It should be common knowledge that the texture, shape, color, and consistency of your poop gives major indicators about your overall health. In some cases, doctors can diagnose people after taking stool samples to figure out underlying health problems. However, what if their poop is floating instead of sinking to the bottom. Most people are confused by this problem. It is very common, but they can’t make sense of what it means when they see floating poop.
The first thing you should do is calm down. There is nothing majorly wrong if your poop is floating like a ship, instead of sinking like the Titanic. A lot of doctors have studied why poop floats, and they concluded that the only reason your poop floats is because of extra air. How does that work out? Let us explain it in a simple manner:
Why does poop float?
Unabsorbed carbohydrates, like fiber or lactose can cause extra air in your poop because when they ferment in the colon, they end up releasing gas. Therefore, people who are lactose intolerant, or have eaten a lot of fiber or dairy may end up noticing floating poop. Drinking a lot of artificial sweeteners or alcoholic drinks also causes poop to become gassier, which means it will float around in the bowl.
When the poop has more gas or air than normal, it rises like a hot air balloon, because it is lighter. That is what makes the poop float on top of the water, instead of sinking to the bottom, like they should. Another possible reason why your poop floats may be due to excess fat in the stool, which can be caused by eating food rich in fat that the body hasn’t been able to digest.
Can I do something about it?
Yes, you can start making changes to your diet, and ensure that your body is digesting all the fat, and absorbing nutrients properly. Malabsorption is the main reason why you may see floating poop, because you have eaten food that is rich in fats and causes gas. There is no reason to be worried, because a lot of people have experienced or seen floating poop, when they get up to flush.
It is not something that you should be concerned about, but if the problem persists, and is concerning you, then you should visit your doctor. Especially if you have started suffering from gas, abdominal cramps, and get frequent foul-smelling and loose stools.
Final word
In general, floating poop is something that millions of people around the world have experienced, and it isn’t an indicator of a major underlying health problem. There are very few people, who have consistent bowel movements, and from time to time, you may see poop floating around as well. Most people notice floating poop when they have started taking a new medication or have made a change to their diet.
