Why does my poop smell minty?

Not Medical Advice: As explains by Larry Good, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist affiliated with Concierge Choice Physicians, the odor of BMs always depends on two things: what you eat and the bacteria in the intestinal tract.

There are 10 trillion microorganisms living in the human GI tract. The odor of stool is created by the gases that are produced in the intestine when non-absorbable carbs (fiber) gets fermented. So if your stool seems extra smelly for a day or two, relax: It's probably just something you ate.

According to Healthline, a change in your diet is often the reason for foul-smelling stools; malabsorption is another common cause. Malabsorption occurs when your body is unable to absorb the proper amount of nutrients from the food you eat. This generally occurs when there is an intestinal infection or an intestinal disease that prevents your intestines from absorbing nutrients from your food.

Common causes of malabsorption are:

Celiac disease

Inflammatory bowel disease

Carbohydrate intolerance

Dairy protein and other food allergies

If you have inflammatory bowel disease, also known as IBD, eating certain foods will cause your intestines to become inflamed. People with IBD often complain of foul-smelling diarrhea or constipation. Affected individuals also have flatulence after eating certain foods. This flatulence may have a foul smell.

Infections that affect the intestines may also cause foul-smelling stools. One infection called gastroenteritis occurs after ingesting food that has been contaminated with E. coli and Salmonella, as well as certain other viruses, bacteria, or parasites.

Learn more information about foul smelling stool at Healthline.

Check out some tips on how to improve the smell of your stinky poop at Digestivehealthguide.com.

Tag: smell 
Thursday, March 02 2017
Source: http://www.prevention.com/health/heres-why-your-poop-smells-different-than-usual