Green Stool

The color of stools is not a part of a conversation while speaking to your physician. One mostly talks about the stool color and what they mean, only when the physician specifically asks about it. Black tarry stools or red streaks of blood in stools is normally hits the panic button in our minds. There are plenty of causes that may lead to green colored stools in both, infants as well as adults. But are they a cause of worry? What do they indicate? We tell you in this article.

Meaning
If your stools look green, it means it may probably be due to something you ate. Food coloring agents, food dyes, green vegetables, iron supplements and certain medications may lead to this occurrence. It is not a major health concern generally. However, recurrent passage of green colored stools may require medical attention. If this is due to intestinal infection or food poisoning, one needs immediate medical attention. If one experiences constipation or diarrhea, rectal pain, weight loss and fever along with passing stool that is green in color, then speak to the physician as soon as possible.

Causes

In Children
A newborn baby may pass dark green colored stools that is called meconium. In case of breast fed infants, they will pass yellow-green colored stools. Causes can be due to an intestinal infection. Causes may also include eating a lot of Kool-Aid, popsicles, and gelatin that contain artificial dyes leading to the condition. These are harmless causes that may need minor medical attention. If you observe the child continues to pass green stools for several days or weeks, speak to the doctor.

In Adults
Most of the causes are related to what one eats. Eating a lot of green, leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli, etc. may cause this condition. Foods containing artificial dyes and coloring agents may also lead to this state. Apart from your diet, other causes may include intake of dietary and vitamin supplements. Iron supplement intake generally leads to green colored stools. Mucus that is present in the intestines, can lead to this condition. If you observe an abnormal bowel movement or presence of lot mucus, you should speak to your doctor.

Other causes may include the time taken to excrete it. This means large intestine may pass the stools too fast before it could change the stools color. When the stools pass through the large intestine rapidly, it is known as 'rapid transit' or 'decreased colonic transits time'. The liver produces bile that is a green fluid and is secreted into the small intestine. As bile passes through the intestine, it changes its color from green to yellow to brown. This occurs due to the action of bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract. However, due to the decreased bowel transit time, the food passes through the intestines faster. Thus, the color of the stools remains green and does not change to brown during diarrhea. Other causes in adults include:

• Use of antibiotics
• Bacterial overgrowth
• Cancer
• Celiac disease
• Crohn's disease
• Food poisoning
• Infectious diarrhea, mostly due to salmonella and giardia infection
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Use of laxatives
• Malabsorption
• Side effects of medication
• Traveler's diarrhea
• Ulcerative colitis

If the condition lasts for more than a couple of days, you should visit a doctor. Severe diarrhea may also lead to green colored stools. You should take in plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. A simple change in diet may also help in treating it and improving digestive health.