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foods that cause gray stool

by Morton Jaskolski MD Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and winter squash are among the many foods that contain this pigment. However, blocked bile ducts or certain medications including some antacids and the antibiotic rifampin can cause orange poop.

Full Answer

What foods are good to harden stool?

  • Pasta
  • Bread
  • Potatoes
  • Bananas

What can I eat to make my stool harder?

Some of the Probiotic rich foods that assist in combating diarrhea include:

  • Yogurt
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • kombucha
  • Cultured vegetables such as kimchi and sauerkraut

What foods cause pale stool?

What Foods Cause Pale Stools. Certain foods can change the color of your stool. For example, beets can change the color of your poop to dark red and eating alots of veggies can give your stool a green hue. But are there foods that lighten stool color? Yes. Foods high in fat can lighten the color of your stool. Food coloring in foods can also ...

What are some foods that can cause black stools?

Why Is Your Poop Black and Tarry?

  • Iron Supplements. Black poop can be a side effect of iron pills you take for anemia -- a condition that happens when you don't have enough red blood cells to ...
  • Dark-Colored Foods. Sometimes dark-colored foods turn your poop black. ...
  • Medicines With Bismuth. ...
  • Bleeding Ulcer. ...
  • Esophageal and Gastric Cancers. ...
  • Mallory-Weiss Tear. ...
  • Esophageal Varices. ...

Why does my stool turn gray?

Stool will appear gray or pale because of the absence of bile salts, an important component of the bile produced by your liver and gallbladder. The cause could be found anywhere along the biliary system of our body but one of the most likely places for this to occur would be in our livers [ 2 ].

Why does my liver poop pale?

Some of the most common causes of liver pathology include conditions like viral hepatitis, chronic alcoholism and liver metastatic cancer. All of these will not only produce frequent bowel movements, they are likely to all present with pale stool as well.

Is gray stool normal?

Gray-colored bowel movements are not a variation of normal, and if you have been having them for a while, you need to seek medical attention as soon as you can. While you can learn a lot about the possible causes of gray stool by reading up on the topic, only a doctor and the diagnostic tools at their disposal can ultimately get you the correct diagnosis and then treatment.

Can gallstones cause nausea?

You can begin to suspect that you may have gallstones if you find that you have upper abdominal pain, especially after eating a fatty meal. You may feel nausea, can vomit after meals, have frequent bowel movements and will most likely also have pale stools.

Why is my stool tarry?

When blood is denatured by acid in your stomach, as from ulcers, stools will turn tarry ("melena"). Blood may also be ingested from nose bleeds, bleeding gums. Silver-colored stool suggests bleeding from the biliary tree. Get checked.

What does it mean when your bile is pale?

The pale color may signify a condition ( biliary obstruction) where the flow of bile to the intestine is obstructed, such as, obstruction of the bile duct from a tumor or gallstone in the duct or nearby pancreas. Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers — it's anonymous and free!

Why is my stool white?

When the stool is white or very light brown, this can signal a more serious problem, such as cholestasis, a type of liver disease. In newborns, cholestasis or any other problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas may be a medical emergency, so a caregiver should call their pediatrician right away.

Why does stool change color?

Causes. In children. During pregnancy. When to see a doctor. Summary. Many things can change the color of stool, including vitamins, infections, and certain foods. Some underlying medical problems, such as gallbladder and liver disease, can also change stool color.

Why is my stool pale after taking pain pills?

A person who notices a pale stool after taking a new medication or after taking OTC pain relievers for a long time or in excess of the correct dose may have medication-related liver damage. It is best to stop taking the drug, if it is not a prescription medication, and see a doctor as soon as possible. 4.

Why does my stool look pale?

Diseases of the pancreas can make it hard for this organ to secrete pancreatic juices into the digestive system. This can lead to the food moving too quickly through the gut, causing a pale and fatty-looking stool.

What does it mean when your poop is white?

Pale stool, especially if it is white or clay colored, can indicate a serious health problem. When adults have a pale stool with no other symptoms, it is usually safe to wait and see if the stool returns to normal. When children and babies have very pale or white poop, a doctor should see them as soon as possible.

How do you know if you have giardiasis?

A person can contract this parasite by drinking contaminated water or being in close contact with someone who has the infection. Giardiasis is more common in regions with inconsistent access to clean water. The most common symptoms of giardiasis include stomach pain, headache, swollen stomach, vomiting, and fever.

How to treat pancreatitis?

Treatment for pancreatitis depends on the cause. Some people need hospitalization, fluids, or antibiotics. Surgery may treat some forms of pancreatitis. When another condition causes pancreatitis, such as gallstones, a doctor must also address that issue.

Why is my poop changing color?

Some changes in the color of your poop could be caused by your diet or medications. Other times, a change of color could indicate a medical concern. “It’s not blood, it’s beets.”.

What does it mean when your stool is white?

White, pale or gray stool is an indicator of a biliary obstruction. “That means the bile duct can be blocked by a stone, a mass or cancer,” she said. “The bile is not making its way to the GI tract and the bile pigment is not getting mixed in with the stool.”. And black stool can be an indicator of digested blood.

Why are my beets red?

Red beets contain betacyanin, which is what gives them their deep hue. While the digestive process breaks down most chemicals in ways that make them lose their colors, betacyanin is processed differently for different people. You may or may not notice a red tint to your poop (and pee!) post-beet-fest. If you were indeed eating beets in the last few ...

How do you know if your poop is bluish?

You know your poop is just reacting to your diet if you see a color change after loading up on berries. There is, however, a rare condition called porphyria that can lead to bluish-purple waste. The disorder often shows up with other symptoms, including nausea, breathing problems and seizures, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Is green poop bad for you?

Green poop is usually benign, but it may sometimes be an indication of a potential health problem, according to Live Science.

Does Bismuth make your poop go goth?

Certain medications may have an effect on your stool color. Bismuth subsalicylate, the generic name for Pepto-Bismol, can make both your saliva and your poop go a little goth — but the change is temporary and harmless.

What does it mean when your stool is gray?

Gray: Pale or clay-colored stool can indicate a problem with the pancreas or bile ducts. In both cases, Dr. Lee recommends calling your doctor. Also check in with your doctor if you have other symptoms, such as diarrhea, fever or pain.

Why is my stool brown?

Stool gets its brown hue from bile, a greenish-brown fluid that aids digestion. “But the exact shade varies from person to person and from day to day,” Dr. Lee says. Different people produce different amounts of bile, due to causes such as genetics and the health of the gallbladder (the body’s bile storage unit).

What happens if you eat blueberries?

If you eat a ton of blueberries or go overboard on the carrot juice, expect it to affect your stool color for a couple of days. But if the color changes persist, or you can’t connect them to anything you ate, it might be a sign for concern. Some of the more worrisome colors: Red to black: Red or black poop can be a sign ...

What color is poo?

Shades of yellow and green are common hues on the poo color wheel. But if you eat a lot of dark, leafy greens, you might be surprised with bright green poop.

What color is Cleveland Clinic's poo?

But some might be cause for concern. What goes in must come out — and it usually comes out in shades of brown. So it can be quite a surprise if your poo is suddenly red, green or orange. Advertising Policy. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

What does it mean when your poop turns black?

Red to black: Red or black poop can be a sign of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. “Blood in the stool can be anything from bright red to maroon to black, depending on where the bleeding is happening in the GI tract,” Dr. Lee says. Gray: Pale or clay-colored stool can indicate a problem with the pancreas or bile ducts.

What color do antibiotics turn?

Medicines can do weird things to the color of your bowel movements. Some antibiotics reportedly tint them yellow or green. And that bubblegum-pink Pepto-Bismol® you swallow for an upset stomach can turn them jet black.

Why are my stools green?

That's because bile, a fluid your liver produces to digest fat, starts off a yellow-green color, according to the Mayo Clinic. Advertisement.

Why is my stool black?

The medication bismuth subsalicylate (found in Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, among others), which is used to treat diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn and nausea, may turn your stool black, according to the Mayo Clinic. And in some people, these medications can lead to lighter white or clay-colored stools as well.

Why do I have brown stools?

As bile travels through your digestive system, its pigments are chemically altered by enzymes and change from green to brown, which is why normal stools are generally brown. But when you have diarrhea, food is moving through your system so quickly that bile didn't have time to turn brown, resulting in green-tinted stools.

What color is poop?

Artificial food coloring, common in drink mixes or ice pops, can tint your poop a range of colors, from red to green. Read more: Top 10 Healthiest Fruits and Vegetables.

What causes a dark tinged stool?

Dark leafy greens can cause stools to be tinged with green pigment, according to the Mayo Clinic, while tomato products, beets, cranberries and grape juice may lead to a hue that ranges from bright red to almost black. Black licorice, blueberries and dark chocolate cookies can darken stools to almost black.

What supplements make poop dark?

Advertisement. Read more: 7 Weird Facts About Poop. 1. Iron Supplements. Iron supplements can cause bowel movements to become dark, even black, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Why does my poop turn dark?

Your bowel movements suddenly changing to a very dark color can be, understandably, alarming. But a change to the color of your poop rarely indicates a serious health problem and it's likely caused by something you ate, the Seattle Children's Hospital Research Foundation states. Video of the Day. That is, it's possible a serving ...

Why does stool color change?

Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition. Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile — a yellow-green fluid that digests fats — in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes, ...

Why is my stool red?

If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention. Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.

What does it mean when you have no bile in your stool?

A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Certain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs. Excess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease.

Why is my stool brown?

It is usually from a blockage in the bile ducts, either from a stone or a tumor. Bile helps digest fats and is responsible for the brown color of stool. It is produced in your liver, stored in your gallbladder, and released into your intestines. If bile is prevented from getting into your intestines, this can cause persistent pale ...

Why does stool look silver?

There are a few recorded cases of people having silver-appearing stool—these people all had tumors blocking the bile duct that also bled into the intestine. The combination of digested blood (black tar color) and lack of bile (pale grey color) gives a distinct silver color to the stool. —Dr. Adam Pont.

What does it mean when your stools are pale?

The pale/grey stools or progressively worsening jaundice may be the first sign that something is wrong. You may also get an infection in the blocked bile, called cholangitis. That can cause fever and abdominal pain, and in severe cases, confusion and low blood pressure.

What to do if you have clay colored stool?

Surgery: If your clay-colored stools are caused by obstructing gallstones, after an ERCP, your doctor might recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder entirely (cholecystectomy) to help prevent recurrences.

What causes a stone to be stuck in the lower part of the bile duct?

If the stone is stuck in the lower part of the bile duct, it may block digestive fluid from exiting the pancreas, which can cause pancreatitis. If you notice pale/grey colored stools along with abdominal pain or jaundice, you should go to the ER.

Where do gallstones form?

Gallstones are very small stones that can form from the components of bile, a digestive liquid. They are often found in the gallbladder. Gallstones can sometimes block bile from exiting the gallbladder or become stuck in a bile duct, causing an obstruction (choledocholithiasis).

Why does my stomach hurt?

Abdominal pain is usually a sign of a common illness or infection. Other causes include indigestion, a stomach ulcer, IBS, or food poisoning. Diarrhea & Stool. 8 Causes of Diarrhea. Diarrhea is loose or watery stool, or having a stool at least 3 times in 24 hours.

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