Stool color: always a cause for concern?

The answer to this question is a resounding no, because our diet plays a decisive role in the color of our bowel movements. However, discoloration can of course indicate health problems, which is why you should be careful and see a doctor if in doubt.

What the color of our bowel movements says about our stool

Bowel movement color: brown

The color is caused by the brownish digestive juices - a natural stool should have this color.

Stool color: Black-brown to black

The dark color of the stool can have several causes, such as discoloration from eating dark chocolate or spinach. Medication such as charcoal or iron tablets can also trigger the dark coloration. If both possibilities do not apply, then it could be a sign of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract - this should be checked out urgently by a doctor.

Soft stools: Why this is not immediately a cause for concern

Stool color: green

Do you eat a lot of vegetables? Wonderful! Then not only are you living a healthy life, but the color of your stool also indicates healthy eating: greenish stool is nothing unusual. If this is not the case, the color may indicate an intestinal infection.

Stool color: yellow

Have you eaten a lot of carrots? Then yellow stools may be the result. If not, the color could also be an indication of an intestinal infection. Caution: If the stool also smells very unpleasant and floats in water, it should be examined by a doctor immediately: it could be a problem with the pancreas!