What does the color of your poop mean?

While brown poop is ideal, you’ve probably had poop that’s green, yellow or even red. Most of the time, the color of your poop points to something you ate. But this isn’t always the case. Sometimes, colorful poop points to an underlying health condition. It can be OK to see a poop color that’s not brown occasionally or when food is to blame. Once the food is out of your system, your poop should return to brown. But you may not be sure what’s causing your poop to change colors. Green poop may be the spinach you had at lunch or the icing on the cupcake you had for dessert. But green poop could also point to something like an infection or your stools passing too fast. Red poop may stem from drinks containing red food dye or eating beets. Or it may be a sign of hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding. Blackish poop could be due to taking iron supplements, Pepto-Bismol® or eating lots of blueberries. It could also suggest upper digestive system bleeding. Yellowish poop could point to bile duct issues or celiac disease. It could mean you’re eating too many fatty foods or foods high in beta-carotene like carrots, yams or squash. Clay, white or gray poop could mean you have a liver, bile duct, gallbladder or pancreatic. But some over-the-counter drugs or drinking too much dairy could also cause it. The best thing you can do is check in with your healthcare provider. Tell them your symptoms, especially if you have a fever, diarrhea or pain. Poop that’s red or black is often most alarming as it could suggest bleeding (not always). If your poop doesn’t go back to brown or changes colors often, it could mean something else is going on. Poop color chart This stool color chart can help you figure out what your poop color may mean: Poop Color Food Causes Health Causes Green Green leafy vegetables like kale or spinach; green food coloring or dyes Bacterial infections and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); food passing through your intestines too fast Red Drinks with red food coloring or foods like tomato juice, beets or cranberries Rectal bleeding (hemorrhoids, ulcers, fissures) or inflammatory bowel disease Black Blueberries and dark, leafy vegetables Upper digestive bleeding, iron supplements or taking bismuth (Pepto-Bismol) Gray, white or clay colored Milk or dairy products (rare) Liver, bile, pancreas or problems, gallbladder issues, anti-diarrheal medications Yellow Carrots and sweet potatoes. Foods high in fat like fried foods Excess fat in your poop, pancreatitis or celiac disease What is a normal poop color? Brown is the ideal poop color for adults. This doesn’t mean you’re not healthy if you have a few random, off-color poops. The shade of brown can also vary. If your poop stays a color that’s not brown, it could be a sign that something is going on. Healthy poop colors for babies are a little different, though. In this case, normal color can vary depending on what foods they eat and if they drink breastmilk or formula. When in doubt about poop colors and what’s normal, it’s best to talk to a healthcare provider.