Here’s the tricky part: dark stools can also be a sign of something serious, like bleeding in your stomach. But there’s a very easy way to tell the difference—and it involves your nose. Smell test. I’m serious. If your stool is dark from chocolate, it will smell like… well, chocolate poop. It’s weird, but it’s true. If it’s from internal bleeding, it smells metallic and foul.
Another clue: are you eating the food that causes this? If you’ve just inhaled a bar of dark chocolate, a bag of Oreos, or an entire plate of beets (yes, beets can turn things red, which is a whole other horror story), you’re fine. If you haven’t eaten any dark foods and your stool goes full charcoal, then call a doctor. Don’t be a hero.
The Golden Rule of Dark Stools
Here is the golden rule, and I want you to print this out and tape it to your bathroom mirror: If it floats and it’s dark, it’s probably fine. Chocolate stool tends to be somewhat soft and floaty because of the cocoa butter. Bleeding-related stool is often sticky, tarry, and sinks like a sad little anchor.
Also, what goes in must come out. If you ate six squares of fancy dark chocolate the night before, your poop is going to look like it’s from a chocolate-crazed raven. That’s just physics. And digestion. And deliciousness.
Can dark chocolate make your stool dark ? | Top and Best Health Channel
