Dark green stool in adults

It’s not anyone’s favorite dinner conversation—but everybody poops. And while talking about what happens in your smelly trips to the bathroom can be a bit taboo, the color and texture of your poop can say a lot about your overall health.

So, when your bowel movements have a greenish hue, you may find yourself asking, “What does green poop mean?”

Meet the Experts: Wendi LeBrett, M.D., Los Angeles-based gastroenterologist; Haleh Pazwash, M.D., gastroenterologist at Gastroenterology Associates of New Jersey; Niket Sonpal, M.D., a New York City-based internist and gastroenterologist.

Turns out, there are many possible reasons as to why your stool may be sporting an olive, lime, or emerald shade.

Here, GI experts explain what green poop means, when to be concerned about the color of your poop, and when to see a doctor.

Causes of green poop

Eating green foods

This is the most common cause of green poop.

“Green stool is usually the result of a high quantity of leafy, green vegetables in one’s diet,” says