Wellness Digestive Health When Should You Be Worried About Undigested Food in Your Poop? There may not always be a cause for concern. By Dr. Roshini Raj Dr. Roshini Raj Roshini Raj, MD, is Health magazine's medical editor and coauthor of What the Yuck?!. Board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine, Dr. Raj is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University Medical Center, a contributor on the Today show, and a co-founder of the Tula skin care line. health's editorial guidelines and Reven Widener Reven Widener Réven Smalls Widener is a former behavioral health professional with 3 years of experience educating and supporting patients dealing with chronic pain. As an intern then a psychometrist and counseling trainee for a behavioral health department, Réven collaborated with pain clinic medical staff to assist in the care of patients dealing with pain. health's editorial guidelines Updated on July 27, 2023 Medically reviewed by Sonal Kumar, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Sonal Kumar, MD, MPH Sonal Kumar, MD, MPH, is a gastroenterologist, hepatologist, and assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. She is also the Director of Clinical Hepatology at Weill Cornell Medicine. learn more vadimguzhva / Getty Images Your stool color and quality can serve as indicators of your health or lifestyle. For example, undigested food in your poop may appear due to a high-fiber diet. However, undigested food in your stool with other symptoms, like diarrhea or cramping, warrants medical attention. Read on to learn more. The Basics of Digestion Part of excellent digestive health is having a digestive system that works at its best. The digestive system is made of a few different organs, including the: Mouth and salivary glands Esophagus Stomach Liver Gallbladder Appendix Pancreas Small and large intestines Rectum and anus Your digestive system works to help provide your body with nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, from what you eat or drink. The body goes about the digestive process with the help of hormones and nerves. Digestion begins as food or drinks enter your mouth and continues as your body moves what you eat or drink through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to your large intestine. What Is the GI Tract? The GI tract is made up of hollow organs that are connected within the body. It contains the majority of the digestive system organs with the exception of the:Liver GallbladderPancreas The GI tract breaks those nutrients down so the body can absorb and use those smaller parts for things the body needs. For example, carbs may be turned into simple sugars for energy use. Once your body has digested whatever you've consumed and absorbed any nutrients, any waste products make up your poop—which is when undigested food might appear in your stool. When Not To Worry About Undigested Food in Your Poop A healthy stool may look different from person to person. Poop should generally be a shade of brown and soft and compact enough that it's easy to pass. The occasional undigested food in your otherwise normal-looking stool is typically nothing to fret about. Part of the reason there may be undigested food in your poop is based on the food you eat. For example, foods high in fiber can sometimes be hard to digest. These might include foods such as: CornLeafy greensNutsGrains Of note, there are enzymes—natural complex proteins that lead to chemical changes in the body—in the body that help break down food. However, high-fiber foods often pass through you only partially digested. The enzymes in your digestive system don't break dietary fiber down fully. What Conditions Could Lead To Undigested Food? Sometimes, food may be passing through your intestine too fast. This can result in portions of food in your stool. Another outcome of fast digestion is diarrhea, when you have loose or watery stools. Diarrhea is a symptom of several conditions, including: Celiac disease Crohn's disease Dumping syndrome Food allergies or intolerances GI infections Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) Small intestinal bacterial growth (SIBO) Ulcerative colitis (UC) You might see undigested food if you have any of those conditions. Other Symptoms To Watch For You should tell a healthcare provider if undigested food in your poop routinely happens with diarrhea. Certain viral gastrointestinal infections like gastroenteritis can speed up the transit time of stool moving through your digestive tract and lead to diarrhea. Diarrhea may also indicate that your intestine is not absorbing nutrients properly, which can result from celiac disease or Crohn's disease. You should also see a healthcare provider if you're experiencing cramping, bloating, abdominal pain, or blood in stools. In those situations, you may have a food intolerance, allergy, or IBS. Risks of Improper Digestion Inadequate food digestion can lead to undigested food in your poop, but there are other possible risks if food is not digested properly. Malabsorption Another risk of improper digestion is malabsorption. The condition consists of a lack of proper absorption, digestion, or transportation of nutrients. Malabsorption may result in the following: Anemia GI symptoms like bloating and diarrhea Stool changes such as fatty, odorous stools Unintentional weight loss Wound healing issues Bezoars Packed collections of partially digested or undigested substances are known as bezoars. Bezoars are commonly found in the stomach and don't usually have symptoms. In rare cases, the packed material can lead to complications like GI bleeding and intestinal obstruction. Tips for Proper Eating and Digestion Making changes to how you eat can help with digestion. Some eating tips include: Chew your food as much as possibleSlow down when you eatTake smaller bites of food or cut food into smaller pieces There are also ways to ensure that your body can digest food properly, such as: Adding enough fiber, as well as fruits and vegetables, into your diet Drinking plenty of water Managing stress Creating a meal routine (e.g., trying to eat at the same times every day) Consuming probiotic-rich foods (e.g., yogurt, kefir) These are all smart steps to keep your digestive tract running smoothly and your stool looking "normal." A Quick Review At times, undigested food can be in your poop. This might be due to eating high-fiber foods as part of your diet, which are sometimes harder to digest. However, if high-fiber food is not responsible for undigested food in your stool, a digestive issue, including food allergies or intolerances, could be the reason. If you're unsure of the reason, it's best to see a healthcare provider who can determine the possible causes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 15 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Your digestive system & how it works. NIH News in Health. Keeping your gut in check. MedlinePlus. Enzyme. Sensoy I. A review on the food digestion in the digestive tract and the used in vitro models. 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