Green Stool: What Does It Mean & How To Get Rid of It
Most people have experienced it at some point, but not everyone knows what causes it and how to get rid of it. Green stool isn’t just unfortunate. It also can be caused by severe gastrointestinal illnesses. This article will explain what does a green stool mean what causes it and how to handle it?
Often, the foods we consume are to blame for green poop:
Green poop is a common occurrence, and various factors can cause it.
Here are some common reasons:
- Overeating fiber may result in diarrhea or loose stool.
- Consuming foods that contain chlorophyll (green vegetables).
- Consuming large amounts of food coloring.
- Consuming foods with artificial dyes or colors such as red or yellow food dye.
- Consuming foods with artificial sweeteners like aspartame.
Green stool may also be a symptom of medical conditions affecting the digestive tract :
The stool is the waste product that passes through your intestines and exits your body. It should be brown or yellow. If it’s green, it could mean you’re not getting enough bile to digest your food properly.
The most prevalent cause of green poop is bile. Bile is a fluid that helps break down food in your stomach and intestines, so if you have excess bile in your stool, you’re likely experiencing some problems with your digestive system.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and food poisoning can cause green poop:
What does a green stool mean for one’s health? Or could it simply be an ingested substance? Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to this question.
Various factors cause the condition, including food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and malabsorption syndromes (in which nutrients are not appropriately absorbed). Food poisoning can cause a similar reaction to IBS, but with added nausea and vomiting.
Medications can also have an impact on stool color.:
Medications can also have an impact on feces color. Some medicines, like iron supplements and calcium carbonate, cause green stool. This is because they contain dyes that are sometimes used to make the pills easier to swallow. While it is not harmful in most cases, a visit to a doctor is recommended if the stool has turned green after taking a new medication.
Iron supplements, in particular, may cause constipation and green stool:
The medical condition can indicate several things, but in most cases, it’s caused by iron supplements. These supplements are one of the most prevalent causes of constipation and can also cause green feces. This is because iron supplements increase the amount of bile that contains bilirubin, which may turn stool green.
How to get rid of it with the help of a doctor?
To treat the condition, you’ll need to see your doctor to get tested for any infections or diseases that may be causing it. If there’s no underlying cause, treatment will depend on how long you’ve had this problem. If you have been experiencing it for more than three days, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat an intestinal infection.
For only a few days, you’ll likely need to drink plenty of fluids and eat fiber-rich foods to help move things through your digestive tract. If you’re diagnosed with celiac disease, you’ll need to follow a strict gluten-free diet to avoid having green stools again.
Takeaway:
If your feces is often green and you don’t know why contact your physician to find out if there’s a possible medical cause. To summarize, Green Stool typically occurs with Bile Salts in the stool. The dominant reason is an imbalance in the large intestine’s normal flora (bacteria). Amoeba, parasites, and bacteria that feed on mucus are common causes of bacteria overgrowth.