Greenish Stools

I have been using quite a bit of Cinnamon spice on toast for about 6 months - believe it or not it reduces the amount of pain I experience from an artifical hip and bone implant in my right leg.  Less than a month ago my stools started this medium green color, sometimes darkish but not totally black as I would expect from internal bleeding.  I'm wondering if there is enough iron in cinnamon to cause the change in color.  In the past my stools have reflected the color of whatever I had been eating but not the past 2-3 weeks since this greenishness started. I have to balance the amount of water I drink carefully or I'm either constipated or next door to diarrhea. I did have one polyp removed in a bowel examination two years ago.  I have a slight tenderness on my upper left side off and on ever since that time. I do have diverticali in the descending and Sigmoid Colon.  The total hip replacement is Titanium and I have 3 copper wires holding the bone graph in place on the femur. That's nearly 10 painful years old and I was told then not have an MRI done again. I'm in my 80's and certainly do not want major surgery or exploratory surgery and would rather avoid a whole lot of 'tests' if I thought too much Cinnamon could be the cause of greenish stool discoloration. I would appreciate your serious comments.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Normally green stools are a reflection of food that you have eaten.  There are some cases of irritable bowel syndrome that can result in green stools as well.  

Although possible, I am not aware of cinnamon being a cause of green stools.  

For further evaluation, a colonoscopy can be performed - to evaluate for things like inflammtory bowel disease - which may influence the stools.  

You can discuss this option with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
http://www.straightfromthedoc.com

[astros18]

A greenish stool is usually a sign of the liver cleansing itself. I honestly don't know if cinnamon will change the color of your stool, but if the greenish stool continues you should probably get it checked out.

[TJV]

     Green stool is considered harmless and  can be caused by certain  foods or quick transit or decreased colonic transit time. Think the latter  is the most logical explanation since you describe experiencing priblems with  diarrhea and constipation .

   Don't think cinamon would cause green stools,  unless there is such a thing as green  cinamon :)   Certain green  vegetables can cause this, things with purple or green artificial colouring   , and iron supplements can cause green stool as well.

[mmfd]

Licorice is another thing that can cause bright green stools, if eaten in quantity!  It doesn't hurt you though!

[Reality123]

Dear TJV & susannak,
I had a chance to read