Here’s the tricky part. Dark stool from blueberries looks identical to dark stool from a bleeding ulcer. Seriously. They’re twins.
So how do you tell them apart? You need to play a little detective. And you need to be honest with yourself.
First clue: quantity. Did you eat a whole pint? Or just a handful? The more you eat, the more likely it’s the berries. A single blueberry muffin probably won’t do it. A whole pie will.
Second clue: the smell. I know, I know. But bear with me. Stool from bleeding has a very distinct, metallic, tar-like odor. Blueberry poop just smells like normal poop. Maybe a little fruity? Okay, maybe not fruity. But not metallic.
Third clue: the timeline. Does it happen right after you eat them? That’s berry-related. If you’re bleeding, it usually happens when you’re stressed, on certain medications (like aspirin or ibuprofen), or if you have a history of ulcers.
The Golden Rule of The Toilet Bowl
Here’s the rule I live by, and you should too. If you ate blueberries in the last 24 hours, and feel fine? Relax. It’s probably just the berries.
Blueberries Make You Poop Black at Holly Stine blog
But if you have any other symptoms? Call your doctor. Don’t mess around.
Symptoms like: stomach pain, dizziness, feeling weak, or vomiting something that looks like coffee grounds. That’s the real red flag. (Or rather, the real dark flag.)