Black stool

Dear Ask The Doctor: What is the cause of having black stool

Dear Dennis:

Black stools might be caused by insignificant causes such as ingesting certain types of foods containing dyes; another common cause is by ingesting vitamins containing iron or iron pills.

On the other hand, if the stools are similar to tar, one of the most feared causes is the presence of a bleeding Peptic ulcer. I would suggest you to consult your primary care physician to rule out these possibilities and in the meantime, avoid alcohol, spicy foods, smoking.