A lot happens when you go from a meat-based diet to a plant-based one and there is a lot that people do not know about how it affects your body, digestion, energy levels, and body odor. However, one question that doesn’t get asked that often, but is equally important, is: Does poop smell better on plant based diet?

It might sound like an unusual question because it does have a scientific basis. Your diet directly affects your stool: how it looks, smells, and, at least in your case, albumin. People who eat a lot of meat and processed foods typically express having more offensive-smelling bowel movements than those who eat a plant-based diet. But why does this happen? So, let’s look at the science behind it.

The Science Behind Poop Smell

Mostly, the smell of poop comes from bacteria in the digestive tract breaking down food by releasing gases. Hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and skatole are some of the most common odor causing compounds. These are gases that formed from some of the amino acids, fiber and other nutrients which are digested. The intensity of the odor is depending of factors, album diet, rate of digestion and gut microbiome composition.

Most sulfur in food of animal origin, in particular red meat, eggs and dairy. In the guts, however, the hydrogen sulfide causing the smell of rotten eggs is released when gut bacteria breaks these down. For example, plant foods tend to have less sulfur they are higher fiber, therefore influencing the composition and odor of the stool.

How a Plant-Based Diet Affects Poop Odor

As the smell of stool is largely determined by a plant-based diet consisting of lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, a change in diet can have a positive impact. Here’s how:

1. Lower Sulfur Content = Less Stink

Sulfur-rich amino acids in meat and dairy products break down in gut bacteria to form an impure and odorous form of hydrogen sulfide gas. So, plant-based foods tend to have less sulfur and therefore emit less odiferous stool.

2. More Fiber = Faster Digestion

Most (if not all) (10, 11) plant-based diets consist of fiber which is good for passes along the digestive tract quickly and keeping your bowl movements regular. The longer any waste remains in the intestines the longer bacteria can break it down which leaves them with a stronger odor. Waste moves through the system faster with fiber, not only taking away the odors but also cutting back on time for bacterial activity.

3. Better Gut Microbiome = Healthier Digestion

This is because a fiber rich plant based diet helps beneficial bacteria abundance while reducing the population of odor producing bacteria. The research suggests that those who eat more plants – and less meat and dairy – have a more varied and balanced mix of bacteria in their gut, digestive benefits and less smelly gases.

4. A More Natural, Earthy Scent

The breakdown of plant fibres and natural sugars from plant-based foods often make plant based eaters describe their stool as earthier, more mild smelling. These breakdown products from plant products are less pungent than the sulfur heavy compounds from animal products.

5. More Hydration, Softer Stool

The higher the water content of the plant based food, the more so it is mostly fruits and vegetables. Softening properly hydrated stool helps in making softer, easy to pass stool that don’t have a chance to stay in the colon long enough for odor.

This is because there are certain foods, which even when eaten in small portions, may continue to produce strong odors in the body of the consumer.

Foods That Can Still Cause Strong Odors

There are ways and means of managing the smell of your stools even when on a plant-based diet as some kinds of food contribute to a stronger smell. Here are a few culprits:

• Green vegetables: These include broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts and cauliflower and they contain a lot of sulfur hence leading to increase in formation of gas and bad breath.
• Garlic and onions – Both are healthy but contain sulfur compounds which are likely to cause smelly stools.
• Beans and legumes – it is a good source of fiber and therefore protein and it usually contributes to formation of gases and bad smell in stool if not well broken down.
• Fermented foods such as kimchi, sauerkraut, Kombucha – These have an effect on the bacteria in the gut hence are likely to change the smell of stool but are healthy.

Additional Benefits of a Plant-Based Diet for Digestion

1. Less Constipation

This assist in preventing constipation which further results to foul smelling stool because of fermentation for a long time in the large intestine.

2. Reduced Risk of Gut Inflammation

They state that meat-rich meals upset the balance of the body and cause inflammation in the G. The problem is that the smell which emanates from the stoma is rather unpleasant. Antioxidants and fiber from a plant-based diet, as a source of nutrition, help to maintain a healthy gut and reduces the risk of inflammation.

3. Lower Risk of Gastrointestinal Disorders

Consuming more fiber has a link with decrease odds of developing IBS, DIVERTICULITIS, colon cancer, etc., which may alter anything related to bowel movements such as hue and smell.

Conclusion

The author states that change to plant-based diet results in the poop which is less smelling as compared to normal, its smell is more neutral and this is attributed to reduction in the sulfur content of the poop, quicker digestion of the food and healthy colon. Thus, one can always find some factors to pinpoint as being responsible for the different smells of people’s feces.

Although a plant-based diet does not necessarily produce a smell that is pleasant, it can surely reduce the unpleasant smell of poop. Considering the fact that consuming large portions of plant products contribute to better digestion and more comfortable visits to the bathroom, it is advisable to take products containing high amounts of plants.

FAQs

1. Does poop smell immediately improve after switching to a plant-based diet?

Not necessarily. Your gut bacteria takes awhile to get used to the transition to a plant based diet. Bloating or gas is possible for a few weeks, then stool odor may get milder.

2. Can a plant-based diet cause poop to smell worse?

In some cases, yes. Stronger odors are associated with eating too many sulfur-rich vegetables (broccoli, cabbage) or fermentable fibers (beans, legumes). But this normally evenuates itself over time.

3. Why does fiber help with better-smelling poop?

Upping fiber speeds up digestion, shortening how long food is spent and reacts in your gut. This results in the lesser production of smelly things.

4. How long does it take for poop odor to change after switching diets?

When you go completely plant based, it does fluctuate from person to person, but most people will see some level of change within one to two weeks.

5. Does plant-based poop float or sink?

Fiber rich poop floats because it has more gas and water content, while the poop derived from low fiber, high meat diet sinks and is more dense.

6. Are there specific plant-based foods that make poop smell pleasant?

According to some of the anecdotal reports, the fruits like pineapple, citrus, and berries can help make your stool slightly milder tasting and slightly sweeter smelling by virtue of its natural enzymes and fiber content.