undigested food in stool

There are certain things that look undigested when I make a bowel movement...carrots, spinach or any leafy greens, etc...is this normal?

Very much so, especially in people with loose stools or diarrhea.  Even normal people may see food particles in their stools every once in a while; I think it's when the stools get loose that you see what's been hiding inside all this time! 

Hi 'Mom'- not to gross you out, but I have always been able to see carrots in my stool- and corn too (even long before I had any of these 'issues')!!  hope this helps.  Happy New Year.

Good, I am glad I am not the only one.  Is there things you shouldn't be able to see?  Maybe that is the best way to put it.

Chew better, guys. Mine is much worse as I have gotten older and can't chew quite as well. Remember what your Mom said. Chew everything 35 times or whatever and put your fork down between bites. Does anyone do that anymore? LOL

The funny thing is, I do chew my food a lot!!!!  My husband always makes fun of me b/c I take twice as long to eat my meal...I make fun of him though b/c he chews two times and swallows...no lie. 

Well, then I guess it isn't that for you. I do think that some things like corn you can chew forever and still not be thoroughly digested. I find salad and leafy things very hard to digest.

I had a very "colorful" meal yesterday and am practically having rainbow poops. So yes, it's normal! Granted, my bowels are nowhere near normal, but hey, the rainbow colors at least are fun to look at.

Sorry, I'm in a weird mood tonight, LOL.

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Co-moderator - IBS Forum

Your funny Sarita :)

Also remember that insoluable fiber is not absorbed by the body and it's not really digested either, so things like the skins of apples and bell peppers will show up in your poop pretty much looking like it did when you swallowed it. That's why people see corn--the hulls are insoluable fiber.

The only thing you should not see in your stool is blood. Bright red blood usually indicates hemmroid, but dark blood can indicate intestinal bleeding or a stomach ulcer. But make sure you don't confuse red Kool-Aid poops with blood in your stools (ask me how I know this).

How do you know this, Keri? LOL!

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Co-moderator - IBS Forum

old thead..but common problem...so last night I was in a rush, ate a bag of steamable vegetables and went on my way to class. I had the most uncomfortable time, gurgling stomach, pain, bloated. Excused myself for a minor BM. Back to class. And the issues continued. Afterwards I rushed home thinking I had to go. Just one large gas release, nothing in stool. Arg!! This morning I go and it all comes out..I see half whole carrots strips from the steamable bag.

so now I'm wondering, was the soft, cooked, carrot strips inside my colon, that I obviously didn't chew enough, causing the problem. thoughts? Do you feel poorly prior to undigested food coming out?

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Blogging my experience With UC.
http://lifewithcolitis.blogspot.com/
12-14-2010 - Strict TCM diet and herbal teas. (Traditional Chinese Medicine)

2000 - Ulcerative Colitis - Proctitis
Asacol -> Colazal -> Lialda 4x/day
Daily: 500mg Vit D + 160mg Saw Palmetto(5x/daily) + 1000mg Ester C(not daily as TCM says it will lead to immunity

I didn't know all this either! Every time I have a BM I think about how Dr. Oz said the stools should be S shaped too lol I haven't had an S shaped one for years lol

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Becky, IBS, major depression, Polycystic Ovarian Disease, anal and vaginal muscle loss (soon getting an artificial anal sphincter)