When Should You Be Worried About Undigested Food in Your Poop?

There may not always be a cause for concern.

Medically reviewed by Sonal Kumar, MD, MPH

Your stool color and quality can serve as indicators of your health or lifestyle. For example, undigested food in your poop may appear due to a high-fiber diet. However, undigested food in your stool with other symptoms, like diarrhea or cramping, warrants medical attention. Read on to learn more.

The Basics of Digestion

Part of excellent digestive health is having a digestive system that works at its best. The digestive system is made of a few different organs, including the:

• Mouth and salivary glands

• Esophagus

• Stomach

• Liver

• Gallbladder

• Appendix

• Pancreas

• Small and large intestines

• Rectum and anus
  

Your digestive system works to help provide your body with nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, from what you eat or drink.

The body goes about the digestive process with the help of hormones and nerves. Digestion begins as food or drinks enter your mouth and continues as your body moves what you eat or drink through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to your large intestine.

What Is the GI Tract?

The GI tract is made up of hollow organs that are connected within the body. It contains the majority of the digestive system organs with the exception of the:

• Liver

• Gallbladder

• Pancreas

The GI tract breaks those nutrients down so the body can absorb and use those smaller parts for things the body needs. For example, carbs may be turned into simple sugars for energy use.

Once your body has digested whatever you've consumed and absorbed any nutrients, any waste products make up your poop—which is when undigested food might appear in your stool.

When Not To Worry About Undigested Food in Your Poop

A healthy stool may look different from person to person. Poop should generally be a shade of brown and soft and compact enough that it's easy to pass. The occasional undigested food in your otherwise normal-looking stool is typically nothing to fret about.

Part of the reason there may be undigested food in your poop is based on the food you eat. For example, foods high in fiber can sometimes be hard to digest. These might include foods such as:

• Corn

• Leafy greens

• Nuts

• Grains

Of note, there are enzymes—natural complex proteins that lead to chemical changes in the body—in the body that help break down food. However, high-fiber foods often pass through you only partially digested. The enzymes in your digestive system don't break dietary fiber down fully.

What Conditions Could Lead To Undigested Food?

Sometimes, food may be passing through your intestine too fast. This can result in portions of food in your stool. Another outcome of fast digestion is diarrhea, when you have loose or watery stools. Diarrhea is a symptom of several conditions, including:

• Celiac disease

• Crohn's disease

• Dumping syndrome

• Food allergies or intolerances

• GI infections

• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO)

• Ulcerative colitis (UC)
  

You might see undigested food if you have any of those conditions.

Other Symptoms To Watch For

You should tell a healthcare provider if undigested food in your poop routinely happens with diarrhea.

Certain viral gastrointestinal infections like gastroenteritis can speed up the transit time of stool moving through your digestive tract and lead to diarrhea.

Diarrhea may also indicate that your intestine is not absorbing nutrients properly, which can result from celiac disease or Crohn's disease.

You should also see a healthcare provider if you're experiencing cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, or blood in stools. In those situations, you may have a food intolerance, allergy, or IBS.

Risks of Improper Digestion

Inadequate food digestion can lead to undigested food in your poop, but there are other possible risks if food is not digested properly.

Malabsorption

Another risk of improper digestion is malabsorption. The condition consists of a lack of proper absorption, digestion, or transportation of nutrients. Malabsorption may result in the following:

• Anemia

• GI symptoms like bloating and diarrhea

• Stool changes such as fatty, odorous stools

• Unintentional weight loss

• Wound healing issues

Bezoars

Packed collections of partially digested or undigested substances are known as bezoars. Bezoars are commonly found in the stomach and don't usually have symptoms. In rare cases, the packed material can lead to complications like GI bleeding and intestinal obstruction.

Tips for Proper Eating and Digestion

Making changes to how you eat can help with digestion. Some eating tips include:

• Chew your food as much as possible

• Slow down when you eat

• Take smaller bites of food or cut food into smaller pieces

There are also ways to ensure that your body can digest food properly, such as:

• Adding enough fiber, as well as fruits and vegetables, into your diet

• Drinking plenty of water

• Managing stress

• Creating a meal routine (e.g., trying to eat at the same times every day)
  

• Consuming probiotic-rich foods (e.g., yogurt, kefir)

These are all smart steps to keep your digestive tract running smoothly and your stool looking "normal."

A Quick Review

At times, undigested food can be in your poop. This might be due to eating high-fiber foods as part of your diet, which are sometimes harder to digest.

However, if high-fiber food is not responsible for undigested food in your stool, a digestive issue, including food allergies or intolerances, could be the reason. If you're unsure of the reason, it's best to see a healthcare provider who can determine the possible causes.

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Read the original article on Health.