Why is My Poop Green?

9. Stress and Other Causes for Yellow Stools

The human body reacts to stress in several ways. Anxiety and stress speed up digestion and prevent the absorption of nutrients from their food. It is possible for people to experience yellow stools and diarrhea as a result. The yellow color comes from undigested fat and bile. If the individual notices a foul smell or complains of stomach cramps, headache, or nausea along with the yellow stool, they could have an infection of the intestinal tract called giardiasis. Certain disorders also cause yellow stools:

• Gilbert's syndrome, a genetic liver disorder
• Cirrhosis and hepatitis, which reduce bile salts needed to digest food and absorb nutrients
• Celiac disease, which causes damage to the intestine if the person consumes gluten
• Chronic pancreatitis, a blockage of the pancreatic duct
• Pancreatic cancer
• Cystic fibrosis, which prevents the pancreas from creating enough enzymes to digest food