What you need to know about green stool
Normal human stool is firm, well formed, and brown in color due to remnants of our blood. The brown color of stool ranges from light brown (similar to peanut butter) to dark brown (chocolate spread). Bile and bilirubin originate from red blood cells and are responsible for the brown color. Dark stool indicates that it has remained in the body longer. In newborn babies, fecal matter is initially yellow-green. In adults and young children, stool can vary greatly in appearance and color. The color of our stool can tell us a great deal about our health. An unusual color can have various causes. A change in color may result from certain foods, medications, or an underlying medical condition.
When you have green stool, this is often caused by the food you eat, and in many cases there is therefore no reason to panic. Green foods include eating plenty of leafy greens or avocado. However, the food itself does not have to be green, because coffee, iron supplements, and red cabbage can also cause green stool. Of course, something else may be going on, and it is advisable to contact a doctor when green stool occurs together with symptoms described in the ‘Symptoms’ section.
Leafy greensHumans were originally largely plant eaters. Herbivores such as deer, giant pandas, and gorillas obtain their energy from leafy greens or grass; plants that are available throughout the year. The daily diet of early humans therefore consisted largely of leafy greens, supplemented with root vegetables, tree bark, and, to a limited extent, animal products. Grains and dairy products were not eaten. The human digestive system developed based on the food that was available, food with a low density. This means that the blueprint for the human gut and metabolism was established in the distant past.
Symptoms associated with green stool and intestinal complaints
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Cramps
- Itching or itchy skin
- Muscle pain
- Mucus in your stool
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Chills
Tests for green stool
When stool is green in color, stool testing through Darmklachten.nl can help. View our recommended test packages and individual modules below.
Causes of green stool
Green stool can therefore very well be caused by your diet. Think of green foods such as leafy vegetables and avocado. However, the food itself does not have to be green. Coffee, iron supplements, and red cabbage can also cause green stool. But there may also be something else going on, such as:
- Diet (including leafy greens, avocado, coffee, red cabbage, iron supplements)
- Diarrhea
Stool can turn green when you have diarrhea because food has not spent enough time in the digestive tract - Antibiotics
When you use antibiotics, they may kill bacteria in the intestines, causing stool to turn green - Gastrointestinal disorders
In some gastrointestinal disorders (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), bile flows through the intestines too quickly, causing your stool to turn green - Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Green stool can be caused by IBS, and this is often accompanied by abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea - Infection
Green stool can be the result of a parasitic or bacterial infection with, for example, Salmonella, Giardia, or norovirus - Gluten and lactose intolerance
Gluten intolerance and lactose intolerance can cause stool to become green
More information about the tests
- Digestive parameters: pH, fat, starch, color, and consistency of the stool – read more…
- Bile acids – Digestion of fat – read more…
- Antigliadin and anti-ht-Transglutaminase – Markers for gluten intolerance – read more…
- Bacterial infection with Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella, Yersinia, and Clostridioides diffile – read more…
- Blood in the stool – read more…
About Darmklachten.nl
Darmklachten.nl is an initiative of MGlab&Advies, a laboratory specializing in stool testing. …read more
