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Green poop is considered normal and often a result of consuming green foods. In some cases, however, it could be a sign of infection
If your poop is looking a little green, it is usually no cause for concern. Green poop is considered normal and often a result of consuming green foods.
Sometimes, diarrhea can lead to green poop, as food moves through the intestine too rapidly to allow bile to break it down completely. If you notice that your stool color has not gone back to normal after 2-3 days, this may be a sign of infection or a serious underlying medical condition.
What foods can cause green poop?
Both natural and artificial foods can cause green stools:
- Green vegetables:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Green herbs:
- Basil
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Green fruits:
- Avocados
- Green grapes
- Green apples
- Green food coloring
- Pistachios
- Hemp seeds
- Powdered green tea
- Blueberries or blackberries
- Red wine
- Iron supplements
When is green poop a sign of infection?
Green stools that are accompanied by other symptoms such as stomach pain, vomiting, or fever may indicate infection. Some of the most common causes of infection include:
- Salmonella: Salmonella is caused by consuming foods contaminated by animal feces. Symptoms include diarrhea, cramps, and fever and may last for several days to weeks.
- E. coli: E. coli is a bacterium most commonly found in animal feces. Eating foods or drinking water contaminated with animal feces can cause stomach cramps, bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Symptoms should subside within a week.
- Norovirus: Norovirus is a contagious virus that causes stomach pain, diarrhea, and vomiting and is mostly transmitted from an infected person or contaminated surfaces or foods.
- Giardia: Giardia is a common parasitic intestinal disease that causes diarrhea, gas, greasy stools, stomach cramps, upset stomach, and dehydration.
Other causes of green stools may include:
- Celiac disease (malabsorption syndrome)
- Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Food poisoning
- Intestinal tumors or cancer
- Colon cancer
- Food poisoning
When should you worry about green poop?
If there is no underlying medical cause, changes in stool color may be due to changes in diet and will usually go away. However, contact a physician if your stool color doesn’t go back to normal or if you observe the following symptoms:
- Dehydration
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Malnutrition
- Malabsorption
