What Are the Most Common Causes of Green Diarrhea?

Green diarrhea is generally not a cause for serious concern and is usually caused by the types of food an individual has eaten, or the medication he has taken. The human body passes along any portion of undigested food out through the bowels, which can sometimes retain the food's original color. This symptom can occasionally be a sign of a more serious problem, such as bacteria living in the gastrointestinal tract. This condition often resolves itself without treatment or medication.

Diarrhea is typically defined as a loose, somewhat liquid bowel movement. This symptom alone can occur for a variety of health related reasons, and many times is not indicative of a more serious illness. It is often accompanied by mild stomach cramping and excessive gas. Individuals experiencing any type of diarrhea should increase their water intake and contact a medical professional if symptoms continue for longer than 24 hours.

Green diarrhea is often a result of the types and colors of foods that a person has recently eaten. Toddlers, whose digestive systems are still in the process of maturing and are unable to process all that children eat, may exhibit this symptom if they have recently eaten a green vegetable. Peas, green beans, zucchini, and occasionally blueberries can all result in the appearance of a green tinged bowel movement in the diaper that may be loose. These foods are also high in fiber and can increase the amount of stool present. Orange and yellow colored foods tend to have similar discoloring affects.

Some medications can cause green diarrhea and dark bowel movements. Many common, over the counter treatments for stomach discomforts, such as cramping, diarrhea, and nausea, contain the element bismuth. When this element is combined with the naturally occurring sulfur that appears in saliva and the digestive system, it can form bismuth sulfide, which is dark in color. This compound is then passed through the bowels and into the stool, and can occasionally cause the tongue to appear greenish or black as well.

This symptom may also be the result of food poisoning, which is bacteria present in the stomach, intestines, or bowels. Salmonella is one of the most frequently treated types of bacterial diseases that affects the digestive tract. This bacteria can be passed along from one infected person to the next by eating or drinking meat and water that have been contaminated. Green diarrhea is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. The symptoms of food poisoning tend to pass on their own as the bacteria is expelled from the body, though more serious cases occasionally require some medication.