Ask a doctor on the topic of General medicine

Bowel movement

July 27, 2010 | 10,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Olaf Stephan

I sometimes have thin stools (not diarrhea) - sometimes for 3-4 days in a row. Is that bad? I usually eat a Nutella sandwich and some chocolate before going to bed.

Dr. med. Olaf Stephan

Dear Inquirer,

The symptomatology you described is not serious and in my opinion, with a high probability, not pathological. By consuming larger amounts of carbohydrates (such as chocolate or Nutella, etc.), there is an increased influx of water into the intestinal tract, which is simply osmotically driven and physiologically normal. The water then leads to a change in the consistency of the stool, making it slightly thinner or softer. If the thin stool bothers you, you simply need to reduce your carbohydrate intake (i.e. sweets) and everything will return to normal.

Best regards, O. Stephan.