The color of your poop (stool) can provide clues about diseases or conditions affecting the digestive tract.
Based on the initial findings, agastroenterologistcan order tests to help diagnose the exact cause.
The color is the result of a pigment calledbilirubinthis created when the liver breaks down red blood cells.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
Healthy stools can range from a light or medium brown to a dark brown.
More concerning isblood in stoolscaused by colorectal bleeding.
This can be because of many of the same things as black stools.
Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health
Iron supplements and bismuth subsalicylate can also turn stool green instead of black, as can certain antibiotics likeamoxicillin.
Foods and beverages made with green food dye can also lead to bright green stools.
Stools can also turn orange if you takebeta-carotene supplementsor eat foods rich incarotene, including pumpkin or carrots.
Color changes may be also due to the foods you eat or medications you take.
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