Why Is My Poop Green, and Should I Be Concerned About It?

Seeing green poop in the toilet can be surprising and unsettling. Poop is typically brown because of the way bile — a yellowish-green fluid that helps digest food — changes as it moves through your digestive tract. But normal poop can vary in color, including shades of brown and green.

In many cases, green poop is harmless. Certain foods, medications, or supplements can make your poop appear green. In other cases, though, green poop can be a sign of an underlying health issue.

So, what causes green poop? Let’s take a closer look at six of the most common causes of green poop, as well as signs that you need to seek medical care.

1. Diet

Certain foods, including green vegetables, may turn poop green. Some experts think the chlorophyll pigments in these foods are responsible.

Foods that can turn poop green include:

• Blueberries

• Broccoli

• Kale

• Spinach

• Swiss chard

Sometimes, green poop may be a result of consuming food dyes or food coloring.

2. Underlying health conditions

There are times when green poop can be related to an underlying health condition. Conditions that make poop pass through your intestines faster can cause green poop. This is because there’s less time for gut bacteria to break down bile.

These conditions may include:

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

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): IBD is a group of conditions that cause chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract. The two most common types of IBD are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Diarrhea can be a common symptom of both conditions.

• Bile acid malabsorption: In this condition, the bile salts that digest fats aren’t absorbed properly. This can lead to long-term diarrhea.

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

3. Medications and supplements

Taking certain medications and supplements can cause green poop, including:

• Antibiotics: Antibiotics can change the normal bacteria in your intestines, which affects how bile is broken down. 

• Antidiarrheals: Antidiarrheal medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), can also cause green or black poop.

• Laxatives: Laxative medications, like senna, cause stool to pass quickly through your intestines, which may make it look light yellow or green.

• Supplements: Iron is one example of a supplement that can turn stool dark green or black.

4. Poisoning

Green poop from poisoning is rare, but it can happen. Certain toxic chemicals can affect the digestive tract and change stool color. For example, swallowing the weed killer paraquat can cause vomiting, green diarrhea, or bloody stool.

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Nearly 29,000 poison exposures each year involve pesticides and other yard or garden chemicals. Remember to keep toxic chemicals out of the reach of children and others who could accidentally ingest them. 

5. Infant formula

Green poop can be normal 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

6. Lifestyle habits

As mentioned above, poop can look green when it moves through your intestines too quickly for bile to fully change color. Certain lifestyle habits or changes may speed up this process and cause green poop, including:

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

• Sleep habits: Poor sleep may be associated with diarrhea or loose stools.

• Dietary changes: Major changes in what you eat can sometimes affect poop color and consistency. For example, some people notice changes in their poop when following a keto diet.

When to see a healthcare professional for green poop

Green poop isn’t usually a concern when it’s clearly linked to food, medication, or supplements. In those cases, the green poop usually resolves on its own once the cause is addressed. But don’t stop taking your medication just because of green poop. Ask the prescriber whether the color change is an expected side effect. 

But it’s a good idea to get medical care if you have:

• Green poop that lasts for several weeks

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

• Abdominal pain

• Blood in your poop

If there’s no obvious explanation for the color change, your primary care provider can look for an infection or underlying condition. (And the visit may also be a good opportunity to discuss whether you’re due for colon cancer screening.)

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Written by:

Christina Palmer, MD

Christina Palmer, MD, is a board-certified family physician with a focus on chronic care management, women’s health, and mental health. She’s the co-author of the book, “Open Heart: When Open-Heart Surgery Becomes Your Best Option”.

Edited by:

Meredith Hoffa

Meredith Hoffa is a senior health editor at GoodRx, where she leads journalists and clinicians covering various well-being topics, particularly in diet and nutrition.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She is co-executive director at Nonclinical Physicians Network and has served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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