You’ve just used the restroom and, as you glance into the toilet, something catches your eye. The color of your stool seems different—perhaps darker, lighter, or an unusual shade altogether. You feel a wave of uncertainty and suspect the color of your stool might mean something for your gut health.

Should you be worried? While it’s easy to dismiss as a random occurrence, changes in stool color can reveal a lot about your health.

The color of your stool can show important signs about your health. It can indicate issues like colorectal cancer or digestive problems.

Knowing these changes is key to understanding your body. When you notice something unusual, it’s important to seek medical advice. This can help catch health problems in early stages. Here’s a detailed guide to help you decode what your stool color might be telling you.

🟤 Brown Stool

Brown stool is a sign that your digestive system is functioning as it should. The color comes from bile, a substance produced by your liver to digest fats. Minor variations in shade, from light to dark brown, are typically no cause for alarm.

✋🏼When to worry

If your stool suddenly becomes pale or clay-colored, it could indicate a blockage in the bile duct. It may also suggest a liver issue, such as fatty liver disease. Persistent changes warrant a discussion with your doctor.

🔴 Red Stool

Red stool is one of the most concerning signs, as it can mean there’s blood in your stool. This might result from hemorrhoids or anal fissures, but it can also indicate something more serious like colorectal cancer.

So, does blood in stool mean cancer? Not necessarily, but it could indicate bleeding in your digestive system, so it’s important to have it checked by a healthcare provider.

Bright red blood often means there is bleeding in the lower gastrointestinal tract (rectal bleeding). Darker red or maroon stool may indicate problems higher up, like diverticulitis.

✋🏼When to worry

If you notice red stool or symptoms like stomach pain and unexplained weight loss, consult a healthcare provider immediately.

⚫️ Black Stool

Black, tarry stool often points to bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract. This could be from health conditions like stomach ulcers, gastritis, or esophageal issues. Iron supplements or medications containing bismuth (like Pepto-Bismol) can also darken stool. However, the color of blood in stool can look black if the bleeding starts higher in the GI tract.

✋🏼When to worry

If you cannot attribute the black stool to diet or medication, seek medical advice promptly.

🟢 Green Stool

Green stool is frequently linked to consuming leafy greens, food coloring, or iron supplements. Probiotics and green stool​ can be connected too, as taking these supplements may lead to changes in stool color. When food passes too quickly through your digestive tract (as in diarrhea), bile doesn’t have time to break down, leaving a greenish tint.

✋🏼When to worry

If green stool continues without a dietary cause, it may signal an infection. This is especially true if there are symptoms like stomach pain or fever.

🟠 Orange Stool

Stool color orange stool can result from carrots, sweet potatoes, or other foods rich in beta-carotene. However, it may also indicate problems with bile salts from liver or gallbladder issues.

✋🏼When to worry

If you often see orange poop and stomach pain or jaundice, it’s important to consult your doctor.

🟡 Yellow Stool

Yellow stool, particularly if it’s greasy or foul-smelling, could point to fat malabsorption. This might occur with conditions like celiac disease, pancreatitis, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). IBS stool color yellow is common because of rapid bowel movements affecting bile digestion. Liver conditions such as fatty liver stool color may also lean yellow.

✋🏼When to worry

If yellow stool persists alongside symptoms like weight loss or fatigue, consider medical evaluation.

Stool Color and Colorectal Cancer

So, is the color of stool colon cancer related? Yes, stool color is linked to colorectal cancer, but it doesn’t directly indicate cancer. Red and black stool are concerning as they may suggest lower GI bleeding, possibly from bleeding polyps.

How Can Colorectal Screening Help?

Often, symptoms such as pain, changes in stool color, or constipation can be hard to notice. This makes it tough to spot problems at home when everything seems fine.

And that’s the case for blood in stool, the particles can be so small, that it can easily go undetected. Hidden blood in stool may indicate lower GI disorders like colorectal cancer, colitis, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease and more.

Testing for blood in your stool can help detect what isn’t visible. With easy options like the InSure ONE Colorectal Screening Test, you can check from home and get your results online within days.

References

• Harvard Health Publishing. (n.d.). Green poop: What stool color can indicate about health. Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/green-poop-what-stool-color-can-indicate-about-health
• Health. (n.d.). Yellow poop. Retrieved from https://www.health.com/yellow-poop-8546763
• MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Stool color. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003129.htm
• Mount Sinai Health System. (n.d.). Bloody or tarry stools. Retrieved from https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/symptoms/bloody-or-tarry-stools
• Verywell Health. (n.d.). Advice about bright red blood in stool. Retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/advice-about-bright-red-blood-in-stool-796937
• WebMD. (n.d.). What do different poop colors mean?. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/what-do-different-poop-colors-mean