Does Poop Smell Better On Plant-based Diet?

A vegan diet is all about eating plant-based foods. As many are beginning to switch to vegan diets, some are asking this salient question: Does poop smell better on plant-based diet? Truly, what you eat can determine the smell of your poop, but does it matter if there are no health conditions?

If you eat more plant-based foods, your body breaks them down efficiently, and it leads to easier digestion. This could lead to less or no putrefaction and a much better smell when you are relieving yourself.

In this article, we will highlight how diet influences digestion and poo smell, foods that cause smell when eating plant-based foods, and how to reduce poo smell while on a plant-based diet. But first, let’s define what it means to be on a plant-based diet.

What are plant-based diets?

These diets eliminate any animal product and instead allow foods of plant origin like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, and seeds. Plant-based diets exclude or limit animal products such as meat, dairy, or eggs.

Plant-based diets are low in fats, cholesterol, and sugars; hence, they improve the immune system, aid digestion, and are good for losing weight. They can also assist in reducing high blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation in the body.

Stool Odor: What Exactly Is That Smell?

1. What you eat

The source of the bad smell in the stools may be a result of your diet. This means that the kind of food you eat affects the digestive system. Consuming excessive amounts of processed food, sugar, and unhealthy fats causes digestive problems such as bloating, gas, and constipation.

On the other hand, a diet rich in fiber, fruit, vegetables, and whole grains can help aid digestion and bowel movement. What it is important to note here is that foods with a high sulfur content, which includes broccoli, eggs, and garlic, will make you release a stronger smell.

2. Infections

A foul-smelling stool could be a sign of infection in the gastrointestinal tract. Candidiasis and bacterial overgrowth or parasites could be the reason your poop stinks.

3. Insufficient water intake

Another cause of the change in the smell of your stool is when you are dehydrated or you don’t have enough water in your body. In other words, the health of the human body, particularly the digestive system, depends on how one takes water.

4. Medication

Some medicines can change the smell of the stool. If you are on certain medication, it can also affect the smell of your poop, however, it won’t be a bad idea to discuss it with the doctor.

5. Chronic medical conditions

Medical conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflamatory bowel disease (IBD), can also affect the smell of the feces. These conditions may require ongoing management and monitoring, but sometimes they go on their own.

Does Poop Smell better on Plant-based Diet?

Yes. You may be asking yourself whether going vegan means your poop will smell better; the answer is yes. The dietary fiber present in plant foods ensures proper digestion. In addition, avoiding animal products in your diet can also ensure that you eat less sulfurous compounds, which make one’s pool smell a lot.

However, the smell of poop depends on the type of bacteria in your gut as well as what you eat, irrespective of whether it is plant-based or not. A diet rich in fiber mainly can help improve digestion and produce less smelly feces.

How diet influences the digestion process and the smell of poop

Here are some key points to consider:

What you eat

Yes, the foods that you take either facilitate or hamper digestion. Fiber-rich diets, fruits, and vegetables aid digestion, while unhealthily processed foods and bad fats precipitate digestive disorders like constipation or diarrhea.

The type of bacteria in your gut

Of course, the specific combination of bacteria living in your gut directly affects the odor of feces. Good bacteria digest foods well and make little stinking feces, while bad bacteria make the poop stink.

Certain foods, like onions and garlic

But you need to understand that certain foods, such as garlic, onions, cruciferous vegetables, and even red meat, will produce very foul-smelling compounds once they get into your digestive system, and you will also pass out the same smell in your stools.

Dehydration

When one is dehydrated, he or she will have a hard stool that will cause constipation. This leads to bad breath as your poo remains in your colon for far longer than it should.

Foods high in sulfur

Foods that contain sulfur, such as eggs, cabbage, and certain types of dairy, will produce hydrogen sulfide when in the digestive system, which will make it smell like rotten eggs. If you experience a sulfuric smell after taking these foods, it is likely from them.

Poo smell on plant-based diet vs. omnivorous diet

Plant-Based Diet: A plant-based diet usually has less smell. The natural enzymes in plant-based foods help break down waste easily, which is why the odor is milder compared to those on a carnivore diet.

Omnivorous Diet: Animal products are hard for the body to digest, and as sulfur builds up in the intestinal tract, it leads to poor bowel movement. In addition people who consume both animal products and processed foods may  experience smelly fart and bloating.

Factors that determine the smell of the poop on a plant-based diet

1. Fiber intake

The first factor that can determine the smell of a stool under a vegan diet is the quantity of fiber you take. When you constantly take fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products, your gut bacteria have more to digest and, in the process, produce more gases and therefore bad odors.

2. Type of food

Another factor is the types of foods. Some foods, such as cruciferous vegetables and beans, can produce a stronger odor because they cause the digestive system to produce more gases.

3. Hydration level

This can affect the smell of your poop in some cases. If you are dehydrated, the stool that you pass hardens, and the level of odor goes high. You experience this because of the intense level of bacterial action. To ensure that all processes run smoothly, make sure you drink plenty of water during the day.

4. Gut health

The overall health of the gut microbiome is also among the things that can make your poop smell. To decrease the stress, you need to eat plant-based foods containing prebiotics.

5. Stress and anxiety

When one is stressed, the muscles compress, also, hormones released in the process may cause digestive issues, and an imbalance of good bacteria. These can make one to have a smelly poop. To avoid this, learn how to cope with stress, eat well, avoid the triggers, and of course, rest.

6. Type of medication

Sometimes, your poop smells so much because of certain medications or supplements you are taking. Some of them include antibiotics.

These medications can upset the normal balance of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, which in turn changes the smell. If you notice a change in the smell of your stool after you begin taking a new drug, you should consult your doctor.

How to reduce stool odor

• Eat probiotic-rich foods: Reduce your intake of foods that lead to the production of foul smells by including gut-friendly foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and tempeh in your diet.
• Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is very good for digestion; a lack of it may lead to constipation and a bad smell from the poop.
• Limit gas-producing foods: Beans, broccoli, and cruciferous vegetables are healthy, but they produce smelly gas as well as cause diarrhea. So, don’t overcook them. You can eat them with herbs or spices to neutralize the smell.
• Include fiber-rich foods: Fiber is good for proper digestion and can reduce the tendency to have smelly feces. Substitute the refined grains, fruits, and vegetables to add more fiber to your diet.
• Chew your food thoroughly: Chewing your food properly plays a vital role in digestion and can also help prevent smelly poop. Don’t be in a hurry; chew your food properly for easy digestion.
• Avoid processed foods: Most processed foods are made with chemicals and preservative agents that harm digestion and thus lead to foul-smelling stools. Choose whole and natural foods for a healthy gut.
• Stay active: To maintain your digestive health, try to do some physical exercise every day.
• Limit alcohol and caffeine intake: Coffee and alcohol can irritate the gastrointestinal tract. These substances should, however, only be taken in moderation for a better digestive system to be achieved.

Does diet affect poop smell? Yes, what you eat can affect the smell of your poop, and does poop smell better on plant-based diet? It does because of the fiber content; moreover, when you use less sulfurous compounds in animal-based products, your poop doesn’t stink much.

However, you should stick to a balanced diet for optimal gut health rather than focusing on the smell of your poop.