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Read Dr. Elena Krasnov's Weekly Column in the Health & Fitness section of the 24 Hours Magazine. Look for new articles every week!

Monday, November 03, 2008

The Colors of Unhealthy Digestion

Q: Dear Elena: For the past three weeks I have been having very painful bowel movements. The color of my stool looks like black tar. I heard that you can tell a lot about your health with the color of your stool. Is this true? Should I be concerned?

A: Stool comes in a range of colors. According to the Mayo Clinic all shades of brown and even green are considered normal. Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition.

Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile (a yellow-green fluid that digests fats) in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes, changing the pigments from green to brown.

If your stool is bright red or black it may indicate the presence of blood and you should seek prompt medical attention. Black colored stool may indicate bleeding in the upper GI such as stomach region. Nutritional supplements containing high levels of iron can also color your stool black. Taking an over the counter drug for digestive upsets will also do the same.

It sounds that you are having problems with digestion. Your bowel movements should be lighter in color and come out smoothly. I think that if you do a bowel cleanse using some fiber supplement and perhaps a liver stimulant such as Artichoke or Dandelion extract you may feel better and your bowel movements will look healthier. If you rule out bleeding (this can be done easily by your doctor) then rest easy. Just keeping your diet healthy and liver cleansed is probably all you need to worry about.

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Dr. Elena Krasnov is a registered Naturopathic Doctor and Clinic Director of the Toronto Naturopathic Clinic. Submit your questions online at 24hrs.ca

Co-written by Miranda Tallon-Malisani Holistic Nutritionist