![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/butternut-squash-127363106.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWHEN you think of poop, the colour brown is probably the first that comes to mind. <\/p>\n
But number twos can take on lots of different colours, from red, green, orange and yellow, according to your diet and health. <\/p>\n
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A lot of times it'll be down to what you've eaten recently, so no need to be immediately alarmed if your stool is suddenly an alarming colour. <\/p>\n
But some hues are worth speaking to a doctor about if you're noticing them more than occasionally. <\/p>\n
When it comes to yellow poop, some yellow and orange foods can dye it that colour, according to health, wellness, and nutrition expert Adam Felman. <\/p>\n
But health conditions like infections and coeliac disease could also be the culprit behind your poo being pale or clay-coloured, he wrote for personalised nutrition platform ZOE.<\/p>\n
Here are possible reasons behind your yellowy poo. <\/p>\n If you're noticing your poop is a more golden hue than normal, chances are it's down to your diet. <\/p>\n Have a think about whether you've eaten some of these recently: <\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Some supplements could also making your poop yellow. <\/p>\n While all these foods might not exactly be yellow-coloured, they contain a pigment called beta-carotene that can change the colour of your numbers twos, Adam said. <\/p>\n Foods and drinks with yellow, orange, or red dye can also have the same effect. <\/p>\n Your poop should look more brown if you eat less of these foods, he added. <\/p>\n Stress can actually affect how quickly food moves through your gut, according to Adam, as well as your digestion.<\/p>\n This means your body might absorb fewer nutrients from what you eat, making your poop yellow. <\/p>\n You might not be clocking that you're stressed, but it might be a good time to get help dealing with it if you're noticing: <\/p>\n The NHS recommends talking about your feelings to a friend, family member or health professional.<\/p>\n Setting aside time for yourself and doing some exercise might also help. <\/p>\n An increase in fat in your poop is called steatorrhea, which can make it greasy and yellow.<\/p>\n It occurs if you have a health condition that affects how you absorb fat from food, such as coeliac disease or chronic pancreatitis. <\/p>\n Coeliac disease is a condition where your immune system attacks your own tissues when you eat gluten, damaging your gut so your body can't properly take in nutrients. <\/p>\n Symptoms include smelly diarrhoea, abdominal pain and bloating after eating gluten, as well as more general fatigue, weight loss, itchy rashes and problems with balance or speech. <\/p>\n Following a gluten-free diet should help control symptoms and prevent the long-term complications of the condition, according to the NHS, <\/p>\n Chronic pancreatitis is a condition where the pancreas – an organ helping digestion – has become permanently damaged from inflammation and stops working properly.<\/p>\n The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis is repeated episodes of burning, shooting pain in your tummy.<\/p>\n The pain usually develops in the middle or left side of your tummy and can move along your back. You might also experience nausea and vomiting and unexpected weight loss. <\/p>\n You should see a GP immediately if you're experiencing severe pain, NHS guidance says. <\/p>\n A parasitic infection could also be the cause of your yellow poop, as they can affect how your gut works. <\/p>\n Adam pinpointed a common gut parasite called Giardia duodenalis<\/em> that causes giardiasis. <\/p>\n Aside from runny, yellow bowel movements, the NHS says it can cause: <\/p>\n People with giardiasis generally have two to five loose poops every day and feel increasingly tired, according to Adam. <\/p>\n Though some don't have any symptoms from it. <\/p>\n Giardiasis is spread through direct contact with people who have it and contaminated food. <\/p>\n See a GP if you have the above symptoms. <\/p>\n Bile salts are made by your liver and they help your body absorb fat and give your poop its usual brown colour.<\/p>\n Pale, yellow poop can sometimes mean that your liver isn\u2019t producing enough bile salts, which can be caused by: <\/p>\n The chance of getting hepatitis B in the UK is low, though it can be picked up when getting tattoos or piercings abroad. <\/p>\n It can give you a high temperature, severe fatigue and tummy pain, as well as hives and sometimes yellowing of the skin and eyes. You should see a GP if you think you have it. <\/p>\n Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage, which can eventually lead to liver failure. <\/p>\n It causes appetite loss, nausea, and itchiness in the early stages.<\/p>\n Later, symptoms can progress to include yellowing of the skin and eyes, vomiting blood, and fluid building up in your legs and abdomen.<\/p>\n Having brown and solid poos is a marker of a healthy digestive system, according to Adam. <\/p>\n The best ways to ensure you have this include: <\/p>\n The colour of your poo can tell you lots about your gut health, Adam added. <\/p>\n Wacky coloured poo shouldn't be too worrying, but speak to your doctor if it doesn't go back to brown after a few days. <\/p>\n Blood in your poop could be a warning sign of\u00a0bowel cancer.<\/p>\n Blood can make your poo red – as can eating red-tinged foods like beetroot – but bleeding can also make your number twos black.<\/p>\n Other symptoms can include:<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/close-toilet-roll-holder-pink-734714899.jpg\")
<\/picture>SHADES OF POO <\/span><\/p>\nWhat the COLOUR of your poo says about your health & when to see a doctor<\/h3>\n
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<\/picture>SHAPE OF POO <\/span><\/p>\nWhat the appearance of your poo says about your health – and when to see a GP<\/h3>\n
1. You're eating yellow foods <\/h2>\n
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Most read in Diet & Fitness<\/h2>\n
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2. You're stressed<\/h2>\n
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3. There's too much fat in your poop <\/h2>\n
4. You have a tummy bug <\/h2>\n
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5. You have a shortage of bile salts <\/h2>\n
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HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY BOWEL HABITS ARE HEALTHY? <\/h2>\n
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WHAT DOES MY POOP COLOUR MEAN? <\/h2>\n
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