From stress to too much fat – the 5 things making your poop yellow and when to worry
WHEN you think of poop, the colour brown is probably the first that comes to mind.
But number twos can take on lots of different colours, from red, green, orange and yellow, according to your diet and health.
A lot of times it’ll be down to what you’ve eaten recently, so no need to be immediately alarmed if your stool is suddenly an alarming colour.
But some hues are worth speaking to a doctor about if you’re noticing them more than occasionally.
When it comes to yellow poop, some yellow and orange foods can dye it that colour, according to health, wellness, and nutrition expert Adam Felman.
But health conditions like infections and coeliac disease could also be the culprit behind your poo being pale or clay-coloured, he wrote for personalised nutrition platform ZOE.
Here are possible reasons behind your yellowy poo.
1. You’re eating yellow foods
If you’re noticing your poop is a more golden hue than normal, chances are it’s down to your diet.
Have a think about whether you’ve eaten some of these recently:
- carrots
- squash
- sweet potatoes
- red and yellow peppers
- broccoli
- peas
- leafy greens like kale, spinach and lettuce
- herbs like parsley, coriander and sage
- spices like paprika, cayenne and chilli
Some supplements could also making your poop yellow.
While all these foods might not exactly be yellow-coloured, they contain a pigment called beta-carotene that can change the colour of your numbers twos, Adam said.
Foods and drinks with yellow, orange, or red dye can also have the same effect.
Your poop should look more brown if you eat less of these foods, he added.
2. You’re stressed
Stress can actually affect how quickly food moves through your gut, according to Adam, as well as your digestion.
This means your body might absorb fewer nutrients from what you eat, making your poop yellow.
You might not be clocking that you’re stressed, but it might be a good time to get help dealing with it if you’re noticing:
- headaches or dizziness
- muscle tension or pain
- stomach problems
- chest pain or a faster heartbeat
- sexual problems
- difficulty concentrating
- struggling to make decisions
- feeling overwhelmed
- constantly worrying
- being forgetful
The NHS recommends talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional.
Setting aside time for yourself and doing some exercise might also help.
3. There’s too much fat in your poop
An increase in fat in your poop is called steatorrhea, which can make it greasy and yellow.
It occurs if you have a health condition that affects how you absorb fat from food, such as coeliac disease or chronic pancreatitis.
Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten, damaging your gut so your body can’t properly take in nutrients.
Symptoms include smelly diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating after eating gluten, as well as more general fatigue, weight loss, itchy rashes and problems with balance or speech.
Following a gluten-free diet should help control symptoms and prevent the long-term complications of the condition, according to the NHS,
Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas – an organ helping digestion – has become permanently damaged from inflammation and stops working properly.
The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis is repeated episodes of burning, shooting pain in your tummy.
The pain usually develops in the middle or left side of your tummy and can move along your back. You might also experience nausea and vomiting and unexpected weight loss.
You should see a GP immediately if you’re experiencing severe pain, NHS guidance says.
4. You have a tummy bug
A parasitic infection could also be the cause of your yellow poop, as they can affect how your gut works.
Adam pinpointed a common gut parasite called Giardia duodenalis that causes giardiasis.
Aside from runny, yellow bowel movements, the NHS says it can cause:
- tummy pain or cramps
- farting
- smelly burps – they may smell like eggs
- bloating
- weight loss
People with giardiasis generally have two to five loose poops every day and feel increasingly tired, according to Adam.
Though some don’t have any symptoms from it.
Giardiasis is spread through direct contact with people who have it and contaminated food.
See a GP if you have the above symptoms.
5. You have a shortage of bile salts
Bile salts are made by your liver and they help your body absorb fat and give your poop its usual brown colour.
Pale, yellow poop can sometimes mean that your liver isn’t producing enough bile salts, which can be caused by:
- cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver
- an infection with the hepatitis B virus
The chance of getting hepatitis B in the UK is low, though it can be picked up when getting tattoos or piercings abroad.
It can give you a high temperature, severe fatigue and tummy pain, as well as hives and sometimes yellowing of the skin and eyes. You should see a GP if you think you have it.
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage, which can eventually lead to liver failure.
It causes appetite loss, nausea, and itchiness in the early stages.
Later, symptoms can progress to include yellowing of the skin and eyes, vomiting blood, and fluid building up in your legs and abdomen.
HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY BOWEL HABITS ARE HEALTHY?
Having brown and solid poos is a marker of a healthy digestive system, according to Adam.
The best ways to ensure you have this include:
- eating fibrous fruits, veggies and cereals daily
- drinking enough water
- eating gut friendly foods like yoghurt, kimchi and kefir
- exercising regularly to improve digestion
WHAT DOES MY POOP COLOUR MEAN?
The colour of your poo can tell you lots about your gut health, Adam added.
- brown: healthy, normal
- white: diarrhoea medication side effect, a lack of bile
- red: you’ve eaten beetroot or bleeding bowels, haemorrhoids
- black: you’ve eaten liquorice, you’re experiencing iron tablet side effects, or bleeding high up in the gut
- green: you’ve eaten green food, or it can be caused by antibiotics, supplements, gut infections, and other conditions
- orange: you’ve eaten foods rich in beta-carotene, liver or gallbladder disease
Wacky coloured poo shouldn’t be too worrying, but speak to your doctor if it doesn’t go back to brown after a few days.
Blood in your poop could be a warning sign of bowel cancer.
Blood can make your poo red – as can eating red-tinged foods like beetroot – but bleeding can also make your number twos black.
Other symptoms can include:
- Changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you
- Needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
- Bleeding from your bottom
- Often feeling like you need to poo, even if you’ve just been to the toilet
- Tummy pain
- Bloating
- Losing weight without trying
- Feeling very tired for no reason