Here's Why Your Poop Is Brown And What It Could Mean If It Isn't

From white cauliflower to purple cabbage, the foods we consume come in all different colors. So why does poop, or stool, come out brown? Is that normal? If it doesn't come out brown, what does that mean?

According to Dr. Robynne K. Chutkan of The Digestive Center for Women, normal stool comes out brown because it is made up of bacteria, water, bile from your liver, bilirubin, dead red blood cells, indigestible plant matter like cellulose, and small amounts of fat and protein. The combination of all of these contributes to varying shades of brown.

So, why does it even matter? Dr. Chutkan says that stool color has a direct correlation to your overall health condition. If your stool is a color other than brown, it could be the result of something you consumed or it could be an indicator of something more serious. For example, foods with strong red pigment like food coloring and beets could turn your stools red. However, this could also be a sign of hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, or rectal cancer.

An intestinal virus could give you diarrhea which makes the body pass food before bile can finish breaking it down. You could end up with a green stool as a result. Other causes of greenish stools include Crohn's disease, heavy antibiotic use, or diet packed with leafy greens like kale and spinach.

Infections and gallbladder dysfunction may produce yellow stools. White stools could be caused by fat malabsorption that occurs with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. Mucus and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can result in stools with a whitish appearance as well.

Light clay-colored stools are characteristic of liver disease and decreased bile output. Antacids, vitamins and supplements may also contribute to lighter-colored stools. Black stool is usually caused by bleeding in the upper GI tract, iron therapy, and heavy meat consumption.

Eating a balanced diet and drinking plenty of water should keep your stools regular and "in the brown." Make it a habit going forward to check the color of your stools before you flush. If they are not brown and you haven't made any recent changes in your diet, you might want to get yourself checked out. To learn more about your poop, take a look at this video from Mama Natural!