These sugary alternatives, which are difficult to digest, can have a laxative effect leading to liquidy poops, according to Harvard Health Publishing. In fact, when youre trying to lose weight, your stomach produces more bacteria, which leads to higher levels of hydrogen gas in your digestive tract. Read More. And when it seems like your poop has become extra smelly out of nowhere, its hard not to freak out and Google, Why does my poop smell so bad?. We avoid using tertiary references. And, like the appearance of your poop, there are several things that go into the way your bowel movements smell. When they used a panel of four women to smell poop, they found that each of them detected the smell, but they all seemed to pick up a different smell. And while there are a number of ways to do this, the best way is through regular bowel movements. This is one of the most common intestinal parasitic infections in the U.S., according to the, Bacterial infections like Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, which can be contracted via hospital contamination and antibiotic usage, according to the, Viral infections like rotavirus, which can make poop smell foul, can be transmitted through contaminated food or if you touch a contaminated object and dont wash your hands. But if the stench of your stool suddenly becomes so out-of-this-world, you may wonder, Why does my poop smell so bad? A stench that overpowers whats already considered pungent must signal something is wrong, right? From weight loss to decreased inflammation, intermittent fasting has been linked to a plethora of positives for your body and overall health. But there are other things that also come into play with your overall poop appearance, says Randall Meisner, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Spectrum Health. When youre properly hydrated, that fluid helps your poop move more easily through the digestive tract and facilitates a healthy bowel movement. 6. But what exactly is causing this? If you're noshing on more fruits and veggies, you'll reap the benefits of pooping every day. Additionally, when you lose weight, your body also eliminates toxins and other waste products more efficiently. If you are wondering about the smell, we will explain why you should not be concerned about the smell. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. During this process, more gasses are releasedhence the more pungent smell, says California-based functional medicine physician Yeral Patel, M.D. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Resisting the urge to overeat and avoiding refined sugars and processed foods can help. I specialize in healthy, flavorful recipes that are easy to make at home. So, if you notice your stool smells more pungent only when you eat certain foodsand you have no other symptomsshe suggests monitoring your stool to make sure it returns to baseline. So, if you notice any changes in the appearance of your poop after starting a new diet or weight loss plan, dont be alarmed! Fiber can work in two ways: as a bulking agent in patients who have looser stools and as an osmotic laxative in those who are constipated, Nipaporn Pichetshote, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist at UCLA Health, tells SELF. 8. One September 2015 review in Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology found that healthy adults produce an average of 128 grams (about a quarter pound) of feces per day, but this can range from about 51 to 796 grams (0.1 to 1.75 pounds), based on the individuals studied. Whether it be because of the bacteria that makes it, or because it contains bile and other enzymes. At baseline, the pigment found in bile, which is a fluid your body makes in the liver and is stored in the gallbladder, leads to the general brown color of your poop, says Lori Cogan, D.N.P., assistant professor in the School of Nursing at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. For situational constipation (say, due to traveling or not sleeping), try increasing your water intake and eating easily-digestible foods (baby food consistency), suggests Dr. Nazareth. A healthy poop should be soft and easy to pass, without any straining or discomfort. When you lose weight, you may notice that your bowel movements change. However, its important to remember that everyone is different and there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to how often you should be pooping when trying to lose weight. If you randomly have a super smelly trip to the toilet, but things either end or taper off from there, you really shouldnt stress it. But, when you take antibiotics, it can tweak your bacterial flora which leads to different byproduct, says Aniqa Kohen, MD, a gastroenterologist at Prisma Health. If you're one of the chosen few who can poop without losing a tampon, there's no reason to change your tampon unless you get poop on the string. Feces can contain harmful bacteria and can cause vaginal infections if it accidentally gets on the tampon string. The problem is that pooping can often smell bad because of bacteria in your intestines. This can lead to constipation and fewer bowel movements. So, it may be true that you can improve your sense of smell when you are losing weight. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency. 3 Ways Low-Carb Diets Like Keto Can Change Your Poop (and When to Worry), How a Low-Carb Diet May Affect Your Bowel Habits, Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology, Harvard Health Publishing: Is something in your diet causing diarrhea?, Cleveland Clinic: How Your Diet Can Affect Your Poop Color., Harvard Health Publishing: Should I be eating more fiber?, U.S. National Library of Medicine: "Lactose intolerance", Mayo Clinic: "Diarrhea - Symptoms and Causes", Mayo Clinic: "Dietary Fiber: Essential for a healthy diet", Cleveland Clinic: "Where Does Body Fat Go When You Lose Weight? I have never had this happen before. In general, eating a healthy diet and getting enough exercise will help keep your digestive system and your weight in check. C. diff is spread through skin-to-skin contact, so washing your hands after you use the bathroom is an essential part of minimizing your risk of spreading it. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe several autoimmune conditions like Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis. Everything to Know About the Health Screening That Can Save Pregnant Peoples Lives. A new and unusual smell to your stool can happen for several reasons, from eating something new to an underlying health condition. The result is malabsorption and foul-smelling stool. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. All rights reserved. What might be causing that extra-smelly poop of yours? It depends on several factors: body size; eating habits; how much water you drink ; bowel movement regularity; The average poop weighs around 1/4 pound to 1 pound . "Eating more plant-based foods will increase the amount of soluble fiber in the stool," which will become fluffy, softer and easier to pass, Dr. Sonpal says. Feces is composed of three main things: water, electrolytes, and undigested food particles. If your stool smells, and you arent on antibiotics or havent suffered from a recent infection, we recommend patients keep a journal to see if you can identify any new or regular foods that may correlate with the odorous stool, Dr. Meisner says. "Sometimes if the stool smells very tar-y or very foul smelling, that could be a sign of an infection or it could be a sign of some gastrointestinal bleeding going on," Dr. Islam says. Leila Kia, M.D., is an assistant professor of medicine at Northwestern University. Tenesmus: Which can occur as colon cancer progresses due to the persistent and increasing inflammation. Remission is a sign that your medication plan is working. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. And if you do happen to have an occasional bout of irregularity, dont worry just get back on track with your healthy habits and things should start moving along smoothly again soon enough. While they might cause diarrhea, they can also change the gas in your poop and create a smelly odor, he says. Meanwhile, blueberries can taint your toilet waste a deep blue (or even black) and carrots can cause orange-hued poop. Is it the feces? Stringy period blood usually means you're at the heaviest part of your menstrual cycle. But this isn't the same as what you might see if you eat spinach or take medications such as bismuth or oral iron. If you notice a change in your weight associated with diarrhea, talk to your doctor. 8. We know that poop has a strong smell. Type 2: Hard and lumpy and starting to resemble a sausage. Pooping can help get rid of this excess food and make them feel lighter. Cue the stink. Thats because when you lose weight, youre also losing body fat. Accept Additionally, if someone has a gastrointestinal condition like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), they may find that pooping can help relieve symptoms like bloating and constipation. However, many people are often unaware of the impact of some common habits on their health. I cant tell if I have cramps or need topoop is that normal? Finally, healthy bowel movements mean that all of the nutrients from the food you eat are being absorbed properly, which can help to control hunger levels and prevent overeating. This aspects likely because of your premenstrual eating habits. If theres a divergence in smell (lets say one occurrence), then it could be from something you ate or drank. Its just a natural side effect of shedding those unwanted pounds! Look, we all know that poop is not supposed to smell good. But eating too much of this mighty macro may bind your bum. "Eating more plant-based foods will increase the amount of soluble fiber in the stool," which will become fluffy, softer and easier to pass, Dr. Sonpal says. So if youre looking to shed a few pounds, making sure you have a good poop in the morning may just be one of your best bets! Your Poop Smells Sweet An infection that can lead to a very unpleasant, sweet-smelling stool is C. diff, which can happen when you're taking antibiotics and also includes symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite and stomach pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This process takes place in your intestines, which can lead to more frequent bowel movements. Thats right, the quality of your poop can actually have an impact on how much weight you lose or gain. . So-called flushable wipes arent recommended for your septic system. Foul-smelling poop can happen due to certain foods or medications. If you havent made any changes to your diet but notice a sharp change in the baseline of your stool that is persistent, doesnt improve, or is worsening, that might signal something is off, she says. Fear not. Unfortunately, the human body does not work that way. Some of the illnesses these symptoms can indicate are celiac disease, pancreatitis, Crohns disease, or inflammatory bowel disorder, says Dr. Patel. When these foods move undigested into the large intestine, sulfur-metabolizing bacteria try to break it all down. malabsorption), Dr. Kohen saysan infection, gluten allergy, gut inflammation, and several syndromes. Im Brian Danny Max, a chef and a writer at cookingtom.com. There are no good estimates for how many calories pooping burns, but it's likely to be fairly minimal. Toilet cleaning. Dense proteins which take longer to digest can lead to less frequent bathroom trips and constipation, Dr. Sonpal says. These bile pigments are secreted when you eat and are carried by your digestive tract during food digestion, she says. (More on that in a second. This could lead to weight gain, as well as other health problems. Why Your Farts Smelly Really, Really Terrible, Study: Erythritol May Raise Risk of Heart Disease, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. You may see red, brown, and even black blood during your period. Ad Choices. Pelvic muscles and how things are situated inside make some people more likely to push a tampon out during a bowel movement. Type 3: Sausage-shaped with cracks on the surface. Symptoms of iron deficiency anemia: Occurs in around 48% of people with colon cancer 5. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. Heres what your poop might be trying to tell you about your dietor your overall health. For example, if someone has a lot of undigested food in their intestines, they may feel bloated and uncomfortable. Red or black poop may indicate blood in the stool, while gray stool could signal an issue in the pancreas or bile ducts. Black, Brown, Bright Red, and More: What Does Each Period Blood Color Mean? Any time chronic inflammation occurs in the gut, it can alter the balance of the bacteria, Dr. Navabi says. It occurs when your body does not have the capability to absorb nutrients from. The truth is that feces is not only not harmful but actually beneficial to the health of your baby. Absorption, illness, and medications can cause stool to be a different color. For example, in cystic fibrosis, the disruption comes in the form of thick mucus that blocks the digestive enzymes in the pancreas from reaching the small intestine, according to the Mayo Clinic. Last medically reviewed on January 4, 2021. 8 MS old had 2 bottom teeth half way out he had been waking up middle of night for last 3 weeks and having lots of poop with different smell r related? Her practice focuses on general gastrointestinal disorders (abdominal pain, bleeding, colon cancer), esophageal disorders (swallowing problems and heartburn), and women's gastrointestinal health. The bottom line: Smelly poop is mostly harmless, especially if you dont have any other symptoms. That's likely due to healthy dietary changes on your weight-loss plan. While this is expected, it can make one feel self conscious and have an impact on your social interactions. Along with weight loss but I've noticed the stool vary in color from orange/reddish to green. Meet the experts: Tamika Jaswani is a gastroenterologist at Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas. Technically speaking, if you weigh yourself after a large poop, you'll likely notice a drop in the scale.