Can What You Eat Or Drink Cause Your Stool To Change Color?

The liver produces bile and stores it in the gallbladder. The gallbladder excretes the bile into the small intestine to assist in the digestive process. This bile is what gives stool its typical brown color. Any shade of brown is acceptable for stool. Blood in the stool may appear bright red or black and gallbladder problems or a liver infection may cause clay colored or white stool. Both of these stool colors require medical attention. Otherwise, normal coloring for stool may vary daily and range from red to green. The color may depend on medical conditions, the foods you eat and beverages you drink.

Green Stool

When your stool is green, most likely, it is because of something you ate. Some dark green vegetables, such as spinach, may cause the stool to turn green. Also, manufacturers may use food dye to add color to a food product. Using blue or green food coloring may cause green stool. Common products with blue or green dye include kid's drinks and ice pops. Taking an iron supplement may also cause green feces. Stool may also appear green when food passes through the colon too quickly.

Red Stool

Some red stool is normal while at other times it indicates bleeding from the rectum. When the entire stool is a uniform dull red color instead of bright red streaks, it is most likely from food. Common foods that may cause feces to appear red include beets and foods with red food coloring. Foods often colored red include powdered drink mixes and gelatin.

Black Stool

Although stool with a black, tarry consistency may indicate the presence of blood in the upper gastrointestinal tract, black feces may also occur because of food or medications. Eating black licorice may cause a black color in the stool. Taking iron supplements or taking a medication containing bismuth subsalicylate may cause a darkening of the stool.

Considerations

Report any changes in your stool color that causes you concern. Your doctor can tell you if your diet or medication is causing the feces color changes. Simple tests can detect the presence of blood in the stool. The rate the feces moves through the intestines, infections and medical conditions may all change the color of stool.