Look, we all know that poop is not supposed to smellgood.
A stench that overpowers whats already considered pungent must signal something is wrong, right?
Most of the time, a foul scent alone isnt indicative of anything worrisome.
There are many reasons why your poop may smell bad.
What causes foul-smelling poop?
When these foods move undigested into the large intestine, sulfur-metabolizing bacteria venture to break it all down.
Being dehydrated increases your propensity to be constipated, Dr. Lee says.
That said, some foods better aid in digestion than others.
The next thing you want to consider is whether you might have aviral, bacterial, or parasitic infection.
This can cause uniquely foul-smelling stool.
Some supplements, like fish oil, can also result in a smellier-than-usual bowel movement, adds Dr. Lee.
This is because certain nutrients can attach to undigested fat in your stool, causing it to stink8.
Poop that contains excess fat produces more gas, which makes it especially foul-smelling.
Your metabolism serves to convert food into energy and remove toxins from the body.
A metabolic disorder is when the process of either becomes disrupted and leads to a series of chain reactions.
The result is malabsorption and foul-smelling stool.
If your stool is black, youre likely having issues in your upper digestive tract, she says.
If its bright red, the problem is probably in the lower portion, particularly the colon or rectum.
Should I worry about having a parasite in my poop?
Whether you actually have a parasitic infection can only be confirmed through stool testing, according to Dr. Lee.
She typically looks for fever and acute onset diarrhea before sending a sample for parasitic testing.
How do I stop my poop from smelling?
The key to less foul-smelling poop is to have a quality bowel movement, Dr. Lee says.
That means one thats not too hard that it resemblesconstipationor too soft that its diarrhea-like.
You also want to feel like youve completely emptied your rectum.
The less you keep inside, the better and healthier you are, she says.
