How to tell if your BMs are normal  

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice from your doctor. 

Stool, feces, excrement, bowel movements (BMs). Whatever term you prefer, it refers to the waste your body gets rid of once it absorbs the nutrients from the foods you eat. Your diet — and your digestive system — are what determine the end result. 

You’re the only one who knows what your stool looks like from one day to the next. You’re also the one who knows the frequency of your bowel movements. When either of these seems off, it’s important to pay attention.  

What to look for in healthy BMs 

Here’s an overview of what you should expect from your stool. 

Healthy stool is typically brown 

The color of your stool is important, and it’s an easy way to spot a potential problem. Typically, stool is brown, but it doesn’t start that way.  

The color of stool depends on bile, a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder (located under the liver). When you eat a meal, the bile flows into your small intestine. There, this yellowish-greenish fluid helps to digest fats from the food you’ve eaten. It’s in the intestines that bile mixes with other substances to change the waste from what you’ve eaten to a brownish hue. 

Have questions about your health? An in-home Health and Well-being Assessment is a great time to get answers from a licensed clinician — plus, it’s part of your plan. Call Matrix Medical Network at 855-204-1752 (TTY:711) to schedule. (Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET)

If you notice a change in the color of your stool, first think about what you’ve eaten recently. If you’ve eaten foods made with food coloring or dark fruits (like blueberries or cherries), you could see a change in your stool’s color (say, from brown to green). This usually isn’t a cause for concern. 

But sometimes there are color changes that are worth a discussion with your health care provider. 

• Black or red: This could indicate bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Taking iron supplements or antidiarrheal medications like bismuth subsalicylate may also make your stool black. 
• Yellow: This could mean there’s excess fat in your stool, caused by a malabsorption issue such as celiac disease. Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that’s caused by eating foods with gluten. (Gluten is a protein found in foods made with wheat, rye, and barley.) 
• Clay-colored or very pale: This could mean there’s a blockage in your bile duct. Very pale or white stool could also be caused by some medications, such as barium taken before certain X-rays. 

If you’ve noticed persistent changes in your stool color, talk to a health care professional to rule out anything serious. At your appointment, you can also discuss changes in your stool or bowel habits.  

Healthy stool has a certain consistency 

Sure, your stool might have a different consistency occasionally because of something you’ve eaten. In most cases, stool should either be sausage-shaped with some surface cracks or smooth from end to end. Hard lumps could indicate constipation. Diarrhea is defined by liquid stool. 

If your stool frequently seems off, talk to a health care professional about what it could mean. In many cases, you’ll be asked to give a fecal sample to test. These tests can check for an infection, digestive problems, bleeding, or inflammation — say, from allergies to certain foods. 

You should have BMs on a regular schedule 

You should have about the same frequency of bowel movements every day or every few days. If you are going more or less than usual, reach out to your health care provider, who will check for conditions like: 

• A blockage of the bowels 
• Celiac disease 
• Colitis, or inflammation of the colon 
• Malabsorption (not absorbing nutrients properly from the foods you eat) 

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Stool problems to look out for 

There are certain times when you should call your health care provider immediately:  

Blood in your stool 

If your stool is free of blood, that’s good news. If, on the other hand, you see bright red in your stool, or streaks that are dark — almost black — contact your health care provider. It could just be hemorrhoids (swollen blood vessels around your rectum that can bleed), or it could be something more serious. 

Blood in your stool can be a sign of colorectal cancer. So even a small amount of blood should be taken seriously.  

Recommended reading: 5 sneaky signs of colon cancer everyone needs to know

Stringy stool  

Chances are what you’re seeing may be the result of having eaten something stringy, such as bean sprouts. However, you should contact your doctor if this happens multiple times, or if it’s accompanied by any of the following symptoms: 

• Bloating 
• Cramping  
• Diarrhea 
• Nausea 
• Vomiting 

It could be an indication of worms in your stool. These can often look like thin, white pieces of thread. 

Mucus in your stool   

Your gastrointestinal tract is lined with mucus, so if you only see this once in a while, it’s not usually a cause for concern. It typically has a clear whitish, jelly-like appearance. When you should contact your doctor: if you see mucus that’s accompanied by a change in the consistency or frequency of your BMs. This could indicate an intestinal infection. 

The bottom line: Stool can be a good indicator of digestive — and overall — health. When you go to the bathroom, pay attention to what’s in the toilet bowl. It could be telling you more about your health than you realize. Finally, don’t underestimate the value of having frank conversations with health care providers. For example, the additional time you spend with a Matrix clinician during your annual in-home Health and Well-being Assessment may make it easier to discuss any questions you have about your bowel movements. This can help your primary care provider address your concerns more directly.

Sources: 
Bristol stool chart: Nursing Fundamentals  
When to worry about stool color: Mayo Clinic 
When certain stool colors are red flags, according to experts: CNN Health 
Ascariasis overview: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
When mucus in stool is a concern: Mayo Clinic 

Cited sources were last reviewed on 5/2/2025. 

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