Why Is My Poop Green?

Human stool is a method of how our body gets rid of unwanted waste by itself. Normal poop is medium brown in color and it may vary depending on what we eat or due to a condition or disorder. It exits the body without causing strain or discomfort and has normal consistency with adequate water and fiber content. Sometimes the color of the stool is green which can happen due to many reasons. Eating green leafy vegetables rich in iron or food with artificial green color can result in green colored poop. The chlorophyll present in such vegetables contributes to the color change of the stool. Though this change in color of the stool is no reason to panic, if you feel any change in your bowel movement, it is advisable that you should speak to a doctor.

When the stool is passing through the small intestine, it is green in color due to the bile present in it. Bile is a bright-green colored digestive juice secreted by liver and is stored in the gallbladder and in the walls of the intestine. As the food reaches the small intestines from the stomach, bile present in the intestinal walls is secreted and mixed thoroughly with the digested food. Bile helps in softening the stool and gives it the green color. As the stool makes its way to the large intestine, its color changes to yellow and then finally to brown. If the stool passes faster than normal through the intestines, its color remains green. This condition is known as decreased bowel transit time. Diarrhea, especially giardia and salmonella, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, malabsorption, traveler's diarrhea, bacterial overgrowth and food poisoning can lead to reduced bowel transit time, resulting in green poop.

If a person consumes laxatives or antibiotics even then the color of the stool results in being green. This is because such medications upset the natural bowel movement of the body making stool to pass quickly through the large intestine and thus resulting in greenish color. Generally, green poop is not a problem unless it is not accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, decrease in appetite or reflux. Under such conditions, immediate medical assistance must be sought. Drinking more water and consuming adequate food can also help in having normal brown colored stool. Healthy eating habits and regular exercise lead to normal digestion and bowel movements, thus keeping the body healthy and fit.