Sometimes the stool turns green. What are the reasons for this?
To answer this question, the website “Ebonit.d” reported that the green color of stool has several causes, some of which are simple and some of which are serious.
Simple reasons
The website, which is the official portal for German pharmacists, explained that simple causes of green stool are eating green foods, such as green vegetables that contain chlorophyll, such as broccoli and spinach.
Other foods and drinks that may cause this include: blueberries, avocados, green apples, and herbs such as basil, coriander, parsley, and pistachios.
Stool color usually returns to normal after a day or two, provided that you do not continue to eat colored foods in large quantities.
Green, blue, or purple food colorings can cause stool to turn green when digestive juices mix with colored substances.
The green color of stool may be a side effect of some medications, as antibiotics can change the gut bacteria, sometimes leading to the appearance of unexpected color spots.
Some medications can also cause bile-like diarrhea, which also appears green.
Serious reasons
“Abonit.D” indicated that the green color of the stool may also be due to serious causes such as infection, especially if bile is present in the stool.
Sometimes, green stool is a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome or intestinal infections (such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease).
After cholecystectomy, more bile may temporarily enter the digestive system, causing greenish diarrhea.
In general, a doctor should be consulted if the green color of the stool persists over a long period, and if it is accompanied by other symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, and weight loss.