Common Causes
- Beets. Notice red poop after eating beets? ...
- Green Veggies. If you like to load up on greens like spinach, broccoli and lettuce, your poop may reflect that. ...
- Blueberries. Blueberries can cause your poop to have a blue or black tinge. ...
- Food Coloring. In 2017, Oreo and Peeps teamed up to make Peeps Oreos, a novelty snack with a bright pink filling. ...
- Medications. ...
Related Conditions
The main causes of light-colored stool include:
- Gallstones, or hardened deposits of bile that form in the gallbladder and block your common bile duct
- Pancreatic cancer
- Liver disease
What foods change stool color?
What causes yellow stool?
- Causes. Turmeric in the diet can turn stool yellow. ...
- In infants. In infants, shades of yellow, brown, and green are all common stool colors. ...
- When to see a doctor. Speak to a doctor if color changes last for several days. ...
- Summary. The cause of yellow stool is usually related to a person’s diet, but it can also be the result of underlying health problems.
What are the symptoms of light colored stool?
- Red – Bright red or dark red in the stool can indicate bleeding somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. ...
- Black – Similar to red in the stool, a persistent black color in stool can indicate internal bleeding from esophageal varices. ...
- Grey, Pale, Yellow or Clay-Colored – The liver releases bile into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. ...
What causes stools becoming yellowish in color?
What color should stool be?
Why is my poop so light tan?
Bile from the liver creates the typical brown hue of a healthy bowel movement. When the stool is very pale, it often means that not enough bile is reaching the stool. Problems with the gallbladder, pancreas, or liver are reasons why stool may not contain enough bile.
Is pale stool an emergency?
White stool isn't normal and should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. White or clay-like stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem.
What are light-colored stools indicative of?
The medical term, "acholic, " refers to light-colored stools that result from a lack of bile. Other reasons for light-colored stools include hepatitis, gallstones, infections, blockages, or passing barium in the stool after a colon test like a barium enema.
Is peanut butter colored poop normal?
Lifestyle changes to improve stools include eating fiber, drinking water, or exercising. Stools should be brown, have a peanut-butter texture, and look like a sausage.
Why is my poop beige?
Stools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs.
How do you treat lack of bile in stool?
A low-fat diet helps to reduce the symptoms of bile acid diarrhoea. Medicines that bind to bile acids in your gut (bowel) are usually very effective. Examples of bile acid binder medicines are colestyramine, colestipol or colesevelam. Colestyramine is the medicine most often used and is usually very effective.
What does clay-colored poop look like?
Gray or Clay-Colored Stool The stool can be gray or clay-colored if it contains little or no bile. 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.
Why is my poop yellow when wiping?
Carrots, sweet potatoes, turmeric, and foods that contain yellow food coloring may cause stool to become yellow. A diet high in fat or gluten can also lead to yellow stool. If a person regularly has yellow stools, they should try avoiding fatty, processed foods, gluten, or anything that causes an upset stomach.
Why is my stool pale?
Much less common causes of pale/grey stool or causes where pale/grey stool is not a main symptom include certain medications and acute hepatitis.
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 ...
How does bile get into the intestines?
Once bile is produced in the liver, it travels by a tube (duct) to your gallbladder, where it is stored until ready to be released into your intestines. Blockages by a tumor along the duct or the surrounding area (including the gallbladder or pancreas) will keep bile from flowing to the intestine, which can cause stool to become pale or grey (and also cause jaundice).
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 is the procedure to see the inside of the intestines called?
The specialist will order an imaging test (ultrasound, CT, or MRI) and perform a procedure to view the inside of your intestines and bile ducts, called ERCP , which is done under sedation. Treatment depends on what is found in the tests. 2. Obstructed bile duct from gallstones.
What does it mean when you have a yellowish rash?
Painless jaundice (yellowing of skin and whites of eyes) Pale or clay/grey colored stools. Sudden fever and abdominal pain (from infection of the obstructed bile) Once bile is produced in the liver, it travels by a tube (duct) to your gallbladder, where it is stored until ready to be released into your intestines.
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, ...
What does it mean when your stool is red?
Consult your doctor if you're concerned about your stool color. If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention.
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.
Does bile break down?
As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely. Green leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements. A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction.
Why do kids have bright colored stools?
Brightly colored stools in children are usually caused by colorful foods like breakfast cereal. However, pale, white, or clay-colored stools in children can be caused by something more serious. Some of the causes are:
Why is my stool white?
Some of the causes are: a milk-only diet. barium sulfate from barium enema. antacids. blocked bile ducts or liver disease. You should contact your doctor any time your child’s stool changes color, especially if they haven’t had any brightly colored foods or if the stools are pale, white, or clay-colored.
What is endoscopic balloon?
endoscopic balloon: inserting a balloon at the end of a long tube into the bile ducts to open any narrowing
What is the hardened deposit in the gallbladder that can block the flow of bile?
Gallstones are hardened deposits in the gallbladder that can block the flow of bile.
How to fix bile ducts?
Your doctor may be able to correct the problems using surgery or a stent. A stent is a small tube that a surgeon places inside the ducts to keep them open so that bile can flow freely.
What is the best way to see if you have swelling in your liver?
computed tomography (CT) scans, to see if you have any swelling of your liver or bile ducts
Can alcohol cause liver failure?
Alcoholic hepatitis is swelling or inflammation of the liver caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcoholic hepatitis can lead to liver disease or liver failure. To treat this form of hepatitis, you’ll have to stop drinking alcohol.
Why is my stool brown?
Bile is what gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, and bile isn't entering the small intestine, the result could be stool that is light. Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease ...
What causes a pale stool?
Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: 1 Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease of the liver occurs after overexposure to alcohol. 2 Biliary cirrhosis: This is a type of liver disease where the bile ducts are damaged. 3 Birth defect: Some people are born with a problem in the biliary system. 4 Cysts: A cyst may block a bile duct. 5 Gallstones: These calcium deposits in the gallbladder could block bile ducts. 6 Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. 7 Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. 8 Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. 9 Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced hepatitis. These drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, hormonal birth control, and certain antibiotics. 10 Strictures: A narrowing of the intestine could block the flow of bile. 11 Tumor: A tumor could block the flow of bile.
Why do my bowels look like clay?
Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may be the result of a lack of bile or caused by a blockage in the bile ducts. Stools that are light in color or look like clay can also occur after a test in the colon that uses barium (such as a barium enema ), because the barium may be passed in the stool.
What does it mean when your stools are acholic?
The medical term, " acholic, " refers to light-colored stools that result from a lack of bile.
What causes a lack of bile?
Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced ...
What does it mean when your urine is clay?
Concerning Symptoms. Clay-colored stool that is caused by certain medical conditions may be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes ( jaundice) or darkened urine. If signs of jaundice occur, a physician should be consulted immediately.
What to do if you have unusual stools?
If you notice unusual stools more than just occasionally, or you are concerned about the size, shape, or color of stools, contact your healthcare provider.
1. Light brown stool is a normal variant (due to food)
As a rule, all shades of brown stool, such as light brown stools and very dark brown stools, are considered normal. However, your stool color varies according to what you eat and several other factors.
A. Large fatty meals
Too much fat in your meal can turn your stool into light brown. The more fat you eat, the more the fat content of your stool.
2 . Diarrhea (loose stool)
The normal brown color of the stool is a result of the action of gut bacteria on bilirubin (secreted in bile to the gut tract).
3. IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)
IBS is a common bowel disease that affects a large subset of people. It primarily affects the large intestine and is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and bowel changes.
4. Gut infections
The gastrointestinal tract (gastroenteritis) infections often lead to diarrhea with subsequent light brown or yellow stools.
5. Food intolerance or allergy
Food intolerance is the inability of your digestive system to digest or absorb certain foods. It is a prevalent condition affecting up to 20% of the population. In addition, certain types of food intolerance are prevalent in the community, such as lactose intolerance (which affects about 65% of adult people).
6. Bible-related conditions
The brown color of your stool originates from bilirubin which reaches your intestine through the bile. The bile is formed initially inside the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the duodenum through the bile ducts.
Why does stool turn light?
Indicates a lack of bile due to a bile duct obstruction , liver diseases, cancer, etc. Some medications such as anti – diarrheal medications or large doses of bismuth subsalicylate can lead to a light colored stool.
Why is my stool black?
Black stool. Indicates a bleeding in the upper part of the gastrointestinal system, usually from the stomach. Seek immediate medical help as it could signify serious medical conditions, which when left untreated can lead to serious complications and even death. Iron supplements can lead to a black stool as well.
When to worry about the Stool Color?
As mentioned, stool can come in a range of colors. Ideally, a stool should be a light brown in color. However, this is not always possible and sometimes stool due to various reasons can change its color. (2)
What causes brown stools?
Normally, the liver produces bile which is released into the stool, giving the stool its characteristic brown color. If the liver does not produce enough bile, if the bile flow is blocked in the biliary system than normally the bile will not be able to drain into the intestines, leading to a light colored stool. (3, 4)
What does it mean when your stool is white?
A light colored stool often referred to as clay – colored or white stool is not a normal stool and it indicates a problem with the liver, pancreas, gallbladder or the biliary system. If you notice a light colored stool, seek immediate medical help.
What is the name of the stone that blocks the normal flow of bile from the gallbladder to the?
Gallstones. They are stones created in the gallbladder which can block the normal flow of the bile from the gallbladder to the biliary system. In many cases, a surgical removal of these stones is needed.
What are the structural defects of the biliary system?
Structural defects of biliary system. Many are born with structural defects of the biliary system which interferes with the normal bile flow from the liver. These congenital defects are often repaired surgically.