In this article:

Why is My Poop Yellow?
What Does Yellow Poop Mean?
What Causes Yellow Poop?
Remedies for Yellow Poop

Why is My Poop Yellow?

The colour of a normal stool is brown due to healthy levels of bilirubin and bile in the body. Sometimes a person may notice stool which is of a different colour, may be yellow.

Stool can change colour for a variety of reasons, which can include diet and other underlying medical conditions.

In this article, we will look at the causes of yellow stool in adults and babies and also when to see a doctor.

What Does Yellow Poop Mean?

This shade is normal for many people. It’s common for infants, especially those who are breastfed. But if you have yellow poop which looks greasy and smells quite bad, it may have too much fat in it. This could be a sign your body isn’t digesting food properly. For instance, if you have celiac disease, your body can’t handle a type of protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, and rye. If you have this condition and eat foods that have gluten in it, like many breads, pastas, and biscuits, your intestines won’t work as it should. There may be other causes of yellow poop which makes it greasy and smelly. If it happens to you often and your also have other discomforts, tell your doctor.

Yellow Poop: Causes and Remedies

What Causes Yellow Poop?

It’s normal for your stool to change colour. You likely have a changed diet and it can make a difference in your stool. But yellow stool, sometimes called pale stool, can also indicate a number of other health problems. Some are discussed below,

Liver and Gallbladder Disorders

Cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis reduce or eliminate bile salts that help the body digest food and absorb nutrients from it. Gallstones or sludge in the gallbladder can reduce the amount of bile that gets in your intestines. Not only may be painful, but it can also turn your stool’s colour to yellow.

Disorders that Affect the Pancreas

Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, any blockage in the pancreatic duct, or a condition called cystic fibrosis can also turn your stool yellow. These conditions prevent your pancreas from producing enough of the enzymes that your intestines need to digest food. Undigested fat can give the stool a yellow colour, greasy texture causing it to float or appear frothy.

Celiac Disease

Gluten is a protein which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. If you have celiac disease and you eat gluten, your body’s immune system will respond by damaging and attacking the tissues of your small intestine. When this is happening, your intestines aren’t able to absorb the nutrients from food which your body needs.

Gilbert’s Syndrome

Gilbert’s syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with liver characterized by periods when bilirubin levels go too high. Symptoms of the disorder are primarily mild jaundice, they are so mild that many people don’t feel they have it. Gilbert’s syndrome is usually untreated.

Giardiasis

It is an infection of the intestinal tract caused by a microscopic parasite called giardia. You get this by ingesting giardia cysts. These are typically ingested in the body through food or water.

Symptoms of Giardiasis

• foul-smelling diarrhoea that is yellow
• Stomach cramps.
• Headache
• Nausea
• Low-grade fever.
• Weight loss.

It is diagnosed by testing a stool sample. Some people don’t require treatment, but most are given antibiotics. It often lasts for several weeks. It may become chronic, though this is kind of rare.

Stress

Your body’s response to stress may be to speed up the digestive process. This decreases the volume of nutrients your body can absorb through food and may cause diarrhoea and yellow stool.

Diet

Your stool can be yellow because of your diet. It’s the most common reason. Some causes of this are eating foods high in food coloring like carrots or sweet potatoes. It may also be from certain gluten products or a diet which is high in fats.

Remedies for Yellow Poop

Interestingly, there are a lot of different treatments for yellow poop, treating the underlying cause specifically, once it has been diagnosed by a doctor. Some therapeutic treatments include changing your diet and the use of certain herbal remedies which can help the situation. Most important however, is knowing the cause. If your yellow stool is caused by stress and anxiety, seek out natural stress-relieving activities which can help, while liver and gallbladder disorders may need more aggressive treatment or supervision of a medical professional.

While there are some home remedies, as explained below, experiencing more than two days of yellow stool should visit to the doctor.

Dietary Change

Eliminating spicy, sour, and acidic foods from diet can often help in this condition quickly. Take diet rich in healthy fats, as well as fruits and vegetables, and add more foods which are cooling, such as beans and barley, which will help to bind your stool and improve your gastrointestinal health.

Herbal Remedies

Using herbal gastrointestinal remedies like turmeric, ginger, milk thistle and mint to quickly re-balance the fauna in your gut can optimize the health of your liver and gallbladder.

Yellow Baby Poop

Yellow stool in infants can indicate a shorter transit time of food through the intestinal tract. Different colours (mainly dark) can indicate that processing time is slowing. It is common for stool to change colours. If you notice blood in stool or diarrhoea, you should contact your doctor immediately, as these may lead to a serious health issue.

Reference

https://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/qa/what-does-yellow-poop-mean

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323147.php