By - Dr. Swathi Kilari

When I first searched the question online (for research purposes only), I expected goofy answers.

Is it supposed to make it red, then?

And it could get worse.

Does Coca-Cola make your poop black?

Does sprite make it clear?

… Authors are kind now; they only talk science.

If you are here in a rush, the answer is – Yes, it does. Red wine can and will make your poop black if not controlled. But, surprisingly enough, most people do not know about this and panic. 

Don’t get red wine wrong. This has health benefits – but in a controlled way. 

While the black color might be a case of GI, this can cause serious health problems. The best way to deal with this would be to find out the cause (if it’s actually red wine) and react accordingly.

I’m here to help you to investigate the matter.

Red Wine & The Spotting in Your Stool

There’s science – especially chemistry – behind this.

Before all that, be sure that the red wine is causing all these problems. But if you have had red wine the night before, it’s that without any doubt. 

The reasons lie in the pigments in the grapes and tannin or anthocyanin present in the wine. But again, this will depend on the nature of the grapes, agricultural practices used in the production of the grapes, and the kind of grapes. 

Like most other beverages, red wine can change the shade of your poop. To be sure of that, cut off red wine from your list for a day or two and notice the differences. If you’re fine without that, then that’s the reason. If not, there are serious underlying issues.

I have seen people claiming that their stool is green because of red wine. 

And there’s a reason behind that too. This is because your body may just add more bile to the digestive tract when you consume red wine to deal with that situation. The color of the bile will mix with the stool, making it a slightly greenish shade. 

It is not severe; you can quickly get away with it by cutting off alcoholic beverages until it gets better. However, if you still find yourself in a complete loop, there’s something severe going on.

The Red Wine Effect

This one is severe and has connections with the GI tract and the burning inner linings. 

Fun fact — the black stool might not be black at all. It’s a shade of deeper red due to upper gastrointestinal bleeding. This digested blood appears black and gets passed with the poop — the poop we’re about to discuss. 

Starting with bowel movements, red wine surely affects your daily rituals like bowel movements. 

While the change of the color of your stool can be of different causes other than the bleeding of the gastrointestinal lining, the common cause might be due to excessive use of red dye in your red wine, which is entirely legal. 

Then die, or the wine’s ingredients can change your waste’s color and texture. If this is the case, you should be less worried. If it’s not, then it is a matter of concern, and you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. 

There might be other underlying issues too. While searching and going in-depth about this color changing stool symptom, I found out there is a condition called ‘bowel ischemia’, which, according to Google, is — 

“Intestinal ischemia occurs when the blood flow through the major arteries that supply blood to your intestines slows or stops.”

This will not scare you, but it will require instant medical attention before it worsens. 

You should know that any type of alcohol will make your metabolism faster, which will help food pass through small and large intestines faster. Before it gets worse, you should try out some techniques that will help you avoid the circumstances above— 

Do this for a couple of days and see their results yourself. If the situation demands professional or medical attention, you should seek it immediately and as fast as possible. 

When Should You be Worried? 

Let’s imagine a scenario — you are noticing black poop and had a red wine that day or the day before. Finally, you come to a conclusion, and the situation is because of the red wine. 

So, you take advice from this article and cut off red wine for a couple of days. You had a balanced diet, ate healthy, and drank lots of water. 

Now let’s imagine the result of the scenario — most of the time, you will see that your health is back to normal, and you have regular discharges. 

If the situation is similar to the above, you do not have anything to worry about. The change of color or texture was because of the pigments in the red wine or something similar to completely harmless dad. 

In that case, you’ll be fine even if you do not visit a doctor. But I will always suggest visiting one just to be on the safe side. 

But on the other hand, if the situation is not like this and the situation is still not improving after the control died, then the reason lies beyond the red wine pigments and might be connected to GI bleeding. 

This means that your intestine or stomach is hurt, and the black color is because of the blood mixed with the stool. That’s quite dangerous if you think about it, but it is curable. For that, we must visit a professional and be under constant medical attention. 

This is when you must visit the doctor as soon as possible. 

Is Red Wine Good Enough? 

Red wine actually has health benefits and is usually used in cooking. Unfortunately, I have seen many people drink red wine as if it were a regular drink, and that’s where the problem arises, you have to control your drinking because whatever it is, it is an alcoholic beverage. 

Even though red wine is full of goodness and health benefits, this should still be consumed in a controllable manner. Red wine is good for IBS as it is low in FODMAPS. This does not harm your stomach if you suffer from acidity or gastritis. 

That said, too much consumption can actually affect the bowels and cause constipation and sometimes diarrhea. That’s when you start to see those black spots in your discharge. 

In a nutshell, red wine is IBS-friendly, and you still need to drink it controlled to avoid getting into trouble. 

FAQs: 

I’ll answer some of your frequently asked questions, and if you’re in a hurry, you can just skip into this part of the article and get all your answers summarized below.: 

Is red wine actually good for your health? 

Actually, it is. It’s better than white wine. Red wine has antioxidants, prevents inflammation, protects from heart diseases, helps to promote longevity and prevents or secures other external diseases. In addition, it has proven health benefits against heart diseases. 

But that doesn’t mean that you should consume red wine without moderation. According to experts, a glass a day is ideal for women of all ages. For men, it is a class a day over the age of 65. 

Can red wine change the color and texture of your poop?

It certainly does. It’s either the pigment or the bleeding of your GI which will always affect your discharge at the end of the day. If it’s serious, like I mentioned in the article, You should visit a gastroenterologist as soon as possible. 

Can your poop turn green due to red wine? 

Yes, it can. It is mainly because of the bile mixed with the poop in certain cases. Bile has its own yellow-ish green y color, which makes it pop out more in the texture. 

Does red wine turn your poop dark? 

It is due to the mixture of the blood that has come out due to the irritation of the gastrointestinal tract. The blood as it passes through the tract appears black and tries to pass with the school, and in the process, it gets mixed with it, which is why the color of the discharge or poop is black. 

Which red wine is good for the stomach? 

From my research and user experiences, people seem to love merlot and low-alcohol red wine, which is safe to positively affect the bacteria in the intestine. 

Red wine contains polyphenol compounds which are good for intestinal bacteria in your gut. 

So, if you want to switch, this one is a good alternative, considering it has actual health benefits compared to other red wines.

What is the cure of My Poop Turning Dark? 

You have to visit a Gastroenterologist and explain your problem. The expert will suggest some tests to ensure the irritation of your gastrointestinal tract and suggest diet, antibiotics and medicines according to the damage. 

For starters, you must quit drinking alcoholic beverages and switch to a healthier diet that includes more water and natural foods. If Red wine is turning your poop dark my friend, take red wine out of your diet plan.

You might have to exercise and be mindful of what goes in your body. This will all require patience and consistency. 

If you think you can maintain all these by being consistent and patient, then the treatment is a piece of cake for you. 

You’ll be back to your normal routine in a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean you should be allowed to repeat the same mistakes. Remember to take care of your body!