Should Poop Float Or Sink?

Modern medical science has numerous ways to detect what is happening in our body. Tests can detect infection, cholesterol, issues with blood cells, kidney and liver function and various other health parameters. These tests can be crucial in making an early diagnosis and prescribing the required treatment.

There are various other ways in which one can determine if they have a problem and need to visit a doctor. For example, the color and texture of our poop can indicate health issues. Similarly, poop that sinks or floats can indicate what is happening inside our body. To understand if poop should float or sink, here are some important things to understand.

Should poop float or sink?

In a healthy person, poop will generally sink to the bottom. That is because poop is denser than water. It may be normal to occasionally have poop that floats on the surface of the water. However, if an individual always has poop that never sinks, it can indicate various health issues. If you are facing such a condition, it would be better to consult your doctor.

How does diet impact your poop?

Floating poop may not always mean that you have health issues. Sometimes, it can be a result of a high fiber diet. Such a diet is likely to create a lot of gas in the gastrointestinal system. These gases get trapped inside the poop, resulting in the floating effect.

Consumption of high fat foods can also lead to floating stools. As is common knowledge, oil is less dense than water. This is why oil floats when mixed with water. If you eat oily food and it does not get completely absorbed, one may get poop that floats.

What does floating poop indicate?

If you regularly get floating poop, it can be a sign of an underlying health issue. However, you need not get stressed. Such matters can be easily resolved by your doctor. One common cause of gas formation in the gastrointestinal system is stomach infection. Giardiasis is a relevant example. It is a parasitic infection that can cause stools that float. Other microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella can also cause gastrointestinal infection. And lead to poop that floats.

Another common cause of floating stools is gastrointestinal disorders. In a study, it was found that 26% of the study subjects who were experiencing functional bowel disorders had floating stools. Such disorders include dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome.

Malabsorption is another reason that can lead to floating stools. It can occur due to various factors such as liver and biliary disease. Malabsorption can include fat malabsorption and carbohydrate malabsorption. Both these conditions can lead to floating stools.

As is evident from above, floating stools can occur due to various reasons. You need to visit a doctor if you are getting floating stools on a regular basis. Changes in diet can also help you overcome the issue of floating stools.