What does it mean if you have black stools?

Dark-colored stool: Dark-colored stools may result from iron supplements, foods you eat (like a lot of spinach), substances (like peptobismol), but most significantly suggests bleeding. When blood is denatured by acid in your stomach, as from ulcers, stools will turn tarry ("melena"). Blood may also be ingested from nose bleeds, bleeding gums. Silver-colored stool suggests bleeding from the biliary tree. Get checked.

Blood or iron: Vitamines containin iron, iron tablets, and pepto bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) can all cause black stools. Bleeding in the stomach can also cause black stools.