Orange Poop: What Does It Mean?

Orange Poop: What Does It Mean?

Orange stools are often associated with foods rich in beta-carotene, such as carrots and sweet potatoes, as well as with certain food dyes. It may also result from medications, supplements, or issues with bile absorption. If orange-coloured stool persists for more than three days or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult a doctor.

It can be surprising or even worrying to see your stool looking a different colour than usual. Usually, stools are brown, soft, and well-formed, which shows your digestion is working well. But it’s pretty standard for the colour to change because of things like what you eat, supplements you take, or how your digestive system works.

For example, orange stool can occur after eating foods with natural colours, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, or foods with food colouring. This usually doesn’t last long and disappears once the food is digested. However, if your stool stays orange for several days, it may mean there’s a problem with how your body produces or utilises bile, which helps give stool its brown colour.

Knowing what different stool colours can mean helps you better understand your digestion and overall health. By noticing what’s normal and what isn’t, you can decide when it might be a good idea to talk to a doctor.

Why Does Stool Colour Matter?

The colour of your stool is more than just how it looks; it can reveal a lot about your digestion and how your body is functioning. Stool gets most of its colour from bile, a fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Bile helps break down fats when you eat. As bile mixes with waste in the intestines, it gives stool its standard brown colour.

If something changes in this process, even a little, it can affect the colour of your stool. For example, if food moves through your system too quickly, your stool might look green. If there’s a problem with bile flow or liver function, your stool may look pale, yellow, or orange. Often, these changes are harmless and resolve on their own, but sometimes they can be a sign of an underlying health problem that requires medical attention.

Watching your stool colour can be an easy way to learn more about your health. Ongoing changes may indicate conditions such as gallbladder or liver problems, intestinal inflammation, or issues with nutrient absorption. Paying attention to how your stool looks, how often you go, and how it feels can help you spot possible problems early.

Understanding what is normal for your body helps you tell the difference between small changes caused by food and signs that might need a doctor’s opinion. Keeping track of these details can help you take good care of your digestive and overall health.

What Do Different Stool Colours Mean?

Your stool colour can change now and then, and most of the time it’s because of what you eat or how fast food moves through your body. However, some colours can show that something might be wrong with your liver, gallbladder, pancreas, or intestines. Knowing what different colours can mean helps you understand your digestion and know when to speak to a doctor.

Healthy stool is usually brown due to bile and bilirubin, a substance produced when the body breaks down old red blood cells. But food, medicine, and certain health conditions can all cause noticeable colour changes. The table below shows the most common stool colours, what might cause them, and when it’s best to get medical advice.

Stool Colour	Possible Causes	What It May Mean	When to Seek Advice
Brown	Normal digestion and bile production	Healthy stool colour	No concern
Green	Leafy greens, food colouring, or fast digestion	Food moves quickly through the intestines	If it lasts more than a few days or comes with diarrhoea
Pale / Clay	Blocked bile ducts, liver or gallbladder problems, certain medicines	Less bile reaching the stool	Yes, especially if it continues
Yellow	Fat not being absorbed properly, celiac disease, or pancreatic problems	Too much fat in the stool	Yes
Black	Bleeding in the upper gut, iron tablets, bismuth medicine, or liquorice	It could mean bleeding higher up in the digestive system	Yes, unless caused by supplements
Red	Haemorrhoids, rectal bleeding, or red foods (like beetroot or tomatoes)	Blood from the lower gut or food pigments	Yes, unless linked to food
Orange	Foods with beta-carotene (like carrots), food colouring, or bile issues	Usually harmless and caused by diet	If it lasts more than a few days

Understanding Stool Colour Changes

Short-term colour changes are usually harmless, especially after eating foods with intense colouring. But if the change lasts or you don’t know the reason, it could point to a health issue. For example:

• Light or clay-coloured stools may indicate a blocked bile duct.
• Black or tar-like stools may indicate bleeding in the upper digestive tract.
• Bright red stool may point to bleeding lower down, such as in the rectum.
• Orange stool can occur from consuming excessive beta-carotene or from issues with bile flow.

Watching your stool colour can help you spot early signs of digestive issues, especially if you also notice symptoms such as pain, sickness, tiredness, or yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice).

What Causes Orange-Coloured Stool?

Orange stools can occur for several reasons, most of which are harmless and temporary. The colour of your stool is primarily determined by what you eat, how your body processes bile, and whether certain medications or supplements are influencing digestion. In most cases, the stool returns to its standard brown colour within a few days once the cause is resolved.

However, if orange stool persists or appears alongside other symptoms, it may suggest an underlying digestive or liver issue that requires medical attention.

There are three main categories of causes: dietary factors, medications or supplements, and underlying health conditions.

Dietary Causes of Orange Stool

The most common reason for orange stool is diet. Foods containing beta-carotene (a natural pigment found in orange and red produce) or artificial food dyes can temporarily change the colour of stool. Once your body digests and eliminates these substances, stool colour usually returns to normal.

Foods that can turn stool orange include:

• Carrots, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes
• Cantaloupe, tomatoes, and winter squash
• Leafy vegetables like spinach (rich in beta-carotene despite being green)
• Foods and drinks containing orange or red food colouring
• Oily fish, such as sashimi, contain wax esters that can lead to oily, orange-tinged stool

If orange stool appears shortly after eating these foods and you have no other symptoms, it is typically not a cause for concern.

Medications and Supplements

Certain medications and supplements can alter stool colour due to the pigments or compounds they contain or the way they interact with bile.

Common examples include:

• Cefdinir: an antibiotic that may cause stool to appear red, orange, or maroon. This effect is temporary and harmless.
• Antacids containing aluminium hydroxide can cause the stool to appear lighter or orange while in use.
• Mineral oils: sometimes used for constipation relief, but can result in orange, oily stools or mild leakage if taken in excess.

If you notice a colour change after starting a new medication or supplement, check the product information or speak to a healthcare provider before making any changes to your treatment.

Health Conditions That Can Lead to Orange Stool

Although most orange stools are due to diet, specific digestive or liver-related problems can also cause this change. These conditions often interfere with bile production, flow, or absorption. Since bile gives stool its standard brown colour, any disruption can produce orange or pale stool.

Conditions that may cause orange stool include:

• Bile duct obstruction: blockage in the ducts that carry bile from the liver and gallbladder to the intestine.
• Gallstones: hardened deposits in the gallbladder that can restrict bile flow.
• Liver inflammation (hepatitis) can reduce bile production and affect digestion.
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Small Bowel Syndrome (SBS): may affect nutrient and bile absorption.
• Cholestasis of pregnancy: a temporary liver condition that can occur in late pregnancy, slowing or stopping bile flow.

These conditions may also cause other symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), or changes in appetite.

When Is Orange Stool a Concern?

Occasional orange stool is usually nothing to worry about, especially if linked to food or supplements. However, seek medical advice if:

• The colour change lasts longer than three days
• You experience pain, nausea, or vomiting
• There is jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
• You notice blood in the stool or black, tarry stool
• You develop fatigue, fever, or abdominal discomfort

Persistent changes should always be evaluated to rule out liver, gallbladder, or intestinal problems.

When to Worry About Orange Stool and Seek Medical Advice

A short-term change in the colour of your stool is usually not a cause for concern, especially if it occurs after eating certain foods or taking supplements. However, if your stool remains orange for several days or you experience other symptoms, it may be a sign of a problem with your digestion, liver, or gallbladder. Knowing when to consult a doctor can help you receive the proper care early.

When Orange Stool Is Usually Harmless

In most cases, orange stool happens after:

• Eating foods high in beta-carotene, such as carrots, pumpkins, or sweet potatoes
• Having foods or drinks with orange or red colouring
• Taking antibiotics or antacids that change stool colour for a short time
• Using mineral oil or other supplements that affect digestion

If your stool changes colour after eating these foods or taking a supplement, it should return to normal in a few days once digestion settles. You usually don’t need treatment unless the colour change continues.

When Orange Stool May Mean a Health Problem

See a doctor if:

• The orange colour lasts more than three days
• Your stool is orange and oily, or hard to flush (could mean trouble absorbing fat)
• You see blood in your stool (bright red or black and tar-like)
• You have tummy pain or cramps
• Your skin or eyes turn yellow (a sign of jaundice)
• You feel sick, tired, have a fever, or are vomiting.
  
  

These symptoms can point to problems such as liver inflammation, blocked bile ducts, gallstones, or digestive absorption issues.

Other Things That Can Affect Stool Colour

• Recent medication changes: Some antibiotics, antacids, and supplements can temporarily change stool colour.
• Diet: Foods with intense colouring, such as paprika, tomatoes, or brightly coloured drinks, can cause the stool to appear orange.
• Hydration and digestion speed: If food moves too quickly through your system, bile may not have time to break down, causing lighter or orange stool.

If you’re unsure whether your symptoms are harmless, it’s best to check with a doctor or healthcare professional. They can identify what’s causing the change and provide the right advice or treatment.

When to Seek Urgent Medical Help

You should get medical help quickly if orange stool appears with:

• Severe tummy or back pain
• Fever or chills
• Ongoing vomiting or not being able to keep food down
• Unexplained weight loss
• Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)

These symptoms may be linked to a problem with the liver, bile ducts, or pancreas, and you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

What Tests Can Diagnose the Cause of Orange Poop?

If your stool remains orange for more than a few days or you experience other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, fatigue, or yellowing of the skin or eyes, your doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the cause. These tests can help determine whether your diet, a digestive problem, or a bile or liver issue is causing the colour change.

The type of test you need will depend on your symptoms, medical history, and any medications or supplements you are taking.

Test Name	Purpose	What It Can Show
Blood Tests	Measure liver enzymes, bilirubin, and other markers of liver and gallbladder health	Can show signs of liver inflammation, gallbladder problems, or blocked bile flow
Stool Analysis	Checks stool for fat, blood, infection, or parasites	Can reveal fat not being absorbed, bleeding, or infection
Liver Function Test (LFT)	Tests how well the liver removes waste and makes bile	Helps diagnose liver disease, cholestasis, or bile flow problems
Abdominal Ultrasound	Uses sound waves to take pictures of the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts	Can detect gallstones, cysts, or blockages
CT Scan or MRI	Produces detailed images of organs and the digestive system	Shows inflammation or structural problems in the liver or bile ducts
Endoscopy or Colonoscopy	A thin camera is used to look inside parts of the digestive system	Can detect inflammation, ulcers, bleeding, or growths
Bile Acid Test	Measures bile acid levels in the blood	Helps find bile flow problems or cholestasis in pregnancy

What to Expect During the Check-Up

When you see your doctor, they will ask questions about your:

• Recent diet and any new supplements
• How long has your stool been orange, and what does it look like
• Other symptoms, such as nausea, pain, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
• Family or personal history of liver or digestive issues

The aim is to determine whether the colour change is harmless and temporary, or if it requires treatment or further testing.

Why These Tests Are Important

Identifying the cause helps your doctor choose the right care for you.

• If your orange stool is caused by food or supplements, no treatment is usually needed.
• If the cause is linked to bile flow or liver problems, treatment may be required.

Getting tested early can help prevent more serious issues, especially if the change is related to liver or gallbladder disease.

How Can Mobi Doctor Help?

If you’re worried about the colour of your stool or have stomach problems that don’t go away after a few days, Mobi Doctor can help. You can speak with a qualified healthcare professional via a safe and secure online consultation.

Our doctors can review your symptoms, discuss possible causes, and determine whether you need further tests or a doctor's in-person evaluation. They can also advise on managing common digestive problems, using medicines safely, and making lifestyle changes that support a healthy gut.

Mobi Doctor is open from 7 am to 11 pm, offering private and trusted medical advice so you can get the help you need without leaving home.