Floating poo is not ideal, but it’s usually not a sign that things are terribly wrong. You may just need a few tweaks to your diet.
Poo usually floats because your body has not absorbed nutrients enough or there is too much gas in the gut.
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Foods that will cause gas in the gut include beans, milk and dairy products, cabbages and all the brassica family such as brussels sprouts and bok choy, sweet fruits including apples and peaches, soft drinks, starchy foods, beer and wine and sugar-free sweets.
Malabsorption occurs when poo passes through the intestines too quickly.
It can be temporary, such as when you have a bout of diarrhoea, or it can be a longer-lasting condition, for example, part of a dietary intolerance or chronic disease.
One common intolerance that will cause floating stools is lactose intolerance, which is caused by the gut’s inability to digest lactose, a sugar found in dairy products. Removing them from the diet should fix the problem. Thankfully, there are many lactose-free products available these days, although I am yet to hear of anyone liking, or even tolerating, lactose-free cheese.
However, there are more serious causes of floating poo. A poorly working pancreas may also cause floating stools.
The pancreas supports the body’s ability to emulsify and digest fat. If your pancreas isn’t working properly for reasons such as cancer, a blocked duct or pancreatitis, fat will remain in your intestines and stool content, making your poo float.
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A chronic condition that will cause your poo to float is coeliac disease, an autoimmune condition that damages the small intestine when you eat gluten. It causes an inflammatory reaction that affects the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Once again, it’s a matter of removing gluten from your diet, although this is easier said than done with so many everyday food products including gluten, from bread to beer.
Another culprit is cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that causes the production of an excess of thick and sticky mucus in the lungs and digestive tract. The excess mucus in the pancreas hampers its ability to make the enzymes that help to digest fat, leading to fatty and floating poos.
Short bowels may also be the cause. This term covers naturally occurring phenomena where part of the small or large intestine doesn’t function properly or if part of it has been surgically removed. Naturally then, with reduced capacity for digestion, the body’s ability to extract nutrients is hampered, leading to floating poos.
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Floating poos may also be caused by stomach bacterial or viral infections. Most are unpleasant but mild and go away without any treatment. But more serious infections such as E. coli, listeria and salmonella should be treated by a doctor.
Which brings us to when you should see a doctor if you are concerned about your toilet deposits
If you are sure it’s a matter of eating the wrong food, remove them from your diet and see if that solves the problem.
If the issue persists for more than two weeks, it’s time to book an appointment, especially if it is combined with blood in the stools, dizziness, fever and weight loss.
Have you had to cut a favourite food out of your diet?Why not share the experience in the comments section below?
Health disclaimer: This article contains general information about health issues and is not advice. For health advice, consult your medical practitioner.
