Thu, 30 Apr 2026 22:05:16 +0000

Eating Orange Foods Could Be Turning Your Poop Orange—Shocking Science Behind It! Have you ever turned your toilet bowl a vibrant orange after eating orange-hued foods? While it might sound alarming, this curious phenomenon is rooted in real science—and it’s more common than you might think. If you’ve noticed your poop resembling the color of a fresh tangerine or a juice box, here’s what’s really happening behind the scene. ### Why Do Orange Poop Surprises Happen? The primary culprit behind orange poop is the pigment beta-carotene, a naturally occurring carotenoid abundant in orange foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, apricots, pumpkins, and oranges themselves. When you consume these foods, your body breaks down beta-carotene into beta-carotene metabolites, which are absorbed into the bloodstream and eventually excreted through bile into the intestines—changing stool color temporarily.