You Won’t Believe What Happens When Your Poop Floats – Doctors Reveal the Dirty Truth!

When it comes to your health, sometimes it’s the little things that tell you the most—like your poop. You probably don’t think twice about it after you flush, but maybe you should. Your stool’s behavior in the toilet, whether it floats or sinks, can give valuable insight into your digestive health.

“Passing stool is part of the normal digestive process and is the body’s way of removing waste,” explains Dr. Kenneth Josovitz, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist with Gastro Health in Woodbridge, Virginia.

While most of the time you won’t need to worry about it, paying attention to unusual changes in your poop, like whether it floats or sinks, can be important. Other indicators include color, texture, or even frequency. Sometimes, these changes are harmless and tied to your diet, but persistent issues could be a sign that something is wrong with your gut or digestive system.

Should Your Poop Sink or Float?

In most cases, stool sinks because it’s denser than water. That’s considered normal, says Dr. Mejdi Ahmad, MD, a gastroenterologist with Medical Offices of Manhattan. Floating stool, on the other hand, might be caused by gas or the presence of too much fiber.

“Floating stools can occur if stool has plenty of gas or high fiber content,” Dr. Ahmad adds. While it can happen occasionally, it’s worth noting if it becomes consistent.

Sometimes floating poop is also harder to flush and may have excess fat in it. This is often due to malabsorption—when the body doesn’t absorb fats or nutrients properly.

The Meaning Behind Floating Poop

Occasionally noticing floating poop is typically no reason to worry. It’s usually linked to something you ate. But if it happens often, it’s a good idea to consult a doctor. Here are some possible reasons your stool might float:

1. Too Much Fiber or Gas-Producing Foods

Fiber is beneficial for your digestive system, but eating too much can cause gas to build up during digestion, which can make your stool float. Foods like beans, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts are high in fiber and can increase gas, resulting in floating stools. If you’ve recently increased your fiber intake and notice your poop floating, reducing those high-fiber foods may help things return to normal.

2. Your Body Isn’t Absorbing Nutrients

When the body can’t absorb nutrients properly, it’s called malabsorption, and it can lead to a variety of digestive issues, including floating stools. Fatty stools, in particular, can be a sign of malabsorption. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Fatty stools are greasy, extra smelly, and float.” This condition is often accompanied by other symptoms, like light-colored poop.

Lactose intolerance can also lead to floating stools due to trapped gas in the stool. This happens when your body can’t break down the sugar in dairy products, leading to gassy, floating poop.

3. Infections or Digestive Disorders

Certain infections, like giardia, a parasitic infection, can lead to floating stools. This infection can cause greasy stools that float and may be accompanied by gas, cramps, and nausea. Floating poop can also be a symptom of gastrointestinal conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), celiac disease, or diverticulitis.

Dr. Josovitz notes, “These conditions typically bring other symptoms, like gas, bloating, diarrhea, or constipation.”

4. Pancreatic Issues

Conditions like pancreatitis or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency—where your body doesn’t produce enough enzymes to break down food—can also result in floating stools. In some cases, this can even indicate pancreatic cancer. Other symptoms to watch for include belly pain, weight loss, or light-colored stools.

When to Seek Medical Help

It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your bowel habits and note any changes. As Dr. Josovitz advises, “Talk to your doctor if there is a change in typical bowel patterns such as chronic diarrhea or constipation, weight loss, abdominal pain, blood in the stool, or unusually pale or dark stools.”

If your stool consistently floats with every bowel movement, it’s also worth discussing with a healthcare professional, as it may signal a larger issue with your digestion or diet.

In conclusion, while floating poop can be normal and tied to your diet, it’s important to pay attention to any persistent changes in your bowel habits. Regularly monitoring your stool’s behavior can help you catch any potential health issues early on and take steps to address them before they become serious.