Anytime we eat, our digestive system breaks down the food into small absorbable particles, which can then be used by our bodies. These are the foods that give us carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals, vitamins, and others. It is obvious to know that your body does not absorb all the food you eat. Some of it is given out as a waste product and that forms feces or poop. Ideally, a healthy person’s poop should always sink. This is because poop is always denser than the water and therefore, anytime you visit the toilet, it should be able to sink. What about the poop that does not sink? Is there a problem when your poop is floating on water? Well, the answer is yes and no at the same time. You could be healthy and have a floating stool, particularly after eating certain types of foods. However, in most cases, floating poop is usually a result of having too much gas, eating a lot of fatty diets, or being high in fiber. It can also be a sign that you are suffering from various disorders like malabsorption, gastrointestinal infection, or pancreatitis. This post primarily focuses on the causes of floating poop and the tips you can follow to maintain normal poop. Floating poop is caused by a variety of factors which are:
Malabsorption. Floating stool is a symptom of malabsorption syndrome, according to the 2021 research. Malabsorption happens when your gastrointestinal system is impaired, making it hard to digest food and therefore cannot be absorbed effectively. People with malabsorption usually have smelly poop that is greasy and large. There are two types of malabsorption which are fat malabsorption and carbohydrate malabsorption. Between the two, fat malabsorption is the most common and often leads to steatorrhea. Steatorrhoea is a condition where your stool has excess fats, making it float. It is easy to think that you have steatorrhea when your poop floats, but it’s good to know that when the poop sticks to the toilet bowl, that is a more specific sign of steatorrhea. Again, excess fats in stool can result from other malabsorption conditions like small intestine and liver disorders, and biliary diseases. People who have had their portion of small intestines removed surgically because of conditions like cancers, also experience malabsorption, which makes their poop float.
Liver Disease. The liver produces bile, which helps the body digest food properly. When your body produces less bile juice, it means that bile cannot reach food in the intestines. Because of this, the stool becomes fatty, which can then give people diarrhea and weight loss. When your liver functions become impaired, the liver becomes unable to carry out certain processes like the metabolism of food. People who suffer from liver diseases because of various factors like alcoholism, also find it hard to absorb fats, and therefore they excrete all this fat in their stool. Gallstones and blocked bile ducts may lead to fat stools as well.
Lactose Intolerance. This happens when someone cannot metabolize lactose properly. In such people, their bodies usually cannot produce a certain enzyme known as lactase, which is essential in the synthesis of lactose. Because of this, people with lactose intolerance may experience symptoms like diarrhea and bloating anytime they consume cheese, milk, or other dairy products. Ingesting dairy products when you are lactose intolerant leads to malabsorption, which then causes gas in your stool and makes it float.
Excessive Gas. There are certain food types when eaten, they cause excess gas in the stomach. It is okay to have some gas after eating because you can swallow it with food. Gas is also a by-product of food when it is being digested. One thing you should know is that any food that gives you gas is usually high in sugars, lactose, starch, or fiber. However, having gas that causes pain, bloating, and discomfort can be because of eating foods like cabbage, milk, beans, apples, soft drinks, sugar-free candies, and others. The best way to avoid being gassy, you can avoid the above-listed foods and instead supplement them with ones with less or no gas at all, for example, eggs, fish, meats, poultry, gluten-free bread, rice, etc.
Pancreatic Problems. Your pancreas produces enzymes that help emulsify (breaking down into smaller soluble particles) and digest fats for better absorption. If your pancreas is not making enough of these enzymes, fat will remain in your intestines unabsorbed. Your body will then excrete together all this fat with your stool, making it float. Two conditions can impair the production of pancreatic enzymes which are: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and blockage of the pancreatic ducts, making them unable to drain bile juice into the small intestines. Pancreatic head mass and tumors can as well block pancreatic ducts, making it hard to function properly. According to the American Cancer Society, having floating stools may be an early sign of pancreatic cancer, and therefore, it’s important to get an early check-up from the moment you see this sign. Assuming that you have this pancreatic cancer, the mass can grow bigger, blocking the flow of pancreatic enzymes and bile juice from accessing your intestines to break down fats. Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) can also lead to floating stools.
Other medical conditions can cause floating stools as well. They are:
Celiac disease, an autoimmune disease that causes damage to the lining of the small intestines. This inflammation happens mostly when you eat food containing gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat products and stimulates an allergy in some people.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited chronic disease that causes the production of excess thick and sticky mucus. On examination, doctors find this mucus in the lungs and the digestive system as well. In the digestive system, it affects the liver and the pancreas, where the excess mucus prevents the proper absorption of nutrients. This is because the mucus impairs the ability of the pancreas to produce digestive enzymes, and this makes a lot of fats accumulate in your intestines, causing floating stools.
For more tips on the causes of floating poop and how you can prevent it, check the following sites:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325274#malabsorption
https://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Floating-Stools
Conclusion
As we have seen, there are many causes behind floating stools. These factors may range from simple malabsorption to threatening conditions like pancreatic cancers and liver diseases. Diet is the greatest contributing factor in floating poop, although other lifestyle modifications may also play a part. Stomach infections, celiac disease, and cystic fibrosis disorders also alter how fat is absorbed within our digestive system. To know that your condition is worsening, you may experience dizziness, bloody stools, or fever, and therefore, seeking medical attention is important. Your doctor may prescribe some medications to ease your conditions, but he/she will recommend dietary changes for a long-lasting solution.
#floatingpoop #floatingstools #causesoffloatingpoop #stool #poop
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Thank you for sharing this info
am familiar with a lot of bowel problems.