Why is feces usually brown but different colored sometimes?

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_{^{This information refers to the feces of adults. Infants may have different colored feces.}}

Feces will be a medium brown color if normal. The brown color comes mostly from Bilirubin, a byproduct of hemoglobin breakdown. This occurs regularly as red blood cells die. Bilirubin is then transported to the liver, where it is secreted into bile. The bilirubin in bile makes its way through the intestine, where bacteria modify it to a brownish compound (called stercobilin). Other things have a slight contribution to the brown color such as iron, undigested and digested food particles and fiber but not as much as the stercobilin.

Feces can be used to diagnose medical problems. Persistent color change may be a sign of something needing treatment. Note any changes in your feces and report to a medical professional if you have abrupt or permanent changes in consistency, color, frequency, and amount.

Occasional green feces is generally not a cause for concern and is most likely caused by digestive upset. If green feces is present often, a trip to a doctor is warranted. Green stool may mean that the food traveled too rapidly through the intestines. Also if you consume major amounts of food with green artificial food coloring or natural green coloring like spinach or other leafy green veggies, your stool may be green. Iron and iron supplements can cause your stool to be green.

Black stools, especially if tarry and sticky, can be a sign of old or digested blood in the stool and would warrant contact with your health care professional, who will likely need to run tests. Red bloody streaks may be signs of bleeding from lower in the intestinal tract, or only a sign of hemorrhoid problems, but either way, this should be also reported to a medical professional without undue delay.

First answer by ID1195321261. Last edit by D4est. Contributor trust: 1202 [recommend contributorrecommended]. Question popularity: 34 [recommend question].