Floating stools are stools that have an abnormally high gas content, which makes them buoyant in water. They tend to float when passing a bowel motion. Floating stools are typically an indication of excess gas in the stool. This gas can originate from swallowed air or from dietary components that are poorly absorbed in the intestines.
What Causes Floating Stools?
There are a few main causes of floating stools:
- Dietary fiber – Fiber is not digested and absorbed like other food components. It passes through the intestines intact. Fiber helps add bulk to stools and makes them float.
- Gas-producing foods – Certain carbohydrates in foods can produce gas as they are broken down by gut bacteria. Foods like beans, cabbage, and carbonated beverages release gas.
- Swallowed air – Air that is swallowed while eating or drinking can directly enter the intestines and become incorporated into stools, making them float.
- Malabsorption – Medical conditions that affect the digestion and absorption of nutrients can result in excess gas production and floating stools.
- Rapid transit time – If food passes too quickly through the digestive tract, excess gas and floating stools can occur.
While floating stools can sometimes indicate an underlying medical issue, they are usually caused by something simple like too much gas-producing food in the diet. Adjusting the diet is often enough to resolve chronic floating stools.
Specific Foods That May Cause Floating Stools
There are many different foods that can contribute to gas production in the intestines. Here are some of the top gas-producing foods that may lead to floating stools:
1. Beans
All types of beans, including black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, and garbanzo beans (chickpeas) are notorious gas producers. Beans contain complex sugars called alpha-galactosides that human digestive enzymes cannot break down. When these sugars reach the intestines, gut bacteria ferment them, releasing hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and methane gas in the process.
2. Vegetables from the cabbage family
Vegetables like cabbage, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and kale contain a complex sugar called raffinose, which produces gas as it is fermented by intestinal bacteria. Cooking these vegetables may help reduce gas production.
3. Carbonated beverages
Beverages like soda, beer, and sparkling water contain dissolved carbon dioxide gas. As this gas is released from the liquid in the intestines, it can be incorporated into gas bubbles in the stool, causing it to float.
4. Fruits
Some fruits are gas producers, especially apples, pears, peaches, and prunes. Fruits contain natural sugars that can be fermented into gas by gut bacteria. They also have a laxative effect that can speed up transit time, leading to increased gas content.
5. Wheat and grains
Whole grains like whole wheat bread and pasta, as well as wheat-based products, contain natural sugars that can cause bloating and gas when fermented by intestinal bacteria. The bran portion of wheat and grains is also a source of raffinose.
6. FODMAPs
FODMAPs (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) are a group of carbohydrates that are poorly absorbed by some people. Foods high in FODMAPs like onions, garlic, mushrooms, apples, milk, yogurt, and many others can contribute to gas production when they reach the colon.
7. Sugar alcohols
Sugar alcohols like sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and maltitol are used as sweeteners in sugar-free foods. They are also poorly absorbed by the body and can have a laxative effect, speeding up transit time and increasing gas production.
8. Cruciferous vegetables
In addition to cabbage-family vegetables, other cruciferous veggies like bok choy, turnips, radishes, mustard greens, and watercress contain sulfur compounds. These sulfur compounds are broken down by gut bacteria into hydrogen sulfide gas, contributing to floating stools.
9. Nuts and seeds
While healthy overall, nuts and seeds contain compounds that produce gas as they are broken down. Soaking, sprouting, roasting, or blanching nuts and seeds can help reduce these compounds and decrease gas production.
10. Legumes
Along with beans, other legumes like peas, lentils, and peanuts are high in oligosaccharides that can be fermented into gas. However, soaking, sprouting, or pressure cooking legumes can help reduce their gas-producing tendencies.
Other Causes of Floating Stools
While diet is the most common cause of floating stools, there are some other potential causes to be aware of:
- Pancreatic insufficiency – Inadequate pancreatic enzyme levels prevent proper digestion and absorption of nutrients, leading to excess gas.
- Celiac disease – Malabsorption occurs when gluten damages the small intestine in those with celiac disease.
- Bacterial overgrowth – Excess bacteria in the small intestine ferment carbohydrates and produce gas.
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – Visceral hypersensitivity and motility changes in IBS can cause bloating and floating stools.
- Inflammatory bowel disease – Damaged intestinal mucosa from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis impairs proper digestion and absorption.
- Colon cancer – Tumors or polyps in the colon disrupt normal function and transit time.
If you have chronic floating stools along with other symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, or bleeding, see your doctor. Testing may be recommended to check for underlying medical issues causing your floating stools.
Foods That May Reduce Floating Stools
To help alleviate floating stools caused by a gassy diet, try limiting gas-producing foods. Here are some low gas-producing foods that can be substituted:
Non-gassy vegetables
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Zucchini
- Green beans
- Carrots
- Asparagus
- Eggplant
- Spinach
- Peppers
Low-FODMAP fruits
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Oranges
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew
- Kiwifruit
- Banana
Non-gassy proteins
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Fish
- Eggs
- Tofu
Low-FODMAP grains
- White rice
- Sourdough bread
- Corn tortillas
- Oatmeal
- Quinoa
- Gluten-free pasta
Avoiding swallowing air while eating may also help reduce floating stools. Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, and avoid talking, gulping, or using straws while ingesting beverages.
Lifestyle Changes to Improve Floating Stools
Along with dietary changes, other lifestyle habits can also minimize gas production and floating stools:
- Exercise regularly – Physical activity accelerates digestion and intestinal transit time.
- Quit smoking – Smoking promotes swallowing air and gas production.
- Manage stress – Anxiety and stress can disrupt gut function and cause bloating.
- Take probiotics – Probiotic supplements support healthy gut flora and digestion.
- Drink plenty of fluids – Staying hydrated keeps stools soft and prevents constipation.
Implementing some of these diet and lifestyle changes may help reduce floating stools. However, if symptoms persist or you have other concerning digestive issues, consult your doctor.
When to See a Doctor
Occasional floating stools are normal and not a cause for concern. However, you should see your doctor if you experience:
- Chronic or frequent floating stools
- Floating stools along with diarrhea, constipation, or other bowel habit changes
- Unintended weight loss
- Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
- Persistent abdominal pain or cramps
- Weakness or fatigue
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fever
These symptoms could indicate an underlying intestinal disorder or health condition causing your floating stools. Proper evaluation and testing can determine if treatment is needed.
Treatment Options for Excessive Gas and Floating Stools
If modifying your diet and lifestyle is not enough to resolve chronic floating stools, there are some medical treatment options that may help. These include:
- Digestive enzymes – Supplemental enzymes can improve the breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates and gas-producing foods.
- Probiotics – Specific strains like Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus can inhibit gas production and bloating.
- Antibiotics – Antibiotics may be used short-term to reduce small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.
- Laxatives – Osmotic laxatives promote clearance of gas-producing substances from the colon.
- Antispasmodics – Muscle relaxants like dicyclomine can relieve spasms and gas pain.
- Low FODMAP diet – Eliminating foods high in fermentable carbs may reduce gas production.
Medications that directly target excessive gas production include:
- Simethicone – Breaks up gas bubbles in the intestines.
- Activated charcoal – Binds to and neutralizes intestinal gases.
- Alpha-galactosidase – An enzyme that breaks down gas-producing sugars in beans.
- Beano – Contains alpha-galactosidase to reduce gas from beans and vegetables.
Talk to your doctor if over-the-counter products do not provide adequate relief from frequent gas and floating stools.
When Floating Stools Are Not a Concern
While floating stools can sometimes be a symptom of an underlying issue, they are usually just a minor annoyance and not a serious medical condition. Floating stools are harmless if they occur infrequently and are not accompanied by other troubling symptoms.
Mild abdominal bloating and passing gas occasionally is normal. Small amounts of swallowed air or eating gas-producing foods can cause isolated instances of floating stools that are no reason for concern.
Make sure to chew food thoroughly, avoid carbonated drinks, and limit high fiber foods if gas is a problem. But extensive changes to your diet are likely unnecessary if floating stools only occur every once in a while after eating foods known to cause gas.
Conclusion
Many different foods can cause gas production in the intestines, leading to floating stools. The most common culprits are dietary fiber, beans, vegetables, carbonated beverages, fruits, dairy products, wheat, and FODMAPs. Limiting excessively gas-producing foods and making certain lifestyle changes can often help resolve chronic floating stools.
Occasional floating stools are usually harmless, but see your doctor if they occur frequently or are accompanied by other digestive symptoms. Testing may be required to check for underlying medical conditions like small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or irritable bowel syndrome. Though bothersome, floating stools are seldom a sign of serious illness.