What Does It Mean When Your Poop Floats? 8 Possible Causes

Our GI tract and the digestive system in general undergo a lot of changes depending on our diet and lifestyle. So, if you are wondering what does it mean when your poop floats, we would suggest that you read till the end of the article to get a better idea of things.

If you have been struggling with this condition for quite some time now, chances are that you might need to consult a doctor before the situation does get out of hand.

To help you get a better knowledge of things, we have sorted out some of the important points that you need to know when it comes to understanding what does floating poop mean.

What Causes Floating Poop?

If you are here wondering what floating poop is a sign of, you need to understand what could be causing this condition first.

Knowing the same can help you gauge the possible cause that is triggering it and hence opt for a similar approach for mitigating the situation.

Let us take a look at some of the possible causes, shall we?

1. Excess Consumption of Fiber

If your stool is very dense, chances are that the same will make it float.

One of the most common reasons behind dense stool is the excess consumption of fiber-rich food, be it soluble or even the insoluble fibers. Consuming more of insoluble fiber has been found to contribute more to the condition.

Often times, people get scared thinking it is bad when in reality; it is not the case all the time.

Getting your fiber fix from fruits and veggies have been found to be quite beneficial in helping keep your GI tract working efficiently without any issues at all.

Consumption of healthy fibers and floating poop is often a sign of good health.

The majority of the people across the world don’t consume enough fibers, which is often one of the primary reasons behind altered health and well being.

Read: Tips to Reduce Too Much Fiber in Your Diet

2. Excess Gas in the GI Tract

If you thought that you get rid of the gas in your stomach via farting, that is not necessarily the only way. For the most part, the gas gets stuck inside the stools as well, making it floating.

Gas has the ability to reduce the density of the poop, making it lightweight, which has been found to be the main reason why it tends to float.

If you have been experiencing floating poop after eating a gas inducing diet or changed to a completely new diet all of a sudden, the same could be a possible reason behind the condition.

Read: How to Get Rid of Gas: Remedies to Get Rid of Gas

3. Possible Use of Medications

Another possible reason behind the floating poop that you didn’t know of is because of the consumption of certain medications. There are a few prescription drugs that have been found to contribute to the condition of the floating poop, especially when you change to a medicine of the same composition but different dosages.

There are some medications associated with the conditions of Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and even antibiotics which have been found to have direct impacts on the lining of the stomach and intestine, disrupting it.

Such conditions can contribute to the floating poop that you might have been struggling with.

4. Celiac disease

Celiac disease is a condition which is characterized by the reduced absorption of the nutrients from the consumed food because of the reduced functions of the villi in the intestines.

The condition happens when there is damage to the lining of the stomach because of the consumption of gluten. Individuals can’t handle gluten, which later ends up contributing to the condition even further.

While there is no possible cure for the condition, individuals are suggested to avoid gluten completely for better health.

5. Enhanced Presence of Fats in the Stool

One of the other common answers to what does it mean when your poop floats is because of the presence of fats in your stool.

As weird as it might sound, it is believed that the same indicates the lack of nutrient processing in the body which can be a major point of concern for individuals.

If you have been experiencing this issue with floating poop for quite some time, consulting a doctor is a better option.

Malabsorption is one of the most common reasons behind the condition and if you have been experiencing the same, we would suggest that you do focus on seeing a doctor before your body is devoid of the essential nutrients.

Read: 10 Foods High in Unsaturated Fats That One Needs to Stay Wary Of

6. Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a condition which predominantly affects the lungs but its impacts have been noticed in the digestive tract as well.

For the most part, the condition ends up causing the heightened mucus secretion in the lungs and the digestive tract, hampering the optimal nutrient absorption.

This further leads to the issue of floating poop which can be reduced with medications but there are no standard treatment options for the condition available at the moment.

7. Issues with the Pancreas

Yet another one of the common answers to what does floating poop indicate, it could be with the pancreatic issues. It is very likely that you are struggling with pancreatic problems that are making your poop float.

If the condition persists without getting better, we would suggest that you do see a doctor for it before it ends up taking a turn for the worse.

This not just contributes to malabsorption but can even indicate serious underlying issues like pancreatic cancers as well.

It is quite tough to diagnose pancreatic issues with just the symptoms which is why it is important that you get the same tested for better diagnosis.

8. Short Bowel Syndrome

Short bowel syndrome is a condition that is characterized by the lack of proper functioning of the small intestine.

The condition occurs when the small intestine fails to absorb nutrients effectively. It is better than you do seek immediate medical help if the condition doesn’t get better over time.

Is it Bad to Have a Floating Poop?

When it comes to floating poop, people are always scared that it is something bad.

It can happen out of nowhere but that doesn’t necessarily mean that something is wrong with your body straight away. It is very important that you analyse the possible issues first and then opt for medical advice.

If the condition is not getting better and is persistent, it is better that you do see a doctor to get a possible diagnosis for the condition.

Getting that can further help you sort out the confusion and avoid things that could be causing this.

The condition does get serious if there is malabsorption of nutrients involved. This has been found to have direct impacts on the overall well being and the balance in the body, further contributing to the issues.

It is thus best that you see if the condition is persistent for a few days and then seek the necessary treatment options accordingly.

How Can One Prevent this Condition?

With the possible answers to what does floating poop mean, it is important that we suggest some preventive measures for the condition as well.

Knowing these effectively does help prevent the condition from happening again and again or getting worse over time.

Read: Resistant Starch Diet Plan – All That You Need To Know

It is very important that you find better modes of mitigation because that is what matters at the end of the day.

Some of the effective modes of prevention include:

Avoid Changing Diets Drastically

Drastic changes in the diet have been found to be one of the most common reasons behind the condition of floating poop. So, if you have been looking for effective preventive measures, we would suggest that you do focus on making gradual changes to the diet instead of changing things overnight.

Focus on Your Digestive Health

Often times, people don’t pay attention to their digestive health, especially when it comes to intestinal health. If that is something that you have been struggling with, we would suggest that you find better alternatives to the condition. If you struggle with poor intestinal health, it is important that you don’t do things that could further end up making the situation worse.

Have Control on Fiber Intake

If you are wondering what does it mean when your poop floats, consuming excess insoluble fiber is one of the common reasons. For those struggling with this cause, we would suggest that you have control over your fiber intake. It is necessary for one to consume optimal fiber required for the day but ensure that you don’t do it more than you should. That is what ends up causing the problems.

See a Doctor

One of the worst things that people do is brush aside the symptoms. If you have been experiencing issues, make sure that you do keep an eye out for some medical advice. It is a necessity above anything else. If you have been struggling to get your digestive system to agree with the kind of food that you consume. We would highly suggest that you do consult a doctor before it ends up taking a turn for the worse.

If you have been wondering what does it mean when your poop floats, we have sorted out the most common issues. Make sure that you see a doctor if the condition persists and ends up getting worse. It is best that you do focus on finding better alternatives to the triggers, to further maintain a comfortable living.