Five poo colours that ‘may require further investigation’

Each of these three factors can help to determine what is happening in someone’s gastrointestinal system. So what should the colour of a healthy poo be? According to Adrienne, poo should be mid-brown in colour as it contains a pigment called bilirubin, which forms when red blood cells break down.

She added: “But it is important to know what is ‘normal’ for you, as healthy poo can be almost any shade of brown and sometimes even green.

“If the colour changes suddenly, this could indicate a gut issue, particularly if it is associated with other symptoms – or it could be related to something you have eaten.”

The following poo colours may require further investigation, according to Adrienne.

Pale, clay-like stools

This could indicate a lack of bile linked to a gallbladder, pancreas or liver issue and may also indicate absorption issues or the presence of mucus.

Alternatively, it could be related to anti-diarrhoea medication or if you have recently had a barium enema.

Green poo

Antibiotics can turn your poo green, as can consuming lots of green vegetables or green vegetable juices.

It may also be related to a bacterial infection or food poisoning or can indicate diarrhoea or low fibre intake when there is not enough transit time for the bilirubin to change the stool colour to brown.

Yellow poo

This could relate to a lack of bile or bile-related issues (including gallbladder removal), meaning that your body is not absorbing fat properly and there is fat in the stool.

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It could also relate to excessive fat intake, food intolerances, or a gut infection or parasite.

It could mean that you’ve been eating lots of yellow foods, such as turmeric or yellow food colouring or are taking certain medications (particularly those for gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD).

Bright red poo

This could mean you’ve eaten beetroot recently, but if not it suggests ‘new’ blood in the stool, which could result from haemorrhoids or bleeding in the lower part of the large intestine.

Dark red poo

Again, this can suggest bleeding in the rectum or lower gut and should be checked, although it can also result from eating red foods or food dyes.

Black red or black stools

This can result from iron or activated charcoal supplements, but can also indicate ‘old’ blood from the upper part of the gut and should always be checked out.

So when should you get medical help?

Adrienne advised: “The above list is just a guide as to some of the indications from different colours – they don’t mean you have this health issue and may be a direct result of something you’ve eaten, but we recommend getting it checked out if it is a sudden change or if you have other associated symptoms, such as pain or bleeding.”

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