Undigested food in baby stool nhs
Causes and when to see a doctor
Undigested food in a person’s stool is not usually a cause for concern. The body cannot fully break down high-fiber foods or foods with hard shells, such as sweetcorn. Consequently, these may pass through the digestive system unchanged.
When undigested food in the stool occurs with a change in bowel habits, weight loss, or diarrhea, this may signal an underlying condition that needs medical attention.
In this article, we look at reasons why undigested food may appear in stool and when a person should speak with a doctor.
There are some reasons why the body might not completely digest foods that do not cause concern.
Undigested food can appear in the stool if there is material in food that is indigestible, such as cellulose in some high-fiber foods. This could be due to a person not chewing the food well or the food containing shells or skins that the body’s natural enzymes cannot break down.
It could also happen if food passes too quickly through the digestive system, for example, if the person has a condition such as Crohn’s disease, which causes inflammation in the digestive system. It can also happen if someone has gastric surgery or a bowel resection.
High-fiber foods
Fiber refers to the indigestible part of plant foods. A high-fiber diet can have many benefits, including keeping the digestive system healthy and keeping bowel movements regular.
When a person eats high-fiber foods, it is common for some undigested material to appear in the stool because the body cannot fully break down the tough material.
Fiber also speeds up a person’s bowel movements by adding bulk to the stool, which encourages the intestinal walls to move. This movement pushes food through the digestive tract.
If food moves too quickly through the digestive system, a person may not fully digest some foods.
Certain foods are more likely than others to be difficult to fully digest. These foods include:
- beans
- seeds
- corn
- peas
- vegetable skins
- leafy greens
- certain grains
- carrots
- raisins
- nuts
Foods such as corn often remain partially undigested.
Corn has an outer shell made of an indigestible material called cellulose. The body digests the material inside of the corn and expels the hard outer casing in the stool.
High-fiber foods are beneficial for most people. Learn more here.
Eating too quickly
Another harmless culprit of undigested food appearing in stool is eating too quickly. When a person eats too fast and swallows their food without fully chewing it, food is more likely to pass through the digestive tract without being completely broken down.
Eating too quickly may force digestion to take place too rapidly, resulting in more food not being fully broken down. To avoid this, a person can slow down their eating during meals and chew their food for longer.
The most common cause of undigested food appearing in stool is fibrous foods, but some medical conditions can result in whole or partially digested food appearing in stool. In these cases, a person often notices other symptoms, such as diarrhea or stomach pain.
Medical conditions that may cause undigested food to appear in the stool include the following:
Crohn’s disease
This condition is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
Symptoms include:
- severe diarrhea
- nausea
- abdominal pain and cramps
- weight loss and low appetite
- anemia
- fatigue
- fever
- red or sore eyes
- joint pain
- tender bumps under the skin
In some cases, undigested food may appear in a person’s stool.
Learn more about Crohn’s disease.
Celiac disease
This is an autoimmune disorder where the body cannot digest the protein known as gluten, which occurs in wheat, barley, and other grains.
Symptoms include:
- bloating and abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- constipation
- gas
- stools that are loose, greasy, bulky, and smell foul
- lactose intolerance
Some people may notice undigested food in their stool.
Learn more about celiac disease.
Pancreatic insufficiency
A person with pancreatic insufficiency lacks enzymes in the pancreas, making it hard to break down food. This could lead to undigested food appearing in stool.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- abdominal discomfort and bloating
- weight loss
- fatty stools
- nutritional deficiencies, leading to muscle spasms, bone disease, and a higher risk of cardiovascular problems
What is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Lactose intolerance
If a person’s digestive system cannot break down the protein in milk and dairy, it may indicate lactose intolerance.
Symptoms include:
- bloating and gas
- diarrhea
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- “growling” in the stomach
Undigested food could appear in the stool of people with lactose intolerance.
What is lactose intolerance?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a common condition that affects the large intestine.
Symptoms include:
- bloating and pain
- diarrhea, constipation, or both
- the feeling that a bowel movement is unfinished
- white mucus in the stool
Some people may also notice undigested food in their stool.
Find out more about IBS.
Gastroenteritis, or a “stomach bug”
A stomach bug, stomach flu, or gastrointestinal virus may cause undigested food in the stool due to food passing quickly through a person’s system. Other symptoms of a stomach bug include:
- bloating
- abdominal cramping
- watery diarrhea
- vomiting
- nausea
- fever, in some cases
- dehydration, which can lead to dark-colored urine, thirst, less frequent urination, faintness, and fatigue
In most cases of a stomach virus, symptoms will resolve in a few days when the virus has passed. However, dehydration can quickly become serious. People should seek medical help at once if they or someone else has signs of dehydration or experiences:
- severe pain or worsening symptoms
- changes in mental state or consciousness
- six or more loose stools in a day
- diarrhea lasting more than 2 days
- blood or pus in stool
There is a possibility that undigested food could appear in the stool.
Find out more about gastroenteritis.
A person who notices a lot of undigested food in their stool should not worry most of the time, as it is likely to be due to undigested fiber or eating too quickly.
If someone notices the following symptoms plus undigested food in their stool, they should speak with a doctor:
- unexplained weight loss
- blood in stool
- changes in bowel habits
- loss of control of bowels
- chronic diarrhea
- persistent abdominal pain or cramping
- persistent bloating or gas
- signs of dehydration, such as increased thirst or reduced urination
If a doctor suspects that a person has a condition affecting their digestive system, they may order the following diagnostic tests:
- a stool sample to look for blood and other abnormalities
- blood tests to look for nutritional deficiencies or inflammation markers
- endoscopy to look inside the upper digestive tract
- colonoscopy to examine the lower gastrointestinal tract
- biopsy to check for microscopic inflammation
A high-fiber diet is a healthy option for most people, and there is no need for concern if some food particles remain undigested.
However, if the body cannot digest food due to an underlying condition, a doctor will recommend treatment to address the problem.
Depending on the cause, they may recommend medication, dietary changes, or surgery in some cases.
Most of the time, seeing undigested food in the stool is not a cause for concern. It may be the result of eating too fast or eating food with high fiber content.
In situations where a person has other symptoms, including abdominal pain, weight loss, or changes in bowel habits and movements, they may have an underlying medical condition.
A person who has concerns about certain symptoms or changes in their bowel movements should speak with a doctor.
Causes and when to see a doctor
Undigested food in a person’s stool is not usually a cause for concern. The body cannot fully break down high-fiber foods or foods with hard shells, such as sweetcorn. Consequently, these may pass through the digestive system unchanged.
When undigested food in the stool occurs with a change in bowel habits, weight loss, or diarrhea, this may signal an underlying condition that needs medical attention.
In this article, we look at reasons why undigested food may appear in stool and when a person should speak with a doctor.
There are some reasons why the body might not completely digest foods that do not cause concern.
Undigested food can appear in the stool if there is material in food that is indigestible, such as cellulose in some high-fiber foods. This could be due to a person not chewing the food well or the food containing shells or skins that the body’s natural enzymes cannot break down.
It could also happen if food passes too quickly through the digestive system, for example, if the person has a condition such as Crohn’s disease, which causes inflammation in the digestive system. It can also happen if someone has gastric surgery or a bowel resection.
High-fiber foods
Fiber refers to the indigestible part of plant foods. A high-fiber diet can have many benefits, including keeping the digestive system healthy and keeping bowel movements regular.
When a person eats high-fiber foods, it is common for some undigested material to appear in the stool because the body cannot fully break down the tough material.
Fiber also speeds up a person’s bowel movements by adding bulk to the stool, which encourages the intestinal walls to move. This movement pushes food through the digestive tract.
If food moves too quickly through the digestive system, a person may not fully digest some foods.
Certain foods are more likely than others to be difficult to fully digest. These foods include:
- beans
- seeds
- corn
- peas
- vegetable skins
- leafy greens
- certain grains
- carrots
- raisins
- nuts
Foods such as corn often remain partially undigested. Corn has an outer shell made of an indigestible material called cellulose. The body digests the material inside of the corn and expels the hard outer casing in the stool.
High-fiber foods are beneficial for most people.
Learn more here.
Eating too quickly
Another harmless culprit of undigested food appearing in stool is eating too quickly. When a person eats too fast and swallows their food without fully chewing it, food is more likely to pass through the digestive tract without being completely broken down.
Eating too quickly may force digestion to take place too rapidly, resulting in more food not being fully broken down. To avoid this, a person can slow down their eating during meals and chew their food for longer.
The most common cause of undigested food appearing in stool is fibrous foods, but some medical conditions can result in whole or partially digested food appearing in stool. In these cases, a person often notices other symptoms, such as diarrhea or stomach pain.
Medical conditions that may cause undigested food to appear in the stool include the following:
Crohn’s disease
This condition is a type of inflammatory bowel disease that causes inflammation in the digestive tract.
Symptoms include:
- severe diarrhea
- nausea
- abdominal pain and cramps
- weight loss and low appetite
- anemia
- fatigue
- fever
- red or sore eyes
- joint pain
- tender bumps under the skin
In some cases, undigested food may appear in a person’s stool.
Learn more about Crohn’s disease.
Celiac disease
This is an autoimmune disorder where the body cannot digest the protein known as gluten, which occurs in wheat, barley, and other grains.
Symptoms include:
- bloating and abdominal pain
- diarrhea
- constipation
- gas
- stools that are loose, greasy, bulky, and smell foul
- lactose intolerance
Some people may notice undigested food in their stool.
Learn more about celiac disease.
Pancreatic insufficiency
A person with pancreatic insufficiency lacks enzymes in the pancreas, making it hard to break down food. This could lead to undigested food appearing in stool.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- abdominal discomfort and bloating
- weight loss
- fatty stools
- nutritional deficiencies, leading to muscle spasms, bone disease, and a higher risk of cardiovascular problems
What is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency?
Lactose intolerance
If a person’s digestive system cannot break down the protein in milk and dairy, it may indicate lactose intolerance.
Symptoms include:
- bloating and gas
- diarrhea
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- “growling” in the stomach
Undigested food could appear in the stool of people with lactose intolerance.
What is lactose intolerance?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
IBS is a common condition that affects the large intestine.
Symptoms include:
- bloating and pain
- diarrhea, constipation, or both
- the feeling that a bowel movement is unfinished
- white mucus in the stool
Some people may also notice undigested food in their stool.
Find out more about IBS.
Gastroenteritis, or a “stomach bug”
A stomach bug, stomach flu, or gastrointestinal virus may cause undigested food in the stool due to food passing quickly through a person’s system. Other symptoms of a stomach bug include:
- bloating
- abdominal cramping
- watery diarrhea
- vomiting
- nausea
- fever, in some cases
- dehydration, which can lead to dark-colored urine, thirst, less frequent urination, faintness, and fatigue
In most cases of a stomach virus, symptoms will resolve in a few days when the virus has passed. However, dehydration can quickly become serious. People should seek medical help at once if they or someone else has signs of dehydration or experiences:
- severe pain or worsening symptoms
- changes in mental state or consciousness
- six or more loose stools in a day
- diarrhea lasting more than 2 days
- blood or pus in stool
There is a possibility that undigested food could appear in the stool.
Find out more about gastroenteritis.
A person who notices a lot of undigested food in their stool should not worry most of the time, as it is likely to be due to undigested fiber or eating too quickly.
If someone notices the following symptoms plus undigested food in their stool, they should speak with a doctor:
- unexplained weight loss
- blood in stool
- changes in bowel habits
- loss of control of bowels
- chronic diarrhea
- persistent abdominal pain or cramping
- persistent bloating or gas
- signs of dehydration, such as increased thirst or reduced urination
If a doctor suspects that a person has a condition affecting their digestive system, they may order the following diagnostic tests:
- a stool sample to look for blood and other abnormalities
- blood tests to look for nutritional deficiencies or inflammation markers
- endoscopy to look inside the upper digestive tract
- colonoscopy to examine the lower gastrointestinal tract
- biopsy to check for microscopic inflammation
A high-fiber diet is a healthy option for most people, and there is no need for concern if some food particles remain undigested.
However, if the body cannot digest food due to an underlying condition, a doctor will recommend treatment to address the problem.
Depending on the cause, they may recommend medication, dietary changes, or surgery in some cases.
Most of the time, seeing undigested food in the stool is not a cause for concern. It may be the result of eating too fast or eating food with high fiber content.
In situations where a person has other symptoms, including abdominal pain, weight loss, or changes in bowel habits and movements, they may have an underlying medical condition.
A person who has concerns about certain symptoms or changes in their bowel movements should speak with a doctor.
Pieces write in the feces of a child - Pediatrics - 1.03.2018
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anonymous, Woman, 25 years old
Hello! My daughter is almost a year and 2 months old. Up to 6 months they were exclusively on breastfeeding, then they started complementary foods. Now he eats a lot of things, but not yet on the general table, but he does not refuse breastfeeding, I feed him.
Quite often I see pieces of undigested food in the feces, mainly for example carrots or pieces of bell pepper from soup, as they are bright in color and clearly catch the eye. I mash the vegetables in the soup with a fork to get not quite puree, but small pieces. In general, my daughter knows how to chew, she gnaws fruit herself and chews. I once observed this when I made a fruit salad, cutting the fruit into small, small cubes. Apparently, she didn’t chew everything, something flew by like that. In general, this happens to us, quite often, and somehow I never thought before, but is it a pathology? Should something be done or is it still an imperfection of the digestive tract and will still return to normal? The chair is regular, 2-4 times a day, mushy. I would like to ask another passing question, how much water (liquid in principle) should a child drink at our age? Our daughter is a big water drinker, she loves water, compotes (homemade, they recently began to give), children's teas, she drinks a lot, I think.
Answered by Lyudmila Viktorovna Kapustina
gastroenterologist, pediatric gastroenterologist
Hello! Indigestibility of solid fiber is the norm up to 3 years of age. Try to chop such vegetables and fruits, remove the hard skin from apples. The chair should be no more than 2 times a day. Perhaps you are overfeeding, which causes an increase in bowel movements up to 4 times a day. Liquid at the age of 1-2 years - 0.7 - 1 liter per day. Sincerely, Kapustina L.V., pediatric gastroenterologist
anonymous
Thank you very much! Can you clarify about the amount of liquid, 0.7-1 liter is just a drink (water, compotes, teas, or only water) or does this include, for example, soup broth, milk (drinks after porridge in the morning, baby), as well as breast milk?
Kapustina Lyudmila Viktorovna
Soup, milk are not included. Ideally just water. Compote 100 ml per day maximum.
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The release of gases in a healthy person occurs on average 5-15 times a day. But it happens that the number of such episodes increases or the gases acquire a sharp unpleasant odor.
During social distancing and wearing medical masks, this may not be as noticeable, but it still causes discomfort to many people, especially if accompanied by bloating and pain.
Excessive gas formation is most often associated with nutrition.
Knowing the products that cause this effect helps to remedy the situation. When the undigested particles of some of them enter the intestines, bacteria try to break them down and, in the process, release gases. When gas accumulates, it is released.
Foods high in dietary fiber, such as vegetables and legumes, feed good gut bacteria. In turn, these microorganisms process fibers into useful substances - vitamins and butyric acid. But at the same time, as a side effect, some bacteria emit gases.
Gastrointestinal diseases and certain conditions can also cause increased gas production. Among them are lactose and gluten intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Content:
- 1. Legumes
- 2. Cruciferous
- 3. Milk and dairy products
- 4. Gluten products
- 5. Products with inulin
- 6. High protein diet
- 7. Artificial sweeteners
This article is published for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment or as a substitute for professional advice.
Legumes
Photo by Shelley Pauls / Unsplash Beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas and other legumes contain galactooligosaccharides (GOS) and fructans, which are dietary fibers that the human body cannot break down on its own. But intestinal bacteria do an excellent job with this task and love these products very much, but in the process of splitting them, they release gases.
The intensity of gas formation is individual and depends on bacteria: in some people they emit more gases than in others. If a lot of plant fibers, including legumes, are sharply added to the diet, gas formation increases, but with the regular use of these products, this side effect is reduced. Because of this, the transition to veganism or vegetarianism is associated with increased gas formation.
People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are more susceptible to gas discomfort, so some nutritionists recommend a diet low in GOS and fructans, including legumes.
If legumes are scarce in your diet, introduce them gradually. To get started, you can add some lentils or a few beans to a salad, or spread some hummus on a sandwich. So you can avoid increased gas formation.
Cruciferous
Photo by Christophe Dion / Unsplash Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower are common foods that are associated with bloating and gas.
During cooking and chewing, these plants release glucosinolates, sulfur-containing organic compounds.
Research shows that many gut bacteria convert glucosinolates to sulfates and ferrous ions during the fermentation process. In the future, these substances can turn into hydrogen sulfide, due to which the gases acquire an unpleasant odor.
On the one hand, glucosinolates nourish the probiotic bacteria that naturally inhabit the human gut. These bacteria include Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. On the other hand, an intestine with too many sulfate-reducing bacteria like Desulfovibrio can increase the production of hydrogen sulfide, which causes a particularly unpleasant odor.
The Atlas Microbiota Test can tell you if there are too many bacteria in your gut Desulfovibrio responsible for the production of hydrogen sulfide.
Milk and dairy products
Photo by Anita Jankovic / Unsplash If you are lactose intolerant, milk and dairy products cause increased flatulence with an unpleasant odor.
Lactose is a sugar found in milk and is broken down by the enzyme lactase.
When the body does not produce enough lactase, dairy products can cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and severe flatulence within 30 minutes to two hours of consumption.
Flatulence - bloating of the abdomen due to the accumulation of gases.
Probiotic intestinal bacteria like Lactobacillus are able to process and absorb lactose. Their high content in the microbiota may reduce the symptoms of intolerance, especially in people whose diets are high in galactooligosaccharides (GOS).
Foods containing gluten
Photo by Angelo Pantazis / Unsplash Wheat, barley, rye and their products contain gluten. This is a protein that causes increased gas production in people with celiac disease - gluten intolerance. Ingestion of gluten into the digestive tract of a person with celiac disease causes an autoimmune reaction that is accompanied by bloating and abdominal pain, as well as diarrhea.
Gluten sensitivity without celiac disease is another gluten-related condition in which the protein causes increased gas production, but without damaging the gut. Research shows that certain gut bacteria break down gluten into particles that cause an immune system response, which may be one reason for these side effects.
The only way to reduce your immune system's response to foods with gluten is to eliminate them from your diet. But despite the popularity of gluten-free diets, you should be very careful with them. The symptoms of celiac disease are similar to those of other diseases and inflammations of the gastrointestinal tract, therefore, whole food groups can be excluded from the diet only at the direction of a doctor and under his supervision.
Sudden rejection of grains can lead to nutritional deficiencies and imbalances in the microbiota. And this can even exacerbate the problem of increased gas formation. Always check with your doctor or dietitian before making major changes to your diet.
The Atlas genetic test will help you find out if you have a predisposition to lactose and gluten intolerance.
High protein diets
Photo by Viktor Talashuk / UnsplashHigh-protein diets such as keto and meat diets are dominated by beef, eggs, pork, fish, and poultry. These products contain a lot of sulfur, which, as a result of fermentation by bacteria, turns into hydrogen sulfide.
Protein Supplements - Protein powders and bars may also contain ingredients that cause excessive gas and bloating. For example, many protein shakes are made with whey from milk, which can cause an unpleasant gastrointestinal reaction in people with lactose intolerance.
Protein bars and shakes also typically contain low-calorie sweeteners such as sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol, xylitol, and food additives that cause flatulence. Also, many protein bars use inulin as a source of fiber, the fermentation of which bacteria releases a lot of gases.
Foods containing inulin
Photo by Burhan Rexhepi / Unsplash Inulin, a plant fiber that is indigestible by the human body, is one of the favorite treats of good gut bacteria.
But, as we wrote earlier, the joy of bacteria is often accompanied by the release of large amounts of gases.
Inulin is a prebiotic that boosts good bacteria like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. It is then converted by intestinal bacteria to butyrate, a fatty acid that supports the health of the intestinal mucosa.
Inulin improves the absorption of magnesium and calcium, micronutrients that support bone health, nerve and muscle function.
Studies show that it also lowers blood sugar and helps control appetite. However, during the fermentation of inulin, microorganisms also release gases, which can cause bloating and cramps, especially if you eat too much of this fiber. According to studies, the daily intake of inulin for healthy people is 10 grams.
Want to know more about stomach health?
Download the free microbiome book from the Atlas experts!
Sudden addition of large amounts of fiber, including inulin, is likely to cause bloating and gas.
Therefore, any dietary fiber should be introduced into the diet gradually, and over time, side effects in the form of bloating and gas will decrease.
Products containing inulin:
| Product (100 gr) | Inulin content (gr) |
|---|---|
| Chicory root | 35.7–47.6 |
| Garlic (dried) | 20.3–36.1 |
| Jerusalem artichoke | 16.0–20.0 |
| Garlic (raw) | 9.0–16.0 |
| Asparagus | 2.0–3.0 |
| Bow | 1.1-7.5 |
| Bananas | 0.3–0.7 |
Remember, fiber should be taken with plenty of water to avoid constipation. Substitute sugar Polyols are sugar alcohols that are not absorbed by the human body. If you get bloated or gas from time to time, it's nothing to worry about and it's most likely related to what you've eaten. However, you should consult a doctor if you experience the following symptoms: The Atlas Microbiota Test helps to assess the level of bacterial diversity in the gut and the ability of microorganisms to break down dietary fiber. The low potential for fiber breakdown may be one of the causes of increased gas and bloating when eating fiber-rich foods. Products containing sorbitol chewing gums, some sweets, desserts, ice cream, diabetic products lactitol baked goods, chocolate, confectionery, desserts, chewing gum mannitol confections, jams and jellies, puddings and powdered drink mixes, chewing gum xylitol chewable multivitamins, lozenges, sugar-free gum and certain pharmaceutical preparations (cough syrups) 
Instead, they are fermented by bacteria in the large intestine, releasing gases in the process.
More articles about the causes of digestive problems in the blog:
David R. Linden, Hydrogen Sulfide Signaling in the Gastrointestinal Tract, 2014 
Baxter et al., Dynamics of Human Gut Microbiota and Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Response to Dietary Interventions with Three Fermentable Fibers, 2019 
