I looked into the toilet and practically had a heart attack: The poop I saw wasbright green.
She simply hadn’t digested the food coloring found in the green cookies she ate the day before.
But there are a number of explanations for that surprising hue in your stool.
Why is my poop green?
There are many reasons poop can be green, most of which aren’t any cause for concern.
Here are a few of the possibilities.
You ate food with dyes.
When you see this, it often means you’re not digesting the artificial colors very well.
You eat a lot of green vegetables.
That’s because they contain chloryphyll, the pigment that gives plants their green hue.
Some fruits may have an affect as well, namely blueberries.
Although, blueberries can also cause stool to look more black than green.
You have diarrhea.
It’s important to drink lots of water when you have diarrhea so that you don’t get dehydrated.
Taking a probiotic supplement can also help alleviate your symptoms.
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You took antibiotics.
If you’ve recently taken acourse of antibiotics, it could alter the bacteria in your gut.
You may have an infection.
There are a few situations in which green poop would be a reason for concern.
If you have green poop for longer than 72 hours, it might mean you haveC.
difficile2an infection that typically happens after a long course of antibiotics or in someone with immune system dysfunction.
It could also be sparked by a bacterial infection like salmonella orE.Coli, ornorovirus3.
When should I be concerned about green poop?
For the most part, green poop likely isn’t something to worry about.
It could be a sign you’re dealing with a more serious health condition that needs treatment.
But, as always, if you’re worried, definitely consult with a physician for an evaluation.
