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Unusual Findings

Undigested food in poop: common causes and when to worry

Why do I see undigested food in my poop?

Undigested food in poop is often from high-fiber foods (corn, seeds, vegetable skins) that don’t fully break down, or from faster transit (diarrhea) that moves food through before it’s digested. It becomes more concerning when it’s persistent or paired with greasy/floating stools, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, dehydration, anemia, or severe pain. If you are unsure, seek medical care.

Key takeaways

  • Seeing bits of high-fiber foods (corn, seeds, veggie skins) can be normal.
  • Faster transit (diarrhea) can make food look less digested.
  • Greasy/floating stools, weight loss, anemia, or persistent diarrhea can suggest malabsorption and deserve evaluation.
  • A short log (Bristol type, timing, triggers, symptoms) helps differentiate one-off vs pattern.

Safety notes

  • Seek medical care for severe or worsening pain, dehydration, high fever, faintness, significant blood, black/tarry stool, or unexplained weight loss.
  • If you have persistent greasy/floating stools or signs of malnutrition (weakness, dizziness, unexplained weight loss), seek medical evaluation.

What to track

  • What you ate (especially high-fiber foods like corn, seeds, leafy greens)
  • Bristol type + frequency + timing
  • Whether stool is greasy, oily, pale, or floating
  • Symptoms: urgency, pain, fever, nausea/vomiting, weight change
  • Recent antibiotics, travel, and big diet shifts

How StoolSense helps

You want to tell “normal fiber bits” from a repeat pattern that needs attention.

You want a simple checklist to bring to a clinician if needed.

Start with the most common explanation

Many “undigested food” sightings are simply fiber.

Some foods don’t break down fully:

  • Corn hulls
  • Seeds
  • Vegetable skins (tomatoes, peppers)
  • Leafy greens

If you feel well and it happens occasionally, it’s often not urgent.

When it’s more likely faster transit

If you’re having diarrhea (often Bristol 6 to 7), food can move through before it’s fully digested.

Track:

  • Timing
  • Triggers (caffeine timing, sweeteners/polyols, recent illness)
  • Whether it resolves when stool form normalizes

When to think about malabsorption

If stools are repeatedly:

  • Greasy/oily
  • Floating
  • Pale

…or you have persistent diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, or dehydration, seek medical evaluation. Malabsorption can show up with symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, and steatorrhea (fatty stool).

A simple 7-day tracking window

  • What you ate (especially high-fiber foods)
  • Bristol type + frequency
  • Whether stools seem greasy/oily or floating
  • Symptoms (pain, fever, nausea/vomiting)

If the pattern repeats or you feel unwell, bring the timeline to a clinician.

FAQs

Is it normal to see corn or seeds in stool? +
Often, yes. Some high-fiber foods (corn hulls, seeds, leafy greens) don’t fully break down and can show up visibly, especially if transit is faster.
Can diarrhea cause undigested food in stool? +
Yes. Faster transit can move food through before it’s fully digested, so you may see more recognizable pieces.
When is undigested food in stool concerning? +
It’s more concerning if it’s persistent or paired with chronic diarrhea, greasy/oily stools, weight loss, dehydration, anemia, or severe pain.
What should I track for 7 days? +
Track what you ate (especially high-fiber foods), Bristol type, frequency and timing, and whether stools seem greasy/oily or floating. Add links to symptoms like urgency, pain, fever, nausea, or weight change.

References

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