’s going
on inside your body.
Black
If it’s not sticky in texture and has no odour, the black colour
can be caused by the ingestion of substances such as
iron supplements, black liquorice, and bismuth-containing
medications. Black poo that is sticky, tar-like and foul smelling
may be an indicator of gastrointestinal bleeding.
Red or Maroon
Vegetables with deep colours such as beetroot, cranberries, or
red and purple food dyes can turn poo red or maroon or may
indicate gastrointestinal bleeding. Small amounts of blood in the
stool may indicate haemorrhoids.
White
If it’s white, grey or clay-coloured, the poo contains little or no
bile which may indicate a problem with the liver or gallbladder.
The colour change usually occurs gradually, as these medical
conditions progress relatively slowly, and the stool becomes pale
over time.

Yellow
If it’s yellow, greasy, and foul smelling, it may suggest the
presence of undigested fat in the poo and problems with
the pancreas causing a reduction in the delivery of digestive
enzymes to the intestines. Ingestion of very high-fat foods can
cause yellow, soft, and foul-smelling poo. Weight loss medications
can also lead to bulky, yellow, and greasy stools.
Orange
The large consumption of orange coloured foods that are rich
in beta-carotene such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin
can create orange coloured stools. It may also be an indication
of blocked bile ducts or certain medications including some
antacids.
Green
Eating excessive amounts of green foods, foods with green or
purple dyes, and vegetables can cause poo colour to turn more
green than normal. When a poo passes through the intestines
rapidly (diarrhoea), it can appear green due to the rapid transit.
What to look out for
Often your body will experience various symptoms,
letting you know it’s time to contact your doctor:
• Persistent change in the
colour of the poo
• Greasy fatty stools
• Pain when passing a stool
• Diarrhoea
• Bleeding when passing
a stool
• Excessive straining when
passing a stool
References:
• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320938#normal-poop
• https://www.emedicinehealth.com/stool_color_changes/article_em.htm#what_is_the_prognosis_for_a_person_with_stool_color_changes
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