Causes may include gastrointestinal infections, ulcerative colitis, and thyroid problems, among others. Loose stools may occur after eating or at other points in the day. They may be softer than a person's usual stools. They may also be watery, mushy, or shapeless and can have a strong, foul odor.
Stools should be solid, soft and pass easily. Hard, dry stools that are tough to pass are a sign of constipation. Loose, watery stools are a sign of diarrhea. Both constipation and diarrhea are common and usually clear up within a few days.
But when diarrhea lasts beyond a few days, it is usually a clue to another problem — such as medicine side effects, changes in diet, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or a more serious disorder, including ongoing infection, celiac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Mushy stool with fluffy pieces that have a pudding-shaped consistency is an early stage of diarrhea. This form of stool has passed through the colon quickly due to stress or a dramatic change in diet or activity level.
Common Causes
Your poo may be sloppy and mushy due to: Diet: Coffee, alcohol, oily and spicy foods are all linked to causing loose bowel movements. Food poisoning: Infections from any food or drink you have recently consumed can cause diarrhoea and sloppy poops.
Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, drinks with electrolytes, tea, and even nonfat chicken broth. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate you more. Eat the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, (white) rice, applesauce and toast. These foods help firm up your stool.
Diarrhea is a common symptom of conditions that cause irritation and inflammation in your bowels (intestines). Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) can all cause diarrhea.
Poop with colon problems can look thin (pencil-like), pellet-like, ribbon-like, or have mucus/blood, signaling issues like obstructions, inflammation, or tumors, with changes in color (pale, black) and consistency (diarrhea or constipation) indicating problems with water absorption or bleeding, requiring medical evaluation if persistent.
What are the symptoms of a leaky gut?
Ghost poops are bowel movements that leave no residue in the toilet bowl or on toilet paper. Ghost poops may indicate healthy digestion, but regular screenings for colon cancer are still necessary. Eating more fiber and drinking more water can help increase the likelihood of having ghost poops.
Healthy stools are soft to firm and should remain intact when flushed. Persistently loose or watery stools can indicate a sign of infection, food intolerance, or a gastrointestinal disorder like celiac or Crohn's disease.
Macrocytosis (MCV >110 fL), diarrhea and neurologic symptoms strongly suggest vitamin B12 deficiency. Diarrhea from celiac sprue, bacterial overgrowth or pancreatic insufficiency can be seen with vitamin B12 deficiency because these are malabsorptive syndromes.
Diarrhea can be caused by cancers of the digestive tract, like colon, rectal, and pancreatic cancers, as well as lymphomas, and hormone-producing neuroendocrine tumors, but it's often a side effect of cancer treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, or due to infections, anxiety, or surgical changes. Always consult a doctor for persistent diarrhea, especially with blood, weight loss, or abdominal pain, as it needs proper diagnosis and management to prevent dehydration and nutrient loss.
Psyllium husk is the best fiber supplement for loose stools, says registered dietitian Chelsea Macias, RDN. That's because it's a form of soluble fiber, which slows down digestion and helps bulk up your stool, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Causes of chronic loose stools
Intestinal infection symptoms often include diarrhea, abdominal pain/cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fever, but can also involve bloody stools, mucus in stool, bloating, dehydration, loss of appetite, and fatigue. These symptoms stem from infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic) affecting digestion and can range from mild to severe, requiring medical attention if symptoms like high fever or blood in stool occur, say Healthdirect and UF Health.
Most people define diarrhea as loose stools or watery stools. Others think of diarrhea as frequent bowel movements. The key symptom of IBS is abdominal pain. The pain is associated with a change in the frequency or consistency of stool.