Dark Green Stool

The bowel movement of a healthy individual is usually yellowish brown in color. It comprises about 75% water and 25% solid matter, which may contain undigested food particles, intestinal bacteria, and waste materials. However, passing dark brown, green, black, white, or reddish colored feces is also not uncommon. While green stool (either light or dark) is generally harmless, it may signify digestive or intestinal problems, particularly if the frequency is high. Hence, it is advisable to identify the causes, risk factors, and treatment options for repeated incidents of dark green poop.

Passing Dark Green Stool: Causes

Many a time, mothers report that their breastfed babies pass unusual green colored stool. In fact, dark green feces is observed most often among babies and toddlers, while occasional passing of green poop in adults is quite common. There are several reasons that may contribute to passing green stool. For your reference, possible causes of dark green stool are listed below.

Too Many Veggies in the Diet: One of the most common reasons for passing green stool is consumption of ample amounts of chlorophyll rich, green vegetables such as spinach, peas, broccoli, and lettuce. Check if your diet consists of sugar loaded food items and iron rich foods. Even they can result in dark-colored stool.

Food Coloring and Iron Supplement: If the stool color is dark green black, it may be an indication that the food you consume is enriched with green food coloring. This specially holds true for popsicles and packaged drinks. Also, similar colored poop is expected for people who are currently on iron supplements.

Digestive Problems: Green stool can be caused due to abnormal digestion process. In case of malabsorption of food particles in the intestinal tract, the stool may develop green coloration. Also, if the bile salts are passed to the rectum without undergoing changes in the intestine, then the feces may pick up dark green color.

Some Medications: Abnormal change in the stool color may also be resulted due to certain medications. Those individuals who administer laxatives and antibiotics have high chances of passing stool that is green in color. This is usually temporary and normal poop color is restored after stopping the laxatives and medications.

Excessive Bacteria: As already mentioned, the defecate normally consists of bacterial colonies. If there is an excess amount of bacteria, particularly Salmonella in the stool, then the color turns unusual, possibly green. What happens is, intake of antibiotics disturb the bacterial count, leading to green coloration of feces.

Other Causes: Other reasons for green stool in adults are food poisoning, starvation, intestinal problem, presence of Giardia (a protozoan), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, and ulcerative colitis. If any of these ailments is suspected, correct diagnosis is necessary.

Dark Green Stool: Possible Health Risks

Dark green defecate is not a medical concern as long as it is not persistent and stool structure is normal. Also, see to it that the poop is mucus free. In case, it occurs recurrently, then it is advisable to seek medical attention. If the stool color is related to ingested food items and/or therapeutic medications, then also there is no need to worry about it. On the contrary, continuous dark green stool should be addressed, if it is caused due to food poisoning or digestive disorders.

Consult a doctor, if green stool is accompanied with worrying symptoms. In case of food poisoning, it may be associated with change in bowel habit, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and fever. Likewise, the presented medical problems will vary in accordance to the underlying condition. So, consult a qualified physician in case green stool is associated with diarrhea, constipation, rectal pain, bloating, gassiness, indigestion fever, and loss of appetite.

Dark Green Stool: Treatment Guidelines

If you notice green stool for four days consecutively, therapeutic intervention is required. Prior to suggesting any treatment strategy, the physician analyzes the stool sample for abnormal changes. Some common procedures conducted for diagnosis of the same are stool culture, X-ray, blood tests, and colonoscopy. As expected, the suitable treatment options for green stool vary depending upon the symptoms exhibited, underlying health condition (if any) and diagnostic results.

In case, dark green stool accompanied with diarrhea continues, the doctor will suggest personal care tips to avoid dehydration effects. For such a case, drinking ample amounts of water is an effective home remedy to keep the body well-hydrated and restore normal bowel habits. If required, the doctor will prescribe changes in the diet plan along with medications to improve digestive health. Problems related to physiology will improve gradually with the consumption of healthy diet and adoption of good eating habits.