Understanding the Colour of Your Poo

Black

If it’s not sticky in texture and has no odour, the black colour can be caused by the ingestion of substances such as iron supplements, black liquorice, and bismuth-containing medications. Black poo that is sticky, tar-like and foul smelling may be an indicator of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Red or maroon

Vegetables with deep colours such as beetroot, cranberries, or red and purple food dyes can turn poo red or maroon or may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding. Small amounts of blood in the stool may indicate haemorrhoids.

White

If it’s white, grey or clay-coloured, the poo contains little or no bile which may indicate a problem with the liver or gallbladder. The colour change usually occurs gradually, as these medical conditions progress relatively slowly, and the stool becomes pale over time.

Yellow

If it’s yellow, greasy, and foul smelling, it may suggest the presence of undigested fat in the poo and problems with the pancreas causing a reduction in the delivery of digestive enzymes to the intestines. Ingestion of very high-fat foods can cause yellow, soft, and foul-smelling poo. Weight loss medications can also lead to bulky, yellow, and greasy stools.

Orange

The large consumption of orange-coloured foods that are rich in beta-carotene such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin can create orange coloured poo. It may also be an indication of blocked bile ducts or certain medications including some antacids.

Green

Eating excessive amounts of green foods, foods with green or purple dyes, and vegetables also can cause poo colour to turn more green than normal. When a stool passes through the intestines rapidly (diarrhoea), it can appear green due to the rapid transit.

What to look out for in the colour of your poo

Often your body will experience various symptoms, letting you know it’s time to contact your doctor:

• Persistent change in the colour of the poo
• Greasy fatty stools
• Pain when passing a stool
• Bleeding when passing a stool
• Excessive straining when passing a stool
• Diarrhoea

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