It’s a universal experience – everyone poops. And while it’s never going to be a bouquet of roses, sometimes you might notice your bowel movements have taken a turn for the exceptionally smelly. This can be alarming, prompting you to wonder if something is wrong.
The good news is that, most of the time, a particularly pungent poop smell is linked to your diet and is likely not a cause for major concern. “Diet plays a significant role in stool odor by influencing the types of bacteria present in the gut,” explains Dr. Daniel Freedberg, a gastroenterologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center. “Different bacteria produce different gases, and these gases are responsible for the odors we perceive, both pleasant and unpleasant.”
However, diet isn’t the only factor. There are several other potential reasons why your stool might be smelling particularly foul. Why.edu.vn consulted with leading gastroenterologists to break down the possible reasons behind excessively smelly poop.
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Alcohol Consumption
If you’ve had a night out with a few too many drinks, you might notice a less-than-pleasant smell emanating from the bathroom the next morning. According to Dr. Christine Lee, a gastroenterologist at Cleveland Clinic, high blood alcohol levels can impact various organs, including the stomach and intestines. This disruption can alter gut motility (the movement of food through your system), the permeability of the intestinal wall, and the delicate balance of prebiotics and probiotics in your gut flora.
These effects can lead to loose stools, diarrhea, and a noticeable change in stool odor. Furthermore, alcoholic beverages contain sulfates. “The higher the sulfate intake, the more sulfur is available for bacteria in the colon to convert into sulfide gases,” Dr. Lee explains. Sulfide gases are notorious for their offensive stench, contributing significantly to bad-smelling poop.
Medications
Certain medications can also disrupt your gut environment and affect stool odor. Antibiotics, for example, are designed to kill bacteria, and they can inadvertently wipe out beneficial gut bacteria along with harmful ones. This imbalance can alter the composition of gases produced in your colon. Hormone medications and other prescriptions can also influence gut bacteria, speed up or slow down digestion, or lead to malabsorption of nutrients, all of which can result in smelly diarrhea, as Dr. Lee points out.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance is a common condition where the body struggles to digest lactose, the sugar found in dairy products. When someone with lactose intolerance consumes dairy, the undigested lactose travels through the digestive system, leading to various symptoms, including gas and diarrhea. And yes, this diarrhea can be particularly foul-smelling.
“In lactose intolerance, the undigested lactose ferments in the intestine, causing a nasty, smelly, malabsorptive diarrhea,” says Dr. Lee. If you suspect lactose intolerance, pay attention to whether your bad-smelling poop occurs after consuming dairy products.
Supplements
While supplements are intended to boost your health, some can inadvertently contribute to bad-smelling stool. Certain supplements, such as glucosamine, chondroitin, and garlic, are naturally high in sulfate. As Dr. Lee clarifies, “Bacteria in the colon break down these sulfates into sulfide gases.” These sulfide gases are the same culprits responsible for the unpleasant odor associated with bad poop smells.
High-Sulfur Foods
Just as sulfate-rich supplements and alcohol can affect stool odor, so too can foods naturally high in sulfur. This category includes cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale, as well as dairy, eggs, and meat.
“Sulfur is an essential element in our diet, and consuming foods rich in sulfates can increase sulfur gas production in the gut,” explains Dr. Lee. While these sulfur-containing foods are part of a healthy diet, they can contribute to both smelly gas and bad-smelling poop.
High-Fat Diet
A diet excessively high in fat can overwhelm your digestive system. Your gut might struggle to properly break down and absorb all the fat consumed. “Undigested fat is then passed along to the colon in its unabsorbed state. This results in smelly diarrhea with a very high-fat content, known as steatorrhea,” Dr. Lee states. Steatorrhea is characterized by loose, oily stools that are often pale and have a particularly pungent odor.
Gut Diseases and Infections
If you are experiencing consistently foul-smelling poop, especially if it is accompanied by diarrhea and you are not consuming a high-fat diet, it could be a sign of an underlying gut disease or infection.
According to StatPearls, steatorrhea, characterized by loose, large volume, and pale stools, can be indicative of conditions like Celiac disease or pancreatic diseases. “[Unabsorbed fat in your stool] could be a signal of Celiac disease or pancreatic issues,” Dr. Freedberg emphasizes.
Intestinal infections, such as Clostridium difficile (C. diff), can also be a cause of exceptionally foul-smelling diarrhea. “Infections in your colon, like Clostridium difficile, can produce a very distinctive foul-smelling diarrhea,” Dr. Lee notes.
Sugar Alcohols
Sugar-free foods and chewing gums often contain sugar alcohols like sorbitol. While these sugar substitutes can help reduce calorie intake, they can also lead to digestive issues and contribute to bad-smelling poop. Sorbitol acts as a laxative by drawing water into the large intestine, which can induce diarrhea. “Sorbitol, in particular, works as a laxative… and it generally has a stinking smell,” says Dr. Lee.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
While occasional bad-smelling poop is usually not a cause for alarm, “vile-smelling poop can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying issue,” warns Dr. Lee. There are certain red flags that warrant a call or visit to your healthcare provider.
The first is the presence of blood in your stool. “Blood in the GI tract often has a distinctively foul smell and may cause the stool to appear black in color and have a sticky, tar-like texture,” explains Dr. Lee.
Additionally, if you notice consistently fatty or oily stools (steatorrhea), it is important to discuss this with your healthcare provider to rule out conditions like celiac disease or gastrointestinal infections.
Significant changes in stool size, color, frequency, or experiencing pain during bowel movements are also reasons to seek medical advice. Don’t hesitate to consult your healthcare provider if you are concerned about changes in your bowel habits or the smell of your poop. They can provide proper diagnosis and guidance.
