Stool Color Chart: What Green, Red & Pale Clay Poop Really Means for Your Health
Find out when to call your doctor
Key Takeaways
- Variations in brown stool color are typically normal and not a cause for concern
- Temporary changes in stool color are often due to diet and hydration levels
- Colors like red, green and yellow may indicate infection or something more serious
Rainbows, jelly beans, lip glosses…there are plenty of things we want to see in a spectrum of colors. Our stool, however, isn’t one of them. The good news? Temporary variations in stool color are usually nothing to worry about. But certain colors can signal it’s time to check in with your doctor. Keep reading for a simple stool color chart to help you pinpoint what the color of your poop might reveal about your health and when to take action.
A little background on stool color and your health
Short-term stool color changes are very common, and they usually just reflect what you’ve eaten in the past 24 to 48 hours (like deep red foods), your hydration level or any supplements you’re taking explains Anish Sheth, MD, AGAF, chief of gastroenterology and director of the Center for Digestive Health at Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and author of What’s Your Poo Telling You?.
For example, if you ate lots of leafy greens (or even green-tinted cupcake icing) one day, you may notice a shade of green poop during your next bowel movement. As for what’s considered healthy stool, “In general, variations in brown, from light to dark, are normal,” he says. “What’s more concerning is persistent change or certain specific colors.”
Woman's World Answers
Stool color chart for adults
Dr. Sheth breaks down what different stool colors mean and when to check in with your doctor in this handy chart: :
| Color | Potential causes | When to see your doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Bright red stool | Possible lower GI bleeding | Even if red poop happens once, it should be evaluated |
| Black, tarry stool | Possible upper GI bleeding. Note: Pepto-Bismol may also cause temporary dark stool | Even if this happens once, it should be evaluated |
| Clay-colored (pale) stool | This can indicate a bile duct blockage. Normally, bile gives stool its brown color. If bile can’t reach the intestines, due to something like a gallstone or, more rarely, cancer, stool may appear pale or gray. | Persistent pale stool over several days should be evaluated |
| Green stool | Often linked to infections or rapid transit through the gut. It’s usually looser and more frequent. Diet (like green foods) can also play a role. | Persistent green stool, or green stool accompanied by diarrhea, should be evaluated |
| Yellow stool | More common in infants (especially breastfed babies). In adults, it can sometimes indicate infection, but it’s relatively uncommon. | Greasy, foul-smelling or persistent yellow stool should be evaluated |
Spotting an unusual stool color doesn’t automatically mean something serious is wrong. As Dr. Sheth points out, the details of your bowel habits make all the difference. “Context matters,” he reassures. “For example, small amounts of bright red blood on toilet paper can come from hemorrhoids. More concerning is blood mixed into the stool or occurring consistently. The pattern, amount and associated symptoms all matter.”
The bottom line on stool color and your health
“If the only change is color, think about what you’ve eaten in the last day or two—foods like beets or blueberries can cause noticeable changes,” says Dr. Sheth. “But if changes persist for several days, or are accompanied by other symptoms, like changes in consistency, odor or frequency, then it’s important to see a doctor. And if you’re unsure, it’s always best to get checked.”
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