What Happens To Your Poop When You Eat Too Many Grapes

Very often, your morning business is done on autopilot — you roll out of bed, take a drink of water, head to the bathroom, finish whatever it is you do in there, and go make yourself your morning cup of coffee. 

There are those times, however, when you may be prompted to take a second look at your poop, like the times when you're wondering what causes your poop to turn green. Eating too many green grapes can do that to your stools, as explained by registered dietician nutritionist Mary Sabat (via Eat This, Not That!). 

"Green-colored poop after eating green grapes can be attributed to a natural pigment present in grapes called chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is responsible for the green color in plants and can sometimes pass through your digestive system without being fully broken down," explained the expert. Undigested chlorophyll in grapes is the cause of green-hued feces. What about when you consume grapes of other shades, like the blue or purple kind? This can result in green poop too as the undigested coloring in the fruit can mix with your regular poop and come out green. 

Yes, fruits have fiber, and yes, they are good for digestion. But when you eat too many grapes, you could give yourself diarrhea (per WebMD). This is because grapes, like most fruits, have fructose (natural sugar) in them. In fact, they're considered a high-fructose fruit. They also contain tannins. Both of these natural compounds can lead to gas, an upset stomach, and diarrhea, per the Australian Institute of Food Safety. 

In some instances, like when you have food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), consuming grapes might cause digestive issues like bloating, constipation, or diarrhea. There is also such a thing as a grape allergy, where even eating a small amount of grapes can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, stomach cramps, and other physiological symptoms. 

Poop color, food intolerances, and allergies aside, grapes — known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-reducing properties — are a great fruit to add to your diet. Their rich concentration of fiber and potassium supports cardiovascular health, relieves constipation, and regulates blood pressure levels (per Medical News Today). Regular consumption of grapes is also linked with better eye and brain health. The vitamin K in grapes could ward off osteoporosis, according to Healthline. Ultimately, it's about understanding the fruit's benefits and side effects and also knowing how much is too much. 

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPlate recommendation for fruit intake, how much fruit you should be consuming per day will vary depending on your age, level of physical activity, and other considerations. On average, though, fruit intake by cup leaves adult women at 1½ to 2 cups daily and men at 2 to 2½ cups per day. With grapes, one cup amounts to 22 seedless grapes. 

However, according to Joshua J. Redd, a chiropractic physician and author of "The Truth About Low Thyroid: Stories of Hope and Healing for Those Suffering with Hashimoto's Low Thyroid Disease," the higher fructose content in grapes is concerning. "Keep in mind that grapes and other fruits today have been bred to be much sweeter than they originally were. Due to their high sugar content, grapes are best enjoyed in moderation," explained the expert (via USA Today).  

That being said, if you have underlying health conditions that could be affected by the sugar, fiber, or any other properties in the fruit, make sure you run this recommendation by your healthcare provider before adding grapes to your diet. For example, those on blood thinning medications who need to keep stable levels of vitamin K should be mindful of eating too many grapes. It's not just green poop or diarrhea you have to worry about with overconsumption of grapes.