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Fame Shock News

why does my poop smell like fish

Author

Jessica Young

Updated on June 23, 2026

Trimethylamine in humans is excreted through sweat in addition to urine and feces. People have different amounts of the enzyme that breaks down TMA so there’s a variance in the noticeable effect of fishy breath and sweat after consuming fish. A very few people lack the enzyme entirely.

What does the smell of your poop indicate?

The smell comes from bacteria in the colon that help break down digested food. Poop may smell different due to changes in your diet. But very foul-smelling feces can be a sign of a serious medical condition, such as: Celiac disease.

What bacteria causes foul-smelling stool?

Foul-smelling stools may also be a sign of an intestinal viral, bacterial (like E. coli or Salmonella), or parasitic infection. These infections can occur after eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water (which can also happen when swimming).

What are the 7 types of poop?

Bristol stool chart
Type 1: Marbles. Appearance: Hard and separate little lumps that look like nuts and are hard to pass. Type 2: Caterpillar. Appearance: Log-shaped but lumpy. Type 3: Hot dog. Appearance: Log-shaped with some cracks on the surface. Type 4: Snake. Type 5: Amoebas. Type 6: Soft serve. Type 7: Jackson Pollock.

What is the most common cause of smelly stool?

Most of the time, smelly poop is caused by your diet. It could be caused by eating certain foods or from lactose intolerance. But if it routinely smells bad, you may have an imbalance in your microbiome or a disease like inflammatory bowel disease. Occasional foul-smelling stool may not require any treatment.

What foods cause smelly poop?

When you eat foods that are high in sulfur—such as meats, dairy, garlic, and cruciferous veggies (think: broccoli, cabbage, kale)—your gut works overtime to digest them and produces a larger amount of the gasses that make your poop smell.

What is a ghost poop?

Dr. Islam gives us three definitions of the elusive ghost poop: 1) the urge to poop that ends up only being gas, 2) a poop so smooth that it went down the drain before you could see it, and lastly 3) a visible poop in the toilet, but zero poop marks on your toilet paper after wiping.

Should your poop float or sink?

Healthy Poop (Stool) Should Sink in the Toilet

Floating stools are often an indication of high fat content, which can be a sign of malabsorption, a condition in which you can’t absorb enough fat and other nutrients from the food you’re ingesting.

What does skinny poop mean?

Narrow stools that occur infrequently probably are harmless. However in some cases, narrow stools — especially if pencil thin — may be a sign of narrowing or obstruction of the colon due to colon cancer.

How do I stop my poop from smelling?

You can help stop super smelly poops with these easy tips to quell the smell and stifle the rifle:
Eat less. Cut back on ultra-processed foods and unhealthy fats. See ya, sulphur. Cut down on sugar alcohols. Cut down on certain foods. Swallow less air. Favour fibre. Drink more water.

What does malabsorption poop look like?

When there is inadequate absorption of fats in the digestive tract, stool contains excess fat and is light-colored, soft, bulky, greasy, and unusually foul-smelling (such stool is called steatorrhea). The stool may float or stick to the side of the toilet bowl and may be difficult to flush away.

Why is my poop sticky and smelly?

Sticky poop can be a symptom of a temporary or chronic digestive disorder, or the result of a diet that contains too much fat. Sticky poop can appear greasy and pale or dark and tarry. If you also have other symptoms, such as gas or abdominal cramps, talk to your doctor to determine the cause.