A gastro shares four sneaky causes here.

What does it mean when you have black poop?

First, rest assured that black poop isnt always a medical emergency.

close up of person wearing a blue shirt and blue jeans sitting on the toilet while holding a roll of toilet paper and dealing with black poop

Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common reasons for black stools:

1.

You’ve changed your diet

Have you been loading up on some new foods?

The most common benign cause [for black poop] is consuming iron supplements, Dr. Nazareth says.

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board-certified gastroenterologist based in New York City

These symptoms will often vary depending on the cause.

After that, subsequent treatments will depend on your diagnosis.

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close up of person drinking a green smoothie that may cause their poop to be green

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board-certified gastroenterologist based in New York City

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Woman drinking a protein meal replacement shake in the kitchen