colour change with diet

[Snowcat18]

Hi everyone. Hope this isn’t too gross but I’ve recently changed to a vegan diet for all sorts of reasons, but I’ve noticed that, apart from a bit of constipation which always happens when I up my fibre intake, I’ve noticed my stools while still brown are slightly lighter brown than before and the wipe on the paper is pale yellow - anyone know if this is normal with a vegan diet? I’ve also just finished a 3 week course of antibiotics which might have something to do with it I suppose. I don’t have much fat in my diet, or sugar, and apart from IBS and diverticula disease my bowels are ‘normal’ lol! 😂 I probably wouldn’t pay any attention to this if I wasn’t so fixated on all things gut related! I’m taking probiotics now to counteract any damage caused by the antibiotics…

[Oneash]

Yellow poo can be a sign of Anemia. As a vegan you must take a vitamin B12 supplement, as you really can't get reliable amounts from fortified foods, or seaweed. It only comes in the right quantities in meat, fish, eggs and dairy produce. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia (enlarged red blood cells that then can't carry oxygen) and lots of other nerve, brain, DNA, immune system, energy release trouble. (I know I have Pernicious Anemia the autoimmune version, so need injections.) An inflamed ileum can stop you absorbing it too. It can go hand in hand with coeliac and Crohn's.

Getting enough iron (for the better understood version of anemia) can be tricky on a vegan diet, depending on how well you digest non heme iron. Lots of green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, lentils and dates.

It might be worth going for a blood test first, before you take supplements to check your base levels of serum vitamin B12, homocysteine, methylmalonic acid, ferritin and hemoglobin blood cell size and count.

It's certainly good for your health to get in lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts and pulses.

[Oneash in reply to Oneash]

And olive oil!

[Snowcat18 in reply to Oneash]

Ah, thank you for replying. My bloods are all good - had them done recently and I take B12 supplements but I will keep an eye on my levels in the future. Unfortunately I can’t have leafy green veg due to the anticoagulants I’m on for life. The rest I’m good with except fruit - I can only have berries.

[Orchid99]

Hi, I would say it's the antibiotics, I'm having the same after taking antibiotics a few weeks ago.

[Snowcat18 in reply to Orchid99]

Thank you for replying. That’s very reassuring. I was wondering if it could be the antibiotics- guess it’s the gut biome thing! I’m due to start 8 weeks of doxycycline 😱 so it’s reassuring to know what’s in store! I’m taking a probiotic at the moment which I’m hoping will help. Good to know I’m not unique so thank you for taking the time to put my mind at ease!

[Orchid99 in reply to Snowcat18]

I'm happy to help, yes definitely take probiotics or even eat probiotic foods if you can tolorate them. Hope all goes well.

[kay-os]

antibiotics deffo. get some lacto types. Eat fermented veg.... you will have loads of dead bacteria in your poo so drinks lots to flush them out first Good luck you will adjust and the animals will love you! XX

[Snowcat18 in reply to kay-os]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. That’s very reassuring! I will pay attention to my fluid intake! I love animals - just don’t want any animal to have to die just to feed me when I can easily eat something else! Xx

[kay-os]

You are welcome! They say 'you are what you eat' very true I think, and also the growth hormones in the animals, and the trauma and fear from the slaughter process. Carnivores are often more aggressive animal and human types.