What are the Causes of Green Poop?

Question: So I went to the bathroom and noticed my poop was really, really green.  Why is it green?  Is this serious?

Answer: Green poop is rarely a cause for concern.  Although it looks scary, green poop is often caused by certain foods, drinks, or an upset stomach.  Good news, though—it's not serious and you're not going to die.  Promise.  

Still feeling worried?  Let's review the causes of green poop to put your mind at ease.

Causes of Green Poop and the Food Connection

Food is fascinating.  Its effect on the digestive system—and to a bigger extent, your stools—is a subject of intrigue.

Let's clear up the air.  The most common cause of green poop is deeply colored or dyed food.  This is food that is highly processed or sugary, such as candy or low calorie snacks.  Dark colored foods often cause green stools.  In fact, anything you consume that has a strong, rich color turns stools bright or dark green.

Vegetables rich in chlorophyll, such as spinach, are common culprits.  Green M&M's, my personal favorite, also stains stools.  Kool-Aid, lollipops, Jell-O, sugary cereals (think Lucky Charms) or hard candy of any color also zaps your stools from brown to green.

The truth is your digestive system could be completely normal.  If you decide to chomp on lollies and Lucky Charms for several days, however, don't expect your stools to retain its natural brown color.

My advice?  Lose the food and you’ll feel normal in no time.

Causes of Green Poop Has Digestive Roots

Sometimes green poop is also caused by a hiccup in the digestive system.  If you experience abdominal discomfort, excess gas, or stomach pain, it is likely that your digestive system is the cause of your abnormally colored stools.

Why?  Your stools, believe it or not, are naturally green during the digestion process, caused by bile secretion.  It turns brown when it passes through the large intestine.

If the large intestine does not process it properly, it cannot change its color to brown.  This is often caused by rapid digestion or quick evacuation.  You're probably familiar with this—it's commonly called diarrhea.

Indigestion typically lasts for one to three days, however, so your stools should retain its brown color in a few days.  You won't die if your digestive system is producing abnormally colored stools for a little bit, but if it lasts more than five days, call a doctor.

Preventing Green Poop For Good

Green poop isn't a serious condition.  It usually disappears within a few days.  If you still experience forest colored poop and want to get rid of it, however, here are some fast acting tips:

• Avoid chlorophyll and iron rich foods.
• Skip darkly dyed foods, such as processed food.
• Avoid foods that irritate your digestive system.

Following these tips should eliminate green poop fairly quickly, if it is not caused by a serious underlying condition.

It's funny how simple the causes of green poop are.  Though it can be embarrassing, it is usually not a cause for concern unless it is a continuous event—say, having strangely colored stools for more than one week.  See a doctor if it persists.