What does white poop mean?

White stool isn't normal and should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. White or clay-like stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem. Bile is a digestive fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder.
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What foods cause white poop?

If stools are white, gray, or pale, a person may have an issue with the liver or gallbladder as pale stools suggest a lack of bile. Some anti-diarrhea medications cause white stools. Spinach, kale, or other green foods can cause green poop.
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Can dehydration cause white poop?

Symptoms of dehydration such as decreased urination, increased thirst, fatigue, and light-headedness, also require immediate medical care. Seek prompt medical care if you have white stool unless a specific cause, such as prolonged antacid use or a recent barium study, can be identified.
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Is white stool an emergency?

White stool isn't normal and should be evaluated promptly by a doctor. White or clay-like stool is caused by a lack of bile, which may indicate a serious underlying problem.
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What color is your stool if you have liver problems?

Considerations. The liver releases bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. You may have clay-colored stools if you have a liver infection that reduces bile production, or if the flow of bile out of the liver is blocked. Yellow skin (jaundice) often occurs with clay-colored stools.
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White Poop is Scary... Here's What's Happening...



What does light color poop mean?

Light-colored, white or clay-colored. A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Certain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs.
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Can anxiety cause pale stools?

Anxiety does not specifically affect the color of stool, but it can affect how food moves through the digestive tract.
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Why does my poop look GREY?

The stool can be gray or clay-colored if it contains little or no bile. The pale color may signify a condition (biliary obstruction) where the flow of bile to the intestine is obstructed, such as obstruction of the bile duct from a tumor or gallstone in the duct or nearby pancreas.
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What color is stool with pancreatitis?

Disorders that affect the pancreas

Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, a blockage in the pancreatic duct, or cystic fibrosis can also turn your stool yellow. These conditions prevent your pancreas from providing enough of the enzymes your intestines need to digest food.
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What are the 7 types of poop?

Bristol stool chart
  • Type 1: Marbles. Appearance: Hard and separate little lumps that look like nuts and are hard to pass. ...
  • Type 2: Caterpillar. Appearance: Log-shaped but lumpy. ...
  • Type 3: Hot dog. Appearance: Log-shaped with some cracks on the surface. ...
  • Type 4: Snake. ...
  • Type 5: Amoebas. ...
  • Type 6: Soft serve. ...
  • Type 7: Jackson Pollock.
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How do you treat pale stools?

Since the clay-colored or pale stool is usually a result of an underlying health condition, doctors will focus on helping the patient treat and manage the condition. If malabsorption of fats is causing the clay-colored stool, then a change in diet and vitamin supplements are often prescribed.
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What color is your poop if you have gallbladder problems?

Gallbladder issues often lead to changes in digestion and bowel movements. Unexplained and frequent diarrhea after meals can be a sign of chronic Gallbladder disease. Stools may become light-colored or chalky if bile ducts are obstructed.
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Is peanut butter colored poop normal?

Stools should be brown, have a peanut-butter texture, and look like a sausage. If you have abnormal colors, it may be due to something you ingested. But it may also be due to serious illness. If it's abnormal once, it's likely nothing to worry about.
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Can virus cause pale stools?

Viruses were found by EM in 11 (55%) of the pale or fatty stools; eight rotaviruses, two astroviruses and an uncultivable adenovirus were seen; one further patient had acute jaundice.
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Why is my poop beige?

If your liver is not producing enough bile, or if the flow of the bile is blocked and not draining from your liver, your stools may become pale or clay-colored. Having pale stools once in a while may not be a cause for concern. If it occurs frequently, you may have a serious illness.
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Why is my poop clay color?

But when your poop color is consistently too light, it is something that you should discuss with a healthcare provider. Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may result from many things. Sometimes a lack of bile or a blockage in the bile ducts can result in light-colored stools.
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What are the signs of bowel problems?

What are common symptoms of bowel disorders?
  • discomfort or pain in your abdomen.
  • gas and abdominal bloating.
  • nausea.
  • diarrhea.
  • constipation.
  • vomiting.
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What color is a healthy poop?

Normal Poop Color

Poop is normally brown. The color is the result of what you eat and how much bile is in your stool. Bile is a fluid your liver makes to digest fats. It starts out as a yellowish green color.
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What are the symptoms of a blocked bile duct?

Symptoms may include:
  • Abdominal pain in the upper right side.
  • Dark urine.
  • Fever.
  • Itching.
  • Jaundice (yellow skin color)
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Pale-colored stools.
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What are the symptoms of lack of bile?

People who don't produce and store enough bile salts, possibly because they've had their gallbladder removed, can experience:
  • diarrhea.
  • trapped gas.
  • bad-smelling gas.
  • stomach cramps.
  • erratic bowel movements.
  • weight loss.
  • pale-colored stools.
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Can gallstones cause pale stools?

It is produced in your liver, stored in your gallbladder, and released into your intestines. If bile is prevented from getting into your intestines, this can cause persistent pale or clay/grey-colored stool.
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How do you unblock your bile duct?

Surgical procedures like gallbladder removal or cholecystectomy may be required to treat biliary obstruction caused by recurring gallstones. For bile duct obstruction caused by cancer, your doctor will widen and drain your bile ducts using endoscopy or by inserting a needle through your skin.
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What does stress poop look like?

Anxiety poop may also be linked to an underlying condition, Eid says. Warning signs to look out for include: blood in your stool. black, tar-colored stool.
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Should your poop float or sink?

Healthy Poop (Stool) Should Sink in the Toilet

Floating stools are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can't absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you're ingesting.
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What your poop says about your gut health?

It may sound gross, but paying attention to your bowel movements is actually pretty important. Your bowel habits are a strong indicator of your digestive health. Changes in the color, shape and texture of your stool can reveal signs of infection, digestive issues or more serious health problems, such as cancer.
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