7 Reasons of Green Colored Stool

• There are numerous reasons that adults and children experience light green stool to dark green stool, but for the most part there is nothing to worry about
• Almost everyone has at one time or another experienced green colored stool during bowel movements. The color can be caused by your diet or excess in vitamin rich concentrations in your system
• Green stool in infants can also occur and doctors are quick to investigate the child’s diet before offering up a green stool diagnosis
• Green stool in babies is more common than not and should be looked into further if green in stool symptoms occur over a span of several days or weeks

Below are 7 reasons that that may cause green colored stool in both adults and infants. As always, it is important to consult your family physician if symptoms progress for lengthened amounts of time.

1. Increase consumption of chlorophyll

Yes, eating too much broccoli for dinner can cause light green stool or even dark green stool. The levels of chlorophyll in most green plants actually turn the color of your stool. This is easy to alleviate by halting the consumption of green vegetables. The roughage, however, is a great source in fiber and works to benefit your colon and digestive system.

2. Medication

Some medication may cause your bowel movements to be green in color. This can be particularly common in children or infants. Green stool in babies can occur when the child has a cold and you are administering infant Tylenol or other over the counter medications. Green stool in infants should be monitored and if the symptoms are prolonged you should always consult your doctor. If you notice green in stool after taking medications, like antibiotics, for prolonged periods of time, it is best to consult your physician for a green stool diagnosis.

3. Food poisoning

Green colored stool can be caused by eating food that was tainted with bacteria, most commonly e-coli. Normally the food and waste will pass quickly, at times just a couple hours after consuming the bad food. Almost always will your bowel movements contain light green stool or dark green stool. You should always visit your doctor for a green stool diagnosis if the green in stool is visible for more than three days or if you are experiencing abdominal cramps and/or a fever. Green colored stool can be a primary symptom of food poisoning.

4. Laxatives or colon cleansers

Laxatives and colon cleansers, depending on how natural they are, contain high levels of fiber and roughage. The green in stool color can be caused when you are taking either one. If you are cleansing your colon, you probably welcome and half expect your bowel movements to change color, but if alarmed or you notice blood in the dark green stool seek advice from your family physician.

5. Digestive problems

For the most part green in stool symptoms are not life-threatening and easy to explain. When there is abnormal digestion taking place you may experience dark or light green stool. When there is green stool in infants or green stool in babies other problems could be going on and it is best to have a doctor make a green stool diagnosis.

6. Irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome can cause the color green in stool. By changing your diet you will be able to monitor what foods are causing the green colored stool.

7. Iron supplements

Green in stool can be caused by taking too much or even adequate amounts of iron. This is especially common in young children. Green stool in babies can be caused by administering liquid iron. Green stool in infants is not harmful but can be alarming to parents, especially first time mothers. It is always wise to seek your doctor’s advice when something is out of the ordinary with your child.

The information supplied in this article is not to be considered as medical advice and is for educational purposes only.