Let’s start this article by saying this isn’t something you would want to bring up at the dinner table unless your goal is to put everyone on a diet, because obviously nobody wants to talk about poop while they’re eating.
That context aside, poop is an important indicator of your overall health and therefore should be an important conversation you have with your physician depending on what you find in your stool (a.k.a. poop). We will be covering a few things you could look for in your stool particularly in two dimensions – colour and appearance.
Again, this is not a definitive guide, just a general rule of thumb that you could use as a guide if you’re concerned before you reach out to a physician for help.
Now let’s dive into your poop.
Colours of Different Poops:
Colour is an indicator of the traces of important secretions from your body or traces of what you’ve eaten in general. You’ll want to read this with the Appearance section later for a better perspective but first – let’s see the colours of the rainbow when it comes to poop.
Brown
We’ll start with how your poop should be in terms of colour – brown. The most common and normal colour for poop is various shades of brown. This colour is the result of bile produced by your liver, which helps digest fats, breaking down and metabolising your food.
Stool that is consistently brown indicates a healthy digestive system. Don’t be too worried if there are slightly darker or lighter patches in your brown poop – it’s quite normal though uniformly brown would be the best.
Green
Occasional green poop is possibly the result of consuming certain green-coloured foods, such as leafy vegetables or foods with green food colouring. Neon green poop could be because you’ve ingested large amounts of food colouring. However, if your poop is consistently green and not related to your diet, it might be a sign of rapid transit through your intestines.
In other words, it’s not spending enough time in your digestive tract. If this persists for a few days and you feel uneasy, there is a possibility for a tract infection so best consult your doctor.
Yellow
Generally, yellow stool that is stinky and seems greasy (like if it floats) could be a sign of excess fat in your diet, or at least more fats than your body is able to process. If this happens for just one night after a barbecue buffet for example but reverts to normal the next day, relax you’re ok.
Though if it persists, it could also indicate a problem with your liver or gallbladder where they’re not able to break down and process fats to be absorbed, so it’s wise to consult a doctor if you notice persistent yellow stools.
Black
There could be a few reasons your poop is black, including taking iron supplements or a medication like Pepto Bismol that contains bismuth. Otherwise, black poop could be a sign of bleeding in your upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract. You should consult your doctor if your poop is black often, if you’ve had a history with internal bleeding along your GI tract, or if you’ve had a recent op involving your GI tract.
Generally if you’re not sure why your poop is constantly black and you don’t feel quite right, it’s wise to get an expert opinion. Google isn’t a reliable doctor.
Red
As you relieve yourself in the morning and realise your poop is red, don’t panic. Did you eat beetroot? Tomatoes? Dragonfruit? These could be the culprit as their natural colouring can be quite strong.
However, persistent red stool could indicate bleeding in your lower digestive tract, potentially from haemorrhoids, colon cancer or digestive disorders. The main differentiator is if the red stool looks red and smells like blood (the distinctly metallic smell of iron), then consult a doctor.
White/Chalky-Coloured
Pale or chalky-coloured stool is the one colour we will not joke about because it might indicate a lack of bile in your stool. This can be caused by problems with your liver, gallbladder, or bile ducts. This is not a good sign, and it would be best to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Appearance (Type and Consistency)
Apart from colour, the appearance of your stool can also provide insights into your digestive health. The Bristol Stool Scale is a commonly used tool to categorise different poop types and what that might indicate about your health. We hope you’re not eating anything as you read this, you may be put off certain textures for a while.
Type 1: Separate Hard Lumps
Think rabbit pellets or large pebbles. Typically, you might feel like it’s hard to push them out despite their small size, and visibly they are distinctly separate from one another. This might mean you’re constipated and your stool might have been hanging around in your digestive system for a bit longer than it should have.
Constipation that results in this type of poop is usually caused by diet or lack of exercise, and sometimes is due to blockages or hormone-related conditions like diabetes and pregnancy. Occasionally, it’s not an issue. But if you get Type 1 poop often, that’s not good for your health. Eat better, drink more water and exercise more.
Type 2: Lumpy and Sausage-Like
Yes it’s a log, but not a very pretty log. Think like a witch’s nose from a kids cartoon or if Pinnochio’s nose were stung by bees. This would also be a little difficult to push out and the lumpiness would be a little obvious in texture as you are pushing it out. This would indicate that you are slightly constipated, just not as bad as Type 1.
Type 3: Sausage-Like with Cracks
Congrats, it’s a healthy log! Stool with some cracks on the surface is generally considered to be normal and healthy poop. Think of corn on a cob, but smoother. It should also slide out relatively easily like butter. It also shouldn’t fall apart so easily when you’re flushing it down the toilet. That’s a sign that your digestive system is working as it should!
Type 4: Smooth and Soft
If your poop comes out looking a little thin, soft and long – like a snake or an eel – then that is Type 4 stool. Characterised as also easy to push out but it would remind you of a soft serve ice cream machine (sorry we ruined that for you for today). The good news is this is normal too, so no worries!
Type 5: Soft Blobs With Clear Edges
This may seem similar to Type 1 in the sense that they are identifiable as individual small blobs, however where they differ is in the texture and ease of pushing out. Type 5 poop is soft and easy to push out, think fish paste before it’s cooked.
This can be considered to be within the normal range as well, but you’re not getting enough soluble fibre so it’s a good idea to have more spinach or other greens in your diet.
Type 6: Mushy and Fluffy With Ragged Edges
These would be inconsistent blobs or so it would seem from your perspective because the ragged edges mean each blob has too much water and therefore not able to hold its shape very well. Think when rice becomes porridge. You can still recognise some rice grains but not too clearly.
This would suggest you’re having mild diarrhoea which could be caused by diet, illness or a medical condition. Nothing to be too alarmed about, but if it’s consistent for more than 3 days then you might want to see a doctor.
Type 7: Watery With No Solid Pieces
This comes out easier than any of the poops and there are no obvious lumps. Think gravy or french onion soup. This is almost definitely diarrhoea which in serious cases could be a symptom of food poisoning or food intolerances like lactose intolerance that’s pretty common.
If you have food sensitivities and intolerances, reflect on what you’ve eaten. If pain persists or the diarrhoea is difficult to control, seek medical attention.
Final Thoughts
We tried to make you laugh a little as you learned about your stool because monitoring the colour, appearance and frequency of your poop isn’t a fun thing to do. But it can offer some valuable insights about your digestive and overall health.
There may be variations now and then which shouldn’t be anything to worry about (like when your poop turns red from dragon fruit), but anything that’s not brown, Type 3 & 4 poop consistently is not a good sign.
Again, if you have symptoms or pain, please do not consult Dr Google and visit a doctor to be sure. Your health is important, and we hope you’ve learned something about your poop today!