Normal poop is typically medium to dark brown due to bilirubin from broken- down red blood cells.

Healthy Poop Color

Healthy stool ranges from light to dark brown, soft to firm in texture, and easy to pass without pain. This color comes from bile, a liver-produced fluid that digests fats and changes from yellowish-green to brown during digestion. Variations like shades of green can still be normal, often from diet or fast transit through the gut.

Abnormal Colors

  • Black or tarry : May signal upper GI bleeding, iron supplements, or Pepto-Bismol.
  • Red or bloody : Could indicate lower GI bleeding, hemorrhoids, or red foods.
  • Yellow or greasy : Often due to excess fat from malabsorption or bile issues.
  • Orange : Linked to bile duct problems, rifampin, or beta-carotene-rich foods like carrots.
  • Pale, white, or clay-colored : Suggests lack of bile, possibly from liver or gallbladder concerns.

Changes lasting over two weeks warrant a doctor's visit.

When to Worry

Consult a doctor if color shifts persist with symptoms like pain, diarrhea, or weight loss. Diet often causes temporary changes—think beets for red or leafy greens for green—but ongoing issues need checking. Forums buzz about this as a gut health trend in 2025, with users sharing Bristol Stool Scale stories for self-checks.

TL;DR : Aim for brown; other colors may be diet-related but see a pro if persistent.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.