Why is my poop green when I did not eat anything green?

“I’ve noticed that my poop is green, but I haven’t eaten anything green recently. I’m a bit confused about why this is happening. Could it be something to do with my digestion or something else?”

Daisy Oliveira
Registered Nurse CNO #13564387

Green poop can happen even when you haven’t eaten anything green. One common reason is that the stool is moving too quickly through the intestines, which prevents bile from breaking down fully. Normally, bile starts out as a greenish color but turns brown as it goes through the digestive system. When the stool passes through the intestines too fast, such as during diarrhea, the bile doesn’t have enough time to change color, resulting in green stool.

In some cases, green stool can be caused by certain medications or antibiotics that affect how the gut works. Infections and conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can also speed up digestion and lead to green stool. Learn more about what your poop color means.

While occasional green stool is usually harmless, it’s important to pay attention if it happens often or is accompanied by other symptoms like pain, fever, or diarrhea. If that’s the case, it’s a good idea to consult a healthcare professional, such as a gastroenterologist, who can help determine the cause and recommend the right treatment.

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