What Should You Eat When You Have Diarrhea

Food Allergies And Intolerances

If a person suspects they have a food allergy or intolerance, their doctor may recommend keeping a food diary.

People can use their diary to record the foods they eat on a day-to-day basis, and the symptoms they experience. Over time, this will help them detect foods that may trigger their diarrhea.

Treatment for a food allergy or intolerance typically involves avoiding known trigger foods.

Can Antibiotics Cause Diarrhea

Yes, antibiotics can cause diarrhea and heres why.

Antibiotics target bacteria by taking advantage of structures and processes that bacterial cells have that are different from our own cells. So, while antibiotics dont harm our own cells, they can kill both good and bad bacteria living in your intestines.

Not all bacteria is bad. There are many types of good bacteria that live in your intestines. These good bacteria help with the digestive process and they also play a role in keeping you healthy. Antibiotics can disrupt the balance of these bacteria. One of the side effects of killing off the good bacteria, in addition to the bad bacteria, is the possibility of looser stools.

Another job thats done by good bacteria is to keep the growth of opportunistic bacteria in check. These bacteria, such as Clostridium difficile, can cause infections if theyre allowed to thrive, which can happen if good bacteria are killed off by antibiotics.

Toxins produced by C. diff can cause inflammation in the intestines, leading to diarrhea. Studies estimate that

What To Eat When You Have Diarrhea:

The last thing many people want to do when they have diarrhea is eat, but if you let a couple of hours go by, you will get hungry and you will want to eat. And, your body needs fuel to recover too.

The go-to advice for diarrhea is the BRAT diet:

These foods are gentle on the stomach due to being bland. In other words, they shouldnt upset the digestive system and they will also help bind and firm up stool. You can also add in plain crackers and cooked cereal such as cream of wheat.

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List Of Foods To Eat When You Have Diarrhea

Diarrhoea, or diarrhea, is the condition wherein your bowel movements become loose or watery. It is also characterised by frequent loose bowel movements of at least three times a day. The condition can be uncomfortable but temporary as it usually lasts for just 2 to 3 days.

Common Causes

• a side effect of taking antibiotics

• other underlying medical conditions like Chron’s disease or irritable bowel syndrome

Symptoms

The first sign of diarrhoea is loose and watery stools that are more frequent than usual. You may also feel the need to pass stools right away. It may be accompanied by bloating and abdominal cramps.

In some cases, a person with diarrhea may suffer from nausea and fever. The stools may appear greasy and may also contain blood or mucus.

Treatment

Diarrhea is usually treatable at home. In fact, mild cases go away even without treatment. However, recovery can be expedited by taking over-the-counter diarrhea medication.

To ease diarrhea, you may take loperamide capsules and oral rehydration fluids. You may purchase these from St Heliers Pharmacy in Auckland. For proper dosage, make sure to follow what is on the label or ask our trained pharmacists for instructions.

Complications

The most common complications of diarrhea are dehydration and loss of electrolytes like sodium and potassium.

Chronic diarrhea, or when the illness persists for weeks, may result in malabsorption of food nutrients. This may also be a sign of a more serious medical disorder.

Things You Should Avoid Eating Or Drinking

You should avoid certain kinds of foods when you have diarrhea, including fried foods and greasy foods.

Avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause gas, such as broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy vegetables, and corn.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks.

Limit or cut out milk and other dairy products if they are making your diarrhea worse or causing gas and bloating.

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Yogurt May Help Reduce Diarrhea

Fact. Yogurt may help people recover from diarrhea faster. The live, natural, “friendly” bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, in some yogurt may help promote healthy digestion. Some studies have found that yogurt with live or active cultures may help prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics.

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What To Eat When You Have Diarrhea

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When you have diarrhea, a bland diet may help prevent stomach upset and irritation. You can follow the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, apples, toast. This diet also helps firm stool.

Whether your diarrhea is caused by allergies, food poisoning, a chronic condition like irritable bowel syndrome, or something else, diet and diarrhea are intricately linked.

Even if you have long-term conditions that affect the digestive system, the diet you eat can greatly affect your comfort levels.

When youre experiencing an episode of diarrhea, there are certain foods that you can eat to help your digestive system get back on track. There are also certain foods that you should avoid.

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Take Medicine Once You Feel Sick

Myth. Diarrhea often goes away on its own, so treatment isn’t usually necessary. But over-the-counter diarrhea medications can offer some relief from symptoms. Avoid them if you have a fever or other symptoms, such as bloody stool. Don’t give babies or children any diarrhea medicine unless a pediatrician recommends it.

Immediate Action Required: Call 999 Or Go To A& e If You Or Your Child:

• vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
• have green or yellow-green vomit
• might have swallowed something poisonous
• have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
• have a sudden, severe headache or stomach ache

Severe pain:

• always there and so bad it’s hard to think or talk
• you cannot sleep
• it’s very hard to move, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, wash or dress

Moderate pain:

• makes it hard to concentrate or sleep
• you can manage to get up, wash or dress

Mild pain:

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How To Stop Diarrhea Fast At Home

Diarrhea is generally a self-limiting illness and specific treatment is not generally necessary. Treatments are generally directed to prevent it from worsening and restore the fluid and electrolyte losses from the body.

Following home remedies may help in resolving mild diarrhea.

1. Hydrate yourself well

Loss of water and electrolytes from the body results in dehydration. If not treated appropriately, dehydration can become serious, especially in children. If a breastfed baby develops diarrhea, breastfeeding must be continued, and the doctors opinion must be sought.

Rehydration is the key to prevent dehydration due to diarrhea. Drink plenty of water, clear juices, and clear broths. If there is mild diarrhea, you can even drink electrolyte-rich sports drinks, such as Gatorade.? Avoid electrolyte drinks if you have large-volume watery stools. Make sure you pass clear urine at least three to four times a day despite diarrhea.

Pediatric rehydration drinks should be initiated in children and babies with diarrhea.

You can prepare a rehydration drink at home by just mixing simple kitchen items, such as salt, sugar, and water. The rule of thumb is mixing a pinch of table salt, a fist of sugar and in a liter of boiled and cooled water. This is to be sipped every 20 minutes. Oral rehydration formulations are also readily available at the drugstores. You just have to prepare the mixture in water proportionately as instructed on its label.

2. Use probiotics

3. Follow the BRAT diet

What Not To Eat When You Have Diarrhea:

Other foods to make sure you avoid when you have diarrhea are spicy foods, citrus, greasy fatty food, meat, raw veggies, fruit, alcohol and artificial sweeteners.

Your overall diet can greatly affect when and how often you have diarrhea. You may want to consider following a low FODMAP diet as a remedy. The acronym FODMAP stands for fermentable oligo-, di-, mono- saccharides and polyols. I know, much easier to simply say FODMAP. Lets stick with that!

FODMAPs are difficult to digest carbohydrates that can cause a whole host of gastrointestinal symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea and constipation in the millions of people with irritable bowel syndrome . The reason you may just want to give it a go if youve been suffering from chronic diarrhea is that studies show that up to 75 percent of IBS sufferers find relief when following a low-FODMAP diet.

You may also want to consider taking a probiotic. Your intestines are filled with millions and millions of good bacteria and they are super important for healthy digestion. Diarrhea can throw your gut bacteria out of balance and probiotics can help to keep your gut healthy especially after a bout of diarrhea. Talk to your doctor before making any changes to your diet or starting a probiotic.

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When To See Your Doctor

While many cases of diarrhea can be treated at home with OTC remedies, rest, and a temporarily restricted diet, if it lasts long enough you should consult your doctor. Call your doctor if your diarrhea lasts more than 2 days without improvement or if you get dehydrated.

If you get dehydrated or have other symptoms, you may need to go to the emergency room to get prompt treatment.

Other symptoms to watch for include black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, or a fever of 102°F or higher. You can call your doctor and ask what you should do if you experience any of these symptoms.

If your child has diarrhea, call their pediatrician and ask whether you should take them to the emergency room if they:

• dont improve after 24 hours
• havent had a wet diaper in three or more hours
• have a fever of 102°F or higher
• have a dry mouth or tongue
• cry without tears

What To Eat And Drink When You Have Diarrhea

Food and Beverage Recommendations for Diarrhea Symptoms

• Frequently Asked Questions

Being choosy about what you eat when you have diarrhea can help you to feel better faster. Stick to bland foods that are binding and won’t further irritate your digestive system. The well-known BRAT dietbananas, rice, applesauce, and toastfits the bill nicely.

Other foods recommended on a diarrhea diet include soft-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt, clear soups and broths, plain pasta, and soda crackers, like Saltines. Avoid foods that are high in fiber, acidic, or high in fat.

You can drink weak decaffeinated tea, water, or electrolyte drinks to ensure you stay hydrated. Milk, coffee, juice, or alcohol should be avoided as these can agitate diarrhea.

This article provides a detailed overview of what to eat when you have diarrheaand what to avoid. It also offers cooking and other tips and explains potential side effects you may experience.

Verywell / Zorica Lakonic

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Should I Eat If I Have Diarrhea

Its essential to stay hydrated and nourished while you have diarrhea. If you dont eat when you have diarrhea, you might lose weight and become malnourished.

Not eating can also cause low blood sugar levels and fainting, especially when paired with dehydration from diarrhea.

The key to eating with diarrhea is to eat the right foods as your body recovers from whatever is causing your diarrhea.

If you have chronic diarrhea from a persistent health condition, you might need to follow a special diet depending on your health condition.

For instance, if you have diarrhea from lactose intolerance, youll need to eat a low-lactose or lactose-free diet long-term to avoid diarrhea.

For the treatment of acute diarrhea that isnt linked to underlying food allergies or more complicated health conditions, a diarrhea diet can help ease your symptoms and keep you nourished. Lets look at what foods to eat and avoid when you have diarrhea.

How To Use Ricotta Cheese

Ricotta is easy to use and very versatile, but it isnt quite the same as harder varieties of cheese.

To put it another way this cheese isnt something youll see on wine platters or in sandwiches.

Here are some tasty ways to use ricotta.

• Omelets: Put a little ricotta inside a meat-based omelet for a creamy, cheesy filling.

• With berries: For a quick and simple dessert mix your favorite berries into a bowl of ricotta.

• Dip: ricotta makes a great dip just add some black pepper, salt, finely diced onions, and chives.

• Scrambled eggs: For truly delicious scrambled eggs, try making them with ricotta. All you have to do is beat some ricotta with your eggs in a bowl, add salt and pepper, and then cook the mixture in a bit of butter.

There are all kinds of ways to use ricotta, and it can work well as an addition to almost any dish.

Even putting it in soups and stews can upgrade the overall flavor, so experimenting with new recipes is a great idea too.

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Foods That Help With Diarrhea

When you are recovering from diarrhea symptoms, follow this list of bland foods that are easy on the stomach to combat diarrhea1,4:

If your diarrhea is related to irritable bowel syndrome , talk to your doctor about trying a low-FODMAP diet. This acronym comes from the names of simple sugars that are hard for your body to absorb5:

• Fermentable Oligosaccharides Found in foods like wheat, onions, and garlic
• Disaccharides Found in lactose-containing foods like milk, yogurt, and ice-cream
• Monosaccharides Found in honey and some fruits
• Polyols Found in some fruits and sweeteners

A low FODMAP diet should only be followed temporarily with the guidance of a healthcare provider or dietician. If your diarrhea is related to IBS, consider consulting a dietician to help you ensure that you are getting the right nutrition.

When To Take Medication

Diarrhea medications should only be used if recommended by a doctor. They are often contraindicated for use during intestinal infections, as the diarrhea can actually help to eliminate microorganisms. Therefore, if you have symptoms of an intestinal infection, like a fever or bloody stool, you should see a doctor for assessment so that a cause can be confirmed and treatment can be initiated. Treatment may involve the use of a prescription antibiotics.

When the diarrhea is not related to an intestinal infection, the doctor may prescribe anti-diarrhea medication, like loperamide and racecadotril. These help to decrease intestinal contractions to reduce loose stools. In addition, the doctor may also recommend probiotic supplementation, like Lactobacillus reuteri and Lactobacillus casei, or probiotic supplements to help fight harmful bacteria in the gut and to restore the balance of good bacteria.

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Diarrhea Diet: Foods For An Upset Stomach Or Diarrhea

Diarrhea occurs when your small intestine and large intestine become overactive. This allows food and water to pass through too quickly, resulting in loose, watery stools1. We all know that bouts of diarrhea may cause uncomfortable and even embarrassing interruptions to our daily lives.

Diarrhea can be linked to many triggers and may be caused by:

• Viral infection
• Bacterial infection
• Intolerances to certain foods
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Eating habits and food

Regardless of the cause of your diarrhea, what you eat can affect your digestive health2. Eating foods that your digestive system does not tolerate well may play a role in triggering or prolonging bouts of diarrhea.

If youre already suffering from diarrhea, there are a few foods and drinks that help with diarrhea you can add to your regimenor at least not make your symptoms worse.

Lean Chicken Or Turkey

Greasy foods with a high fat content can make your diarrhea worse, so opt for low-fat meat options like skinless chicken or turkey. Mundkur recommends baking the meat and eating it unseasoned, since spices and seasonings can irritate your system. You can use dry or fresh herbs, like basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or cilantro to flavor the meat, says Mundkur.

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Foods That May Not Help

1. Fatty or greasy foods

For some people, greasy foods worsen diarrhea, DAmbrosio says.

Avoid fried foods, or foods high in fat like bacon, sausage, pizza and pastries which may worsen symptoms.

2. Caffeine

Caffeine acts as a bowel stimulant and may aggravate diarrhea in some, she says.

3. Milk

If someone has underlying lactose intolerance, they will need to determine how much they are able to tolerate without symptoms, DAmbrosio says.

For many with lactose intolerance, yogurt and cheese are easier to tolerate because they have lower amount of lactose.

4. Sorbitol or sugar-free foods

If an individual has sugar-free candies or gums or certain diet products, the sorbitol or xylitol ingredients can act as laxatives and can worsen diarrhea, according to DAmbrosio.

5. Bran

If you have diarrhea, you will want to minimize the amount of insoluble fibre, which adds bulk to the stools and promotes movement, DAmbrosio says.

Foods For Diarrhea Prevention

Because the cause of diarrhea varies greatly, you cant necessarily prevent it unless you know for certain what your trigger is.

FODMAPs are types of carbohydrates that can be difficult to digest and might lead to diarrhea and other stomach upset. Some examples of FODMAPs that might cause diarrhea are lactose , gluten, and high-fructose foods like apples and grapes.

If you experience chronic or frequent diarrhea, keeping a food and symptom log can help pinpoint foods that cause diarrhea. A low FODMAP diet is a great place to start identifying potential trigger foods.

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