Causes of green stools

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

The stools have a green color due to certain diseases or by some foods, mainly dietary ones. While it seems pretty problematic, it is generally not a significant disorder, but you should always visit a doctor to avoid complicating things.

Bile is a substance produced by the liver, and its job is to digest fats. This substance is composed of bile pigments such as bilirubin or biliverdin, responsible for providing the color of the stool. The bile travels through the intestines and changes its color from green to yellow and, finally, brown due to the bacteria found in the large intestine.

So, green stools refer to the fact that the food has passed through the intestines faster than usual and is expelled before they change color. So that you know the reasons, in this FastlyHealarticle, we will detail the causes of green stools.

Green stools from food

It is one of the causes of the most normal green stools since it causes if you eat many green vegetables such as leafy vegetables, for example, spinach. It can also happen if food or drink with green coloring is consumed, as is the case with green beer. In these situations, there is no need to worry since when all the foods that cause this color are eliminated, the stool returns to normal.

In the case of babies who have a green bowel movement, it can also be due to their liquid diet based on breast milk, and if they do not have other symptoms, it is also completely normal, and there is no need to worry. In any case, it is always advisable to consult a doctor in the event of any alteration.

Color change in stool from supplements

The color of the stool usually turns green when consuming large amounts of supplements, such as chlorophyll and green algae, but mainly iron, which is difficult for the body to process. This causes the body to secrete iron salts to expel the excess. These salts are one of the causes of green stools, and when you stop taking these supplements, the body and the color of the chair return to normal.

Intestinal infections and diseases

There are some infections by different viruses or bacteria that cause rapid intestinal transit, and this is another reason the stool may appear green. These include giardia infection that affects the small intestine, salmonella infection, and rotavirus.

Other bowel disorders can be caused by green stools, such as irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, in which the color of the body’s bile is altered by enzymes in the intestine. In addition, surgeries in the intestine can also be one of the reasons why green stools are eliminated.

Green stools from rapid transit

The food turned into a stool that passes through the body more quickly than usual can also cause green stools, as the liver works to help break down fats and evacuate bile.

In this way, the bile travels through the intestines and changes the color of the stool with the help of various enzymes. But if the transit occurs quickly, the seat will be expelled with the color of bile, that is, green. Rapid intestinal transit can be caused by celiac disease, allergies, gastrointestinal reflux disease, upset stomach, and other intestine disorders.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to Causes of green stools , we recommend that you enter our Digestive System category .

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