Stool Color

What is Stool Color?

Stool is normally brown in adults, and the shade of brown can vary. Healthy stool colours for babies are a little different, and can vary depending on what foods they eat and whether they drink breastmilk or formula.

What might a high or low Stool Color mean?

Most of the time stool colour points to something that was eaten, and once that food is out of the system the colour goes back to its normal hue. But when a colour lingers for days or weeks, it may be a sign of something more serious, and infections and diseases can make stool unusual colours. Green stool may be leafy vegetables or food colouring, but could also point to an infection or to stools passing too fast. Red may stem from red food dye or beets, or may be a sign of haemorrhoids or rectal bleeding. Blackish stool could be due to iron supplements, bismuth medicines or eating lots of blueberries, and could also suggest upper digestive system bleeding. Yellowish stool could point to bile duct issues or coeliac disease, or to eating too many fatty foods or foods high in beta-carotene. Stool that is red or black is often most alarming, as it could suggest bleeding — though not always.

What can affect Stool Color?

It may be higher with: Green — leafy vegetables such as kale or spinach, or green food colouring and dyes; also bacterial infections, irritable bowel syndrome, or food passing through the intestines too fast, Red — drinks with red food colouring, or foods such as tomato juice, beets or cranberries; also rectal bleeding from haemorrhoids, ulcers or fissures, or inflammatory bowel disease, Black — blueberries and dark leafy vegetables; also upper digestive bleeding, iron supplements, or bismuth medicines, Yellow — carrots and sweet potatoes, or foods high in fat such as fried foods; also excess fat in the stool, pancreatitis or coeliac disease, Grey, white or clay-coloured — drinking too much dairy, or some over-the-counter medicines.