Orange Poop: What Does It Mean?

 

You may have wondered why your stool colour sometimes varies from the standard colour it should have. Healthy stools are usually a shade of brown or green, well-formed, and quickly passed, but they may vary slightly from individual to individual. It is essential to consider many possible causes if you notice a significant or persistent change in your stool colour. You may be concerned about orange-coloured stools if you have never experienced them. In many cases, however, orange stool results from certain foods or supplements.

Upon digestion and elimination of these foods or supplements, the colour of your stool will return to normal. Other things can also cause the orange colour of your stool. If you are experiencing orange-colored stool, you should consult a medical professional for advice or treatment.

 

Why Stool Color Matters

You can tell a lot about your bowel health by the color of your stool. The digestive tract and the body's overall health can be supported by good bowel health.

What do different colors mean?

The color of healthy stools is usually brown, well-formed, and easy to pass. There are, however, some shades of green stool that are considered normal as well. It is not always a cause for concern when stool color is irregular for a day or two. Dietary changes most often cause changes in stool color. In rare cases, a change in stool color may indicate a serious intestinal problem.

 

The different colored stools can indicate a variety of things:

 

• Green: A green stool indicates high consumption of green leafy vegetables or foods containing green colouring. However, it can also indicate that food is moving too quickly through the large intestine.
  
  
• Pale or clay-coloured: An obstruction in the bile duct can be caused by certain medications, such as antidiarrheal drugs (drugs for relieving diarrhoea). This discolouration can also be caused by gallbladder or liver problems.
  
  
• Yellow: The presence of yellow stools can indicate excess fat in the stools, which various medical conditions, such as malabsorption or celiac disease, can cause.
  
  
• Black: It can be a sign of bleeding in the upper intestinal tract if you have black stools. In addition, iron supplements or excessive black liquorice consumption can cause them.
  
  
• Bright red: Hemorrhoids can cause bright red stools due to bleeding in the lower intestinal tract. The consumption of beets, cranberries, tomato soup, tomato juice, red gelatin, or red food colouring may also cause the condition.

 

Normal colour

Individuals can have different stool colours. The colour of healthy stool is usually brown or brownish-green.

Causes of Orange Poop

The colour of your stool may change temporarily due to changes in your diet. For more information, contact your physician if your orange-coloured stool persists for several days.

Certain Foods

It is common for stools to turn orange temporarily after eating certain foods. Among them are:

 

• Beta-carotene-containing foods include Foods containing beta-carotene, such as carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and spinach, which can cause orange stools.
  
  
• The following foods contain orange or red food colouring: Orange or red stools can also be caused by the food colouring.
  
  
• Wax esters are found in the following foods: Consuming oily fish like sashimi, which contains indigestible wax esters, can lead to oily, orange anal leaks in rare cases.

Medications or supplements

Certain medications and supplements can occasionally cause orange stools.

 

Supplements and medications include:

 

• Cefdinir: Antibiotics that belong to the third generation of cephalosporins are often prescribed for treating ear infections with their extended-spectrum properties. The red, orange or maroon colour of the stool may be caused by this antibiotic, however. No gastrointestinal symptoms are associated with this antibiotic, aside from the temporary change in stool colour.
  
  
• Antacids containing aluminium hydroxide: The stool may turn orange temporarily when taking antacids or other medications containing aluminium hydroxide.
  
  
• Supplements or foods containing mineral oils: Constipation can sometimes be relieved with mineral oils. It is possible, however, for them to cause orange, leaky stools.

 

Medical conditions

Stools can turn orange due to certain medical conditions:

 

• Problems with bile: It is also possible to have orange-colored stools if you have digestive problems that affect bile absorption or production. Orange stools are generally caused by not absorbing enough bile or not producing enough bile. Several medical conditions are associated with bile issues, including diarrhea, blocked bile ducts, IBS, SBS, gallstones, inflammation, cysts, and tumors.
  
  
• Cholestasis of pregnancy: During pregnancy or the second or third trimester, cholestasis of pregnancy affects the liver of a pregnant woman. It occurs when the gallbladder's normal bile flow is slowed or stopped. Pregnant women and their babies can suffer health risks, even though it usually disappears within a few days after delivery. As a result of treatment options, symptoms can be relieved, and complications can be avoided.

 

When to See a Doctor

It's not always a concern when your stool color changes. You should wait a few days to see if your stool returns to normal colour if you have recently eaten a lot of beta-carotene-rich foods, switched beta-carotene supplements, taken antibiotics or antacids, or taken mineral oil supplements. Please just consult your doctor if you have an orange-coloured stool that won't go away.

A bloody stool, fever, severe abdominal cramping, or chills are also symptoms that require immediate medical attention.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

1- Is orange poop a sign of something?

Some supplements, fruits, and vegetables contain beta-carotene, an orange pigment in poop. For more information on orange-coloured poop, contact your healthcare provider if you haven't consumed any foods or supplements in the last couple of days. In the case of severe stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, blood in the stool, or fever, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately.

 

2- Is orange poop normal?

Many fruits, vegetables, and supplements contain beta-carotene, which can lead to orange-coloured poop. Stools should return to their normal colour once digested. You should consult your medical provider if orange-coloured poop persists.

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