5 minutes
The causes of green stools can be very varied. However, most cases are not cause for alarm.
The color of the stool is a direct reflection of the state of health of the intestinal transit and the eating habits of people. Stools are usually brown in color. However, they can turn green, yellow or blackish. Here are 4 causes of diarrhea or green stools.
The bowel movements can vary in color for different reasons and in most cases should not be a cause for panic. The consumption of foods rich in chlorophyll or the administration of certain supplements are some of the main causes of green stools.
Similarly, this symptom can also be the result of a medical condition that compromises health. In this sense, gastrointestinal infections are a common reason for green diarrhea. For this reason, evaluation by a professional is vital if these changes are maintained over time.
Causes of diarrhea or green stools
In most cases, the normal color of the stool is dark or light brown, depending on the person’s type of digestion. This tone is the result of the breakdown of bilirubin by the bacteria of the intestinal microbiota.
In this way, eating habits are the main determining factor of color changes in bowel movements. In addition, there are some major causes of green stools that should be treated as soon as they are identified.
1. Food and supplements
Meals, sweets and supplements ingested throughout the day are the main causes of changes in the consistency and tone of bowel movements. For this reason, when manifesting green stools, it is vital to look for its causes in the foods and beverages that have been consumed recently.
Green vegetables are the most common reason for greenish and yellowish stools. This is a product of the high content they have of chlorophyll, a green pigment that participates in the photosynthesis of plants.
Some of the vegetables rich in chlorophyll are the following:
- Kale.
- Spinach and chard.
- Cabbage and arugula.
- Lettuce.
Studies state that spinach is one of the foods with the highest levels of chlorophyll, with around 16 micrograms per gram of product. Similarly, artificial colors can also cause greenish stools. Such is the case of gelatin, ice cream, juices and powder preparation drinks.
On the other hand, nutritional supplements rich in iron are included in the causes of green and dark stools. In addition, they can also cause inflammation of the stomach and constipation.
2. Antibiotics
Broad-spectrum antibiotics can change the number and type of bacteria present in the intestine. In this sense, by altering the intestinal microbiota, the same lead to changes in the breakdown of bile and, consequently, in the color of the feces.
At the end of the consumption of the drug, it must be confirmed that the stools return to normal. If the stool continues to be green, a health professional should be consulted for the indication of probiotics, which will be responsible for restoring the intestinal bacteria.
3. Medical conditions
Bacterial, viral and parasitic gastroenteritis are some of the medical causes that lead to green stools. The infections by Salmonella spp., Giardia lamblia and rotavirus are the main responsible of this condition.
In general, they lead to an increase in intestinal transit in the form of diarrhea, reducing the time of exposure of the bile to the enzymes of the microbiota. In addition, it is common for the person to have abdominal pain, nausea, fever and vomiting.
On the other hand, some chronic diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, can also condition accelerated colonic transit. The feces could be evacuated more quickly, expelling the bile with its yellowish-green color.
4. Meconium
Green or yellow stools in the newborn correspond to meconium. This is nothing more than the product of the baby’s digestion, formed during gestation. It is viscous, thick and green in color due to the lack of a functional gut microbiota.
In most cases, exclusively breastfed newborns will pass this type of stool during the first days of life. They will turn brown as their gastrointestinal transit matures. Formula-fed babies may take a little longer to stop passing clear stools.
When to seek medical attention if I detect green stools?
Consumption of foods rich in chlorophyll is one of the most common causes green stool. However, the association of this color change with an increase in the frequency of bowel movements usually indicates a more serious health condition.
In this sense, a specialist should be consulted if diarrhea persists for more than 3 days and is accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting. Similarly, when evidence of signs of dehydration (dry mouth, paleness and decreased urine output), care is required as soon as possible.
You might be interested…