Casias A, Newton L. Functional constipation: A case report. J Pediatr Health Care. 2021;35(1):99-103. doi:10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.07.014 If you have red poop because of blood in the stool, honestly, that’s usually not the only symptom you’re having,” Corkins said. Red poop unassociated with anything you recently consumed may also come with stomach pain or fatigue.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Eating, diet, and nutrition for gallstones. Lifestyle changes: This may include stopping smoking, type, and level of exercise, and anxiety management to help control a person’s bowel movements. Yellow or orange stools can signal excess fat, especially if they also look greasy or oily, Yadlapati said. Green: Spinach, kale, or other green foods can cause green poop. However, a green-colored stool may signify too much bile and insufficient bilirubin in the poop.Drink plenty of water: A reasonable amount is about 8 glasses (64 ounces) per day. It is especially important to stay hydrated when consuming more fiber. If you don’t think your diet is the cause, the red you see may be blood. And if it’s bright red, the blood likely comes from the lower part of your digestive tract. Common causes include: Alongside the above causes of constipation, it may also result from lifestyle or routine changes such as physical inactivity or the overuse of laxatives. Rao SS, Lee YY. Approach to the patient with gas and bloating. In: Podolsky DK, Camilleri M, Fitz JG, Kalloo AN, Shanahan F, Wang TC, eds. Yamada's Textbook of Gastroenterology. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2015:723-34. doi:10.1002/9781118512074.ch40

woman with stomach ache, menstrual period cramp, abdominal pain, food poisoning Boonchai Wedmakawand/Moment RF/Getty Images Melena is a symptom of internal bleeding in typically the upper GI tract — the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel.

Hodler J, Kubik-Huch RA, von Schulthess GK. Chapter 5: disease of the gallbladder and biliary tree. In: Diseases of the Abdomen and Pelvis 2018-2021: Diagnostic Imaging - IDKD Book. Cham (CH): Springer; 2018. Stress. The brain can signal distress to the gut, affecting how the gut functions. Stress can cause disruptive changes to how nutrients pass through the digestive system. Jennison E, Patel J, Scorletti E, Byrne CD. Diagnosis and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Postgrad Med J. 2019;95(1124):314-22.

Green leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements.Young children tend to prefer orange and yellow vegetables — such as carrots — over others, so their poop might be these colors for that reason, Corkins said. “It’s not dangerous,” he added. “Keratin is the yellow-orange pigment in there. Beta carotene is a nutrient, but it just freaks everybody out when the stools come out yellow or orange.” Some people will note that they’re associated with a bad smell, as well,” she added. The color “could indicate that there’s a poor absorption of fats, and that could be from celiac disease, pancreatic conditions or certain infections.”

Medicines that have bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can also cause very dark stools. Ghassemi KA, Jensen DM. Lower GI bleeding: epidemiology and management. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2013;15(7):333. doi:10.1007/s11894-013-0333-5 For all these reasons,” Yadlapati said, “if you see red in the stool and it’s not something that’s linked with something you just ate or medications that you took, it is a reason to talk to the doctor.” Consistent in its characteristics: A healthy poop varies from person to person. However, people should monitor any changes in the smell, firmness, frequency, or color of poop as it can indicate an issue. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th edition.

What’s Normal?

Bleeding in the lower intestinal tract, such as the large intestine or rectum, often from hemorrhoids. Chronic constipation can obstruct the bowels, while chronic diarrhea can make it difficult for a person to absorb necessary nutrients from food. Both chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea could even be a sign of more serious conditions.