Being mindful of your poop’s appearance may sound a bit off-putting. Bowel movements are an important and natural process, but not something we necessarily want to spend much time thinking about.

However, your poop can tell you a lot about your digestive health. It can be the first sign of a potentially serious issue, so it’s good to stay aware of your poop’s color, shape, consistency, frequency and smell—and what they all indicate.

What Does the Color of My Poop Mean?

• Brown: This is the norm. While it doesn’t necessarily mean that your digestive health is perfect, it means that your poop’s color is not sending out any warning signals.  
• Green: Not usually anything to worry about, as long as it’s not frequent. Green poop likely just means that your food passed through your digestive system a little too quickly. It can also mean that you recently ate a lot of leafy greens.
• Black: Oftentimes, this happens when you are taking iron supplements or medicine with bismuth, such as Pepto-Bismol. However, if you are not using these items, black poop can be a sign of something serious: bleeding in your upper gastrointestinal tract. 
• Red: This may point to bleeding in your colon, which should be taken very seriously, as it can be a symptom of colorectal cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
• Yellow: By itself, this is not a cause for concern. But if your yellow poop is also oily or greasy, it likely means your intestines did not digest recently ingested fat properly. 
• Pale/White/Chalky: This color is very uncommon but may indicate problems with the liver, such as a blocked bile duct. 

What Does the Shape/Consistency of My Poop Mean?

• Hard pellets that are difficult to pass: You are constipated. This can happen when muscles in the large intestine don’t contract correctly and cause your poop to harden. Try eating more fiber, drinking more water and exercising.
• Firm, lumpy, shaped like a sausage, and hard to pass: You are mildly constipated.  
• Thin like a pencil: This is probably the result of improper muscle contractions in your large intestine, which is normal every once in a while. If it happens frequently, however, it could point to an obstruction in your colon. 
• Solid sausage shape that passes easily; can either have cracks or be very smooth: This indicates good digestive health. 
• Small, fluffy blobs that are easy to pass: You probably need a little more fiber in your diet.
• Mushy like porridge or fully liquid: You have diarrhea, meaning your food moved very quickly through your digestive system. This can happen due to:
  • A stomach virus
  • Food allergies/sensitivities
  • Inflammatory bowel disease
  • A bacterial infection
  • Side effects of certain medications
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Malabsorption of certain nutrients

For a visual representation of the various shapes and consistencies your poop can take, you can download a copy of the Bristol Stool Chart from Fight Colorectal Cancer’s website.

How Often Should I Be Pooping?

Most people poop between three times a day and three times a week. If you are pooping fewer than three times a week, you are probably constipated and should try:

• Eating more high-fiber foods
• Drinking more fluids
• Being physically active

What Does the Smell of My Poop Mean?

Your poop will never smell great, unfortunately. However, if it’s particularly smelly, that may mean:

• You ate sulfate-rich food, such as:
  • Eggs
  • Dairy
  • Meat and poultry
  • Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and cauliflower
• You have a stomach infection, and your poop’s normal odor will return once the infection passes
• Your body is unable to break down certain foods or nutrients that you ingested recently, which could indicate a problem like irritable bowel syndrome, celiac disease or lactose intolerance

How Can I Maintain My Digestive Health?

• Eat high-fiber foods to keep your digestive tract running smoothly, such as:
  • Fruits, like apples, pears and raspberries
  • Vegetables, like green peas, carrots and broccoli
  • Legumes, like black beans, lentils and almonds
  • Grains, like bran flakes, quinoa and oatmeal
• Get regular exercise. Staying physically active helps food move through the large intestine faster and alleviates constipation. 
• Get a colonoscopy to screen for gastrointestinal diseases if you:
  • Are 45 years old or older. Get your first screening at age 45 and every ten years thereafter.
  • Have a family history of colorectal cancer.
  • Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis).
  • Have developed symptoms such as:
    • Abrupt changes in bowel habits
    • Blood in your poop
    • Change in the diameter of your poop, especially if you are over 50 years old
• Maintain hydration by drinking a lot of water and eating a lot of water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. Water helps food pass through your digestive tract more easily, preventing constipation.

When Should I Call My Mercy Doctor?

You should call your Mercy primary care doctor or gastroenterologist when: 

• Your poop is any color other than brown, green or yellow OR is green for an extended period of time OR is yellow, oily and greasy
• Your poop is not a sausage-/snake-shaped solid that passes easily for an extended period of time
• You have very foul-smelling diarrhea for an extended period of time
• You are pooping fewer than three times a week—and eating more fiber, drinking more water and exercising are not helping