You’ve probably had foul-smelling stools on occasion throughout your life. You may believe this is normal because these are waste products from the food you ate. But what if the bad odor persists with each stool? You are not alone; this is a situation that many people face at some point. “What causes this smell?” is the major question. Could this be something you ate, or is it a sign of something more serious? The truth is that the reasons for smelly stool are numerous and frequently interrelated. In this article, we’ll look at the dietary and underlying cause of smelly stools
Common Causes Related to Diet
Sulfur-rich foods: These foods (eggs, onions, vegetables etc.) taste stale and smell bad after eating. When ingested, they have the potential to release a powerful sulfur stench in stool as they decompose in the digestive tract.
Fatty foods: When high fat foods like pizza, fried chicken, and sandwiches etc. are eaten, the gut bacteria begin to break down undigested fats in the colon. This break down in the colon may begin to produce strong foul smell.
Food intolerances: Conditions like lactose intolerance and gluten sensitivity can both cause fermentation in the gut. When food like milk, cheese, or baked goods undergo fermentation process, this can produce a foul-smelling gas and feces.
Artificial sweeteners: Bloating, foul-smelling gas, and feces can be the result of consuming too many artificial sweeteners, particularly sugar alcohols like sorbitol and mannitol, which are present in many sugar-free products.
Potential Underlying Medical Conditions
Digestive infections: When parasites or pathogenic bacteria enter the digestive system, they have the potential to upset the delicate balance of good and bad bacteria that exists in the stomach. Often, while the body attempts to rid itself of this infection, this disturbance causes foul-smelling diarrhea.
Antibiotic use: Although antibiotics are life-saving medications when a person is sick, their use can have negative effects on gut health. They remove both good and bad bacteria, making space for harmful bacteria to briefly gain control.
Fortunately, the gut bacteria normally recover and the stool stench usually becomes better once the antibiotic prescription is finished.
Are There Other Contributing Factors?
Indeed, there are more factors that could be causing your stool to smell. It’s difficult for your body to maintain a healthy digestive system when you don’t drink enough water. This may result in hard, dry stool that stays in your colon longer than it should, intensifying and aggravating the foul smell.
Unbelievably, certain drugs can cause digestive problems and even alter the odor of your feces. Regardless of whether the drug is over-the-counter or prescribed, you should be aware of any possible adverse effects, such as alterations in the odor of your stool.
The Point
It’s likely that you have occasionally experienced foul-smelling stools in your lifetime. You are not alone in this; many people have experienced something similar at some point. The main question is, “What causes this smell?” Stools that smell bad can be caused by certain food choices, underlying medical conditions, dehydration, or medication side effects.
