4 common causes of black stools

In fact, our stools come in many different colors depending on many factors. Stools can be yellow, white, green, or black. The color of stool reveals a lot about health, according to the health website Verywell Health (USA).

Eating a lot of black foods like licorice will cause black stools.

In many cases, black stools are not caused by disease but by the following factors:

Due to iron supplementation

The body needs iron to make hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the muscles and everywhere else in the body. So getting enough iron is important for good health.

Many people are advised to take iron supplements, such as capsules, tablets, or liquids, because they cannot get enough iron from their daily diet. One of the benign side effects of iron supplements is that the stools turn black or green.

Eat food with colorants

Artificial food colors are found in many candies, drinks, and other processed foods. They pass through the digestive tract virtually unchanged.

Therefore, when defecating, these food colorings are excreted and still retain their color. Eating foods containing a lot of artificial black food coloring, black stools are completely normal. This is especially common in children than adults because children often eat candy.

Use activated carbon

Activated charcoal is a black, odorless, tasteless powder that is widely used in food processing and many other items. In fact, activated charcoal has the effect of supporting kidney function, reducing blood cholesterol levels and whitening teeth.

Activated charcoal is also used to absorb toxins and chemicals if accidentally swallowed. Therefore, charcoal tablets are often used to treat drug overdoses or emergency treatment due to poisoning. Because of its black color, people who take activated charcoal will see their stools turn black.

Eat dark foods

Not only foods with dyes but also some naturally black foods can cause black stools. Foods such as black licorice, black cranberries, and animal blood, if eaten in large amounts, can cause black stools.

However, if the stool is still black even after stopping eating the above foods, you should see a doctor immediately to screen for underlying diseases, according to Verywell Health.

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