Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Causes Greenish Stool?
Question: I've had greenish stool for four days. I Don't have diahrea nor am I throwing up. I had a 24 hour stomach bug a week ago. I have been eating a lot of cashews but not an extra amount of green vegetables??
Brief Answer:
Lack of good intestinal bacteria is the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Green stool simply indicates lack of good intestinal bacteria. Please note that at the beginning (in small intestine) stool is yellow due to bile presence. Yellow bile is digested by good intestinal bacteria to brown stercobilinogen. When only a part of bile is digested, stool becomes a mixture of yellow and brown which is green.
To restore good intestinal bacteria you should start probiotic intake. This should help in a few days. If not, stool test and stool culture test should be done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Lack of good intestinal bacteria is the reason.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Green stool simply indicates lack of good intestinal bacteria. Please note that at the beginning (in small intestine) stool is yellow due to bile presence. Yellow bile is digested by good intestinal bacteria to brown stercobilinogen. When only a part of bile is digested, stool becomes a mixture of yellow and brown which is green.
To restore good intestinal bacteria you should start probiotic intake. This should help in a few days. If not, stool test and stool culture test should be done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for the answer. I've been taking ultimate flora 50 billion live cultures 4 capsules a day for almost a week now....Since I had the 24 hr stomach bug. I'm currently out of town. Back home the 23rd. Should I have my PCP recommend a gastro specialist?? Or any other steps I could take?I've also been taking aloe juice. Activated charcoal. I haven't had an inordinate amount of green veggies either. Just wondering why it would still be green...
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
No need to consult gastrologist at this point.
Detailed Answer:
It can be also green due to charcoal intake as well. And you dont need it anymore. So maybe just try with probiotic only. Stop taking the rest.
I do not think you need a gastrologist. Give it some time. As long as you do not have diarrhea, nausea, green stool is acceptable.
And if you decide to consult gastrologist, it is good to have stool test and stool culture test done before this visit.
No need to consult gastrologist at this point.
Detailed Answer:
It can be also green due to charcoal intake as well. And you dont need it anymore. So maybe just try with probiotic only. Stop taking the rest.
I do not think you need a gastrologist. Give it some time. As long as you do not have diarrhea, nausea, green stool is acceptable.
And if you decide to consult gastrologist, it is good to have stool test and stool culture test done before this visit.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you!!
Brief Answer:
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
You are welcome.
Detailed Answer:
You are welcome.
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
