5 Causes for Green Poop and When You Should Seek Medical Attention

The Unmentionables is a series that answers common questions we all have about our bodies but are sometimes afraid to ask.

Seeing green poop in your toilet can be surprising and scary. Poop is typically brown due to the normal digestive process and bile contents (the yellowish-green fluid that helps break down the food you eat). But normal poop can vary slightly in color from brown to green.

Foods that you eat, as well as certain medications or supplements, can also turn your poop green. But sometimes green poop can be a sign of an underlying health issue. 

Let’s take a closer look at five of the most common causes of green poop and when you need to seek medical care for it.

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1. Your diet

Some people think that having green poop can be related to eating a lot of high-fiber foods. Another theory is that eating green vegetables can cause green poop because of their high chlorophyll content. But there isn’t a lot of evidence to support this. 

Common foods that might turn poop green include:

• Spinach

• Kale

• Broccoli

• Swiss chard

• Blueberries

Sometimes, green poop may also be related to food dyes or food coloring.

2. An underlying health condition

There are times when green poop can be related to a health condition. Conditions that make poop pass through your intestines faster can cause diarrhea. And this can change the color of your poop. These conditions may include: 

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): This is a gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that causes abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea in almost half of the people it affects.

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): This is a condition that causes chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract. Sometimes it leads to frequent bowel movements.

• Bile acid malabsorption: This is a condition where bile salts that digest fats aren’t absorbed properly. And this can lead to long-term diarrhea. 

• GI infections: Viral or bacterial infections can cause diarrhea and change the color of your poop.

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3. Your medications

Many medications and supplements can cause green poop, including:

• Antibiotics: They can change the normal bacteria in your intestines and disrupt the normal digestive process. This can change your poop color.

• Antidiarrheals: Medications such as bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) can also cause you to have green or black poop.

• Laxatives: Medications like senna may make your stool a light yellow or green color by causing it to pass quickly through your intestines. 

• Supplements: Treatments like iron can turn stool dark green or black.

Talk with your healthcare professional if you recently started taking a new medication and have noticed changes in your poop.

4. Poisoning

Poisoning can sometimes cause green poop. Almost 29,000 poisonings each year are due to exposure to toxic yard chemicals. For example, in addition to vomiting, the weed killer paraquat can cause green or bloody stool and diarrhea when ingested. 

It’s important to keep toxic chemicals out of the reach of children and others who may accidentally ingest them. But keep in mind that green poop from poisoning is rare.

5. Infant formula

Green poop may be normal or healthy for babies — especially if they’re consuming formula. In most cases, if your baby is gaining weight and eating well, green poop is probably nothing to worry about. 

But seek medical attention if you see your baby has green poop plus these warning signs:

• Extra fussiness

• A lack of weight gain

• Very little stool 

• Large amounts of frothy, green stool

• Rash, runny nose, or fever 

Is it normal for your poop to change colors?

Normal poop can vary in color. But sometimes the color of your stool is a sign of a health problem. Let’s take a look at what the color of your poop can mean: 

• Brown: This is the typical color of stool when the digestive process is working well.

• Red: This can be from active bleeding in the gut or from consuming red foods or drinks.

• Black: Black poop may be from bleeding in the gut or certain medications, like iron or bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol).

• Yellow: While normal in babies, yellow poop in older children or adults could be a sign of a GI disorder or infection. This includes problems with the liver, pancreas, or digestive system. 

• Clay-colored or white: Pale or clay-colored stool can mean a problem with the liver or pancreas.

What does green poop mean, and is it a problem?

Green poop is usually harmless. Green poop may mean that your poop is moving quickly through your intestines. In this case, the poop stays green because bile doesn’t fully break down. Your lifestyle habits may also affect your stool color and consistency. These can include:

• Dietary changes: The keto diet may change the color of your poop due to the increased fat in your diet. A high-fat diet can cause more bile production.

• Exercise: Increased activity may encourage food to move through your intestines faster.

• Sleep habits: Poor sleep may cause your poop to move faster through your intestines and lead to diarrhea.

Sometimes, an infection or underlying medical condition is the cause for your green poop. That’s why it’s a good idea to talk to your primary care provider if you have green poop that doesn’t seem to be getting better.

When to see a healthcare professional for green poop

When food, medication, or a supplement is causing your green poop, it usually improves when you change your dietary habits or medications. But don’t stop taking your medication just because your poop is green. Ask your healthcare professional if a poop color change is expected. And seek medical care if your green poop doesn’t go away or if you notice any other changes in your poop. 

You should seek medical care if you notice you have:

• Green poop that continues for several weeks

• Changes in your bowel habits or poop consistency (such as new or ongoing diarrhea or constipation)

• Black or red poop (which could be caused by bleeding in the stomach or intestines)

• Pale or light clay-colored poop (which may suggest a problem with the liver and bile)

• Abdominal pain

If you think your green poop is due to an underlying health condition, talk with your primary care provider. This can also be a chance to talk about what colon cancer screening options might be best for you.

How can you treat green poop?

Treatment for green poop depends on the cause. In many cases, green poop is harmless and you won’t need treatment. But if it’s related to an underlying condition, your healthcare professional will need to treat and manage that condition. 

It’s important to keep healthy bowel habits and have regular bowel movements. Good habits that encourage bowel health include:

• Drinking enough water

• Eating enough fiber

• Exercising regularly

• Avoiding medications that cause diarrhea or constipation

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Christina Palmer, MD

Christina Palmer, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a special interest in chronic care management, women’s health, mental health, and preventive care. She has over 10 years of experience in primary care research, innovation, and practice.

Edited by:

Karla Robinson, MD

Karla Robinson, MD, is a medical editor for GoodRx. She is a licensed, board-certified family physician with almost 20 years of experience in health through varied clinical, administrative, and educational roles.

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The Unmentionables is a series that focuses on common curiosities about our bodies that, at some point, have been labeled as taboo, shameful, or embarrassing. But these are important questions we all have about our health, and we should be able to ask them. This series aims to dispel the stigma, normalize the discussion, and openly address these important health topics.

Don’t be shy. Someone else has the same question, so ask away!