Eating a new food or food that gives you a lot of gas can make your poop less dense, resulting in floating stools. After a day or so, this typically goes away on its own. Floating poop can sometimes be a symptom of a gastrointestinal infection or a stomach bug. These, too, tend to be temporary and will go away on their own. Another symptom of malabsorption is weight loss. Floating poop can also be a symptom of irritable bowel syndrome IBS. IBS has other symptoms, too, such as:. Healthy stool is brown.
This is because bile from your digestive organs tints the color of your poop. This can be a sign of:. It can also indicate hemorrhoids or gastrointestinal bleeding. In some cases, red poop can be a warning sign of colorectal polyps or intestinal cancer. Your feces will typically appear in formed logs with a clay-like consistency.
Narrow, snake-shaped poop is also considered normal. Your poop can be large, small, short, or long: All these shapes fall on the spectrum of normal. Unpleasant-smelling poop is the result of bacteria and food decay. Poop that smells earthy or musty is typical and normal. Taking antibiotics changes the microbiota in your gut. This can result in foul-smelling stool.
If you menstruate, your poop may have a distinct and powerful odor during your period which is totally normal. You may also experience foul-smelling stool in addition to diarrhea if you take more than the recommended dose of a multivitamin or supplement. This, too, will resolve on its own in a day or two. If your poop is especially smelly and accompanied by other symptoms, you may need to contact your doctor.
Bacterial infections like E. That way, you can test if those foods contribute to floating stools. Your healthcare provider may also suggest that you keep a record of the foods you eat and your bowel movements. A record can help your healthcare provider see if there's a pattern or connection between the food you eat and your stools. If you're not able to absorb fat properly, you may have a condition called steatorrhea that can cause your stool to float.
The treatment for steatorrhea depends on the primary condition behind it. For instance, steatorrhea can be caused by a condition called cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis treatment often involves digestive enzyme supplements similar to those your pancreas normally releases. If a certain food makes gas worse, you might not have to avoid it. You can find enzyme supplements over the counter. These supplements can help you digest certain foods, such as beans and milk. Eating smaller portions can also help.
Many foods that can cause gas also have positive traits. Beans, for instance, have about 10 grams of fiber per cup and are rich in antioxidants. Rather than avoiding these foods, try:.
Most of the time, excessive gas is the reason why your stool is floating. Certain foods you eat can give you gas. The main culprits are lactose in milk products, soluble fiber, or sugars in food. That could be raffinose in beans, fructose in fruit, or sorbitol in prunes. But certain conditions can also cause excessive gas or malabsorption, which results in your poop floating.
Consult your healthcare provider if you're experiencing other symptoms or if your problem doesn't go away. Having floating poop from time to time is quite common and often food-related. Many times, excessive gas is the issue.
If the problem appears to be regular or you notice other symptoms , talk to your healthcare provider. You may think it's embarrassing, but your healthcare provider hears about issues like this all the time. They can help identify any underlying conditions that might be causing stool changes.
Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Are floating stools associated with specific functional bowel disorders? Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. Pham A, Forsmark C. Chronic pancreatitis: review and update of etiology, risk factors, and management.
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Signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer. Updated February 11, Efficacy and safety of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency: a meta-analysis. Dietary fibre in foods: a review.
J Food Sci Technol. Am Fam Physician. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.
At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Your primary care provider can determine if there are any problems with your digestive system by performing a physical exam and lab or imagining tests. The important thing is staying regular. If your pooping habits seem to suddenly become more or less frequent, that can be a cause for concern.
Not only can it be inconvenient, it can mean that your body is trying to get rid of something in your digestive system. Diarrhea in children — especially infants — can be particularly dangerous because they can get dehydrated quickly and become very sick. If you only have three or fewer bowel movements per week, constipation could point to issues with your diet. If your poop never seems to sink in the toilet bowl, that can be a reflection of your diet and certain health conditions.
Floating poop can be caused by:. Your poop may not smell like flowers, but the odor of your poop should be familiar.
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