There's a lot of focus on what goes into our bodies, but it's also important to pay attention to what comes out. Our stool, urine and vomit can hold a lot of clues about our underlying health.
The body has an intricate waste system involving multiple organs, including the intestines, liver and kidneys. It works to retain essential nutrients and dispose of anything our body doesn't need. Undigested food, metabolic byproducts and toxins all get excreted in the form of feces and urine.
Our excrement can be an indicator that we're healthy, hydrated and eating a nutritious diet — but it can also signal underlying diseases, infections, and even cancers.
No two poops, or pees, are the same. However, it's important to be aware of what your “normal” is so you know when significant changes occur.
"There are a lot of people who never look at their stool ever, and I always tell people, don’t be afraid, take a look at what is coming out of you," Dr. Felice Schnoll-Sussman, a gastroenterologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian, tells TODAY.com.
"It really is a window into your health, but no one’s going to know about your stools aside from you," says Schnoll-Sussman.
Similarly, you should examine your urine before flushing, Dr. Seth Cohen, a urologist at NYU Langone Health, tells TODAY.com.
Here are the top red flags you really don't want to see in the toilet bowl, and when to see a doctor.
Bloody Stools
"The most alarming thing would be blood in the toilet bowl ... it's never normal to see blood," says Schnoll-Sussman.
Of course, always rule out harmless culprits of red (non-bloody) stools such as beets and food dyes.
Bloody stools can indicate a range of conditions, from mild skin tears to more serious illnesses.
More commonly, the bleeding is from the lower digestive tract, in the anus or the rectum, Schnoll-Sussman says. Fissures and hemorrhoids can bleed during bowel movements. These are often associated with pain or itching, and you may see blood while wiping.
Darker red stools could indicate a problem higher up in the intestines, Schnoll-Sussman says, such as a diverticular bleed, infection, or an inflammatory bowel disease.
"Another major concern is colon cancer ... it can cause bleeding," says Schnoll-Sussman. Blood in the stool does not always mean cancer, she adds, but it's worth getting checked out in case.
Black, Tarry Stools
Black, tarry stools, also known as melena, are not something you want to see in your toilet.
"Tarry means, when you wipe, it's coming off almost pasty and dry," says Schnoll-Sussman. The black stool may also appear sticky and shiny, like a black leather shoe, and smell foul. "It's different from any odor you've ever smelled ... it's very musty, very pungent," Schnoll-Sussman says.
Black, tarry stool can indicate a bleed higher up in the digestive tract, in the esophagus or the stomach. "The blood is passing through the entire GI tract, which is what gives it that dark color," she adds.
Black stools can sometimes be caused by certain foods, like black licorice, as well as iron pills and supplements containing bismuth, per Medline Plus.
White, Clay-Colored Stools
Generally speaking, a normal poop is some shade of brown.
"If all of a sudden you have stools that look like they are gray or a pale white, clay color, that could indicate that there might be some issue with the liver, the gallbladder or the bile ducts," says Schnoll-Sussman.
Pale stools are often caused by a lack of bile, a digestive fluid that contains bilirubin, which gives poop its brown color, per the Cleveland Clinic. Pale stools could indicate an underlying problem such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, bile duct blockages, gallstones and pancreatitis.
An occasional lighter brown poop isn't always a cause for concern, but persistent pale stools warrant getting checked out. "It's usually very obvious, it's not subtle," says Schnoll-Sussman.
Greasy, Oily Floating Stools
If you see greasy, oily, floating stools, take note.
"It could be a sign of you having some malabsorption, meaning that there's more fat in the stools, so instead of dropping to the bottom of the toilet bowl, they're floating," says Schnoll-Sussman.
The floating stools may also be foul-smelling, foamy and difficult to flush.
Also known as steatorrhea, this can occur when the body has trouble breaking down and absorbing fats due to a problem with the digestion system, per the Cleveland Clinic.
"It can be related to a lot of different things," says Schnoll-Sussman. These include disorders of the pancreas and liver, Celiac or Crohn's disease and intestinal infections.
Hard, Pellet-like Poop
"If all of a sudden it feels like you are passing rocks and pebbles, it could be a sign of constipation," says Schnoll-Sussman.
Healthy poop is typically soft, log-shaped and easy to pass. Hard, dry, pellet-like stool has usually been backed up in the colon for too long, where the body absorbs too much water, per the Mayo Clinic.
In most cases, constipation is temporary and related to lifestyle issues, such as not drinking enough water or eating enough fiber. It's very common to experience travel-related constipation, Schnoll-Sussman says.
Some medications and supplements, such as iron and calcium, can make you constipated, she adds. Pelvic floor dysfunction, neurological disorders and blockages could also cause hard, pellet-like stools.
It's important not to ignore constipation, which can lead to more severe issues like fissures, fecal impaction or bowel obstruction.
Bloody Urine
Similar to stools, you don't want to see bloody urine, aka hematuria. "Hematuria may appear as pink, red or cola-colored urine," says Cohen.
Even minimal amounts of blood in the urine can indicate a serious issue.
"Pink or red urine may suggest underlying conditions such as urinary tract infection, kidney stones or tumors," says Cohen. Other possible causes include menstruation, strenuous physical activity, dietary changes and certain medications, he adds. Rarely, it can be a symptom of bladder cancer.
But if you’ve eaten beets or a lot of blackberries recently, don’t panic because these also turn pee red.
"If the discoloration is not attributable to food (or) medications, persistent red urine should be medically evaluated," says Cohen.
Dark Brown Urine
Never ignore urine that looks dark brown or orange.
Most often, it's a sign of severe dehydration, Cohen says. This occurs because the body retains more water, which concentrates the pigments in urine.
"Brown, cola-colored, or tea-colored urine may (also) indicate liver disease, hepatitis, muscle breakdown," says Cohen.
Biliary disorders can cause dark brown or orange urine due to elevated bilirubin levels, he adds.
Tea-colored urine is a classic sign of rhabdomyolysis, a severe form of muscle breakdown often caused by intense physical activity, trauma or drug toxicity.
Brown urine may result from blood due to kidney stones or UTIs, Cohen notes, as well as certain medications and vitamins. (It can also result from eating rhubarb or fava beans).
Cloudy, Murky Urine
Healthy urine should be clear. If it's cloudy, murky or milky, this is not normal.
"White or cloudy urine is often indicative of infection," says Cohen. Common culprits are UTIs and bladder infections, which may also cause a foul odor, he adds.
Fortunately, UTIs are very treatable with antibiotics. But if left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys, where it can cause life-threatening complications.
Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia and gonorrhea can cause murky urine and require prompt treatment.
Cloudy urine may also results from diabetes, interstitial cystitis and medications, per the Cleveland Clinic.
Bloody, "Coffee Grounds" Vomit
"Nobody wants to vomit, and usually something is not good if you are vomiting," says Schnoll-Sussman. While vomiting itself isn’t necessarily “healthy,” there is certainly unhealthy vomit.
If you notice blood in your vomit, which may appear as bright red, maroon, or dark speckled spots resembling coffee grounds, it's a serious red flag.
"If there's blood in the vomitus, it's because there’s blood somewhere in the GI tract," says Schnoll-Sussan. This can include a tear or burst blood vessel in the esophagus, bleeding in the stomach due to an ulcer or irritation, or liver problems.
Liver disease can cause the blood vessels in the esophagus (esophageal varices), which can burst and cause bloody vomit, says Schnoll-Sussman. This type of bleed is life-threatening.
If you're vomiting blood, always seek medical attention.
When To See A Doctor
Most of the time, changes in our excrement are temporary and not a major cause for concern.
However, if you notice a significant or persistent difference in your stool or urine, it's always a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider, the experts note.
“Any significant change that stays, especially if it’s associated with symptoms like pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, or weight loss, should be evaluated,” says Schnoll-Sussman.
