What To Eat To Help Diarrhea

Ways To Treat Diarrhea

Look for liquids with sugar and salt Pedialyte or full-salt soups work well,” he says. “If your urine is not clear, or you are not making much urine, you are not drinking enough.”

In terms of diarrhea treatment, Higgins says, if you dont have an infection and are not seeing blood, you can take over-the-counter;loperamide ;to slow your;bowel movements. But this kind of medication should only be taken for a day or two.

If diet and simple remedies aren’t working, and if symptoms persist for more than a few days and include bleeding, gas, and bloating, you should see a doctor. Your doctor can determine whether the diarrhea is caused by a more serious condition, and can recommend treatment.

Additional reporting by María Villaseñor.

What You Can Do: Improving Your Eating Behavior

Eat BRAT diet foods

In addition to bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, other foods that fall into the BRAT diet are:

• Soups: clear broth, such as chicken, vegetable or beef
• Liquids: cranberry, apple and grape juice, tea , water
• Snacks: canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, creamy peanut butter

Tips to improve your eating behavior when youre experiencing diarrhea

• Drink at least one cup of liquid after each loose bowel movement. Try water, sports drinks or bouillon.
• Avoid high-fiber foods, such as nuts, whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
• Drink liquids at room temperature. This may be easier to take than very hot or cold drinks.
• Eat small, frequent meals and snacks.
• Avoid greasy, fried, spicy or very sweet foods.
• Limit milk or milk products to two cups a day.
• Drink and eat high-sodium foods like broths, soups, sports drinks, crackers and pretzels.
• Drink and eat high-potassium foods like fruit juices and nectars, sports drinks, potatoes with the skin and bananas.
• Do not chew sugar-free gum or eat candies and desserts made with sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol.

Recipes

What To Eat If You Have Diarrhea:

• Eat foods that are high in pectin, such as applesauce, bananas, and yogurt. Pectin, a water-soluble fiber, helps reduce diarrhea.
• Eat foods that have a lot of potassium, such as fruit juices, sports drinks, potatoes without the skin, and bananas. Potassium is often lost through diarrhea.
• Eat foods that are high in sodium, such as soups, broths, sports drinks, crackers, and pretzels. Salt helps you retain water so you don’t become dehydrated.
• Get enough protein. Try lean baked beef, pork, turkey, or chicken, or well-cooked eggs or tofu. This can help you avoid fatigue.
• If you like certain fruits and vegetables, eat them cooked, not raw. Some raw fruits and vegetables can make diarrhea worse. Try soups made with cooked asparagus tips, beets, carrots, peeled zucchini, mushrooms, or celery; tomato puree; or a baked potato without the skin.
• Avoid caffeinated, alcoholic, or carbonated beverages and very hot or cold foods. They may irritate your digestive tract.
• Avoid using tobacco products. They may irritate your digestive tract.
• Avoid high-fat, fried, greasy, and rich foods. They can promote diarrhea.
• Avoid foods that cause gas, such as chewing gum and carbonated beverages. They can irritate your digestive tract.
• Limit milk and milk products. They may be hard to digest and promote diarrhea.
• Avoid nuts, raw fruits and vegetables, whole-grain breads, and bran products. They can be irritating to your digestive tract.

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What To Avoid After Diarrhea

• Carbonated beverages, alcohol, and anything with caffeine such as coffee.
• Unsafe foods such as spicy foods, junk food, or anything you are not sure about.
• Even if you arent lactose intolerant, it is a good idea to avoid any dairy, except for low-fat;yogurt.
• Any foods that contain too much fat or anything greasy such as fried foods.

Diet Plan For Diarrhea: Sample Menu

Having to suddenly adjust your diet can seem like a daunting task, but once you decide to make the change, it becomes routine. Below is a sample menu you can refer to as an example of a typical diet plan for diarrhea.

Breakfast: Six ounces of no-pulp orange juice, one cup of Rice Krispies , one cup of two percent milk, one medium banana, and one cup of decaf coffee.Lunch: One cup of chicken rice soup, three ounces sliced turkey breast, two slices of white bread, one-teaspoon mayonnaise.Dinner: Four ounces salmon, a half of a cup of white rice, a half of a cup of asparagus, one dinner roll, one-teaspoon of butter, and a half of a cup of fruit sorbet.Snack: One cup of vanilla yogurt or one slice of white bread toasted with one-tablespoon peanut butter and one teaspoon of jelly.

There are many cases of diarrhea that dont last long and respond well to home treatments, such as a diarrhea diet. There are situations though that are caused by infections or parasites and need to be treated with antibiotics.

If you experience diarrhea for more than two days and arent seeing any improvement or if youre getting dehydrated, have severe abdominal pain, or a fever, see a doctor as soon as possible.

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The Best Foods To Eat When You Have Diarrhea And Which Foods You Should Definitely Avoid

• The best foods for diarrhea are clear broth and beverages with electrolytes like coconut water.
• You can also follow the BRAT diet when you have diarrhea, which includes foods like bananas, toast, applesauce, and other easily-digestible foods.
• When you have diarrhea, you should avoid milk and dairy products, raw vegetables, processed foods, and spicy foods.
• This article was;medically reviewed;by;Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition and wellness expert with a private practice based in New York City.
• Visit Insider’s Health Reference library for more advice.

When you have diarrhea, you pass loose or watery stool more than three times a day. It’s a common problem and in most cases isn’t indicative of any underlying conditions. However, it can be uncomfortable.;

There are many foods you can eat to help you stop diarrhea. But on the other hand, consuming some foods may potentially worsen your diarrhea symptoms. Here’s a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid when you have diarrhea, and how they work.;

When To Seek Medical Treatment For Diarrhea:

• Fever
• Yellow urine
• Less urine than usual

If your diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection, Mundkur says you may experience severe diarrhea, fever, and bloody stools; however, antibiotics can help treat the infection if it’s bacterial.;

On the other hand, persistent blood in your stools could also be an indication of something more serious. “Sometimes colon cancer can cause diarrhea and blood in the stool, so it is important to talk to your primary care physician about whether you need a colonoscopy,” says Mundkur.

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Sugary Foods Make Diarrhea Worse

Fact. Some people reach for sports drinks or sodas to replenish lost fluids when they have diarrhea. But very sugary foods and drinks — even natural sugars found in fruit — may make diarrhea symptoms worse. During digestion, sugar draws fluid into the intestines, diluting the stools. Some sugar substitutes, like sorbitol, may have the same effect.

Dietary Recommendations For Diarrhea:

• Drink 8-10 cups of fluid per day, like water, broth, half-strength juice, weak tea, or electrolyte replacement drinks.
• Eat small frequent meals slowly during the day.
• Try sources of soluble fibre to help firm up stool.
• Limit fried or fatty foods since these can worsen diarrhea.
• Some high fibre foods may contribute to diarrhea.
• Foods with lots of sugar may worsen diarrhea, such as regular pop, candy, large quantities of juice, and chocolate milk.
• Some people may become temporarily lactose intolerant when experiencing diarrhea .
• Consult your physician to determine if an anti-diarrheal medication is suitable for you.

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Can You Eat A Banana If You Have Diarrhea

Bananas One serving of banana is actually half a banana, DAmbrosio explains, and they are a good source of soluble fibre. However, it is important to address the underlying cause of the diarrhea, she says. For example, if an individual has fructose malabsorption, consuming a whole banana or an over-ripe banana could worsen diarrhea.

Things To Avoid: Fodmaps And More

Try to avoid high-fiber foods, and foods high in FODMAPs.;FODMAPs are fermentable oli- di- mono-saccharides and polyols, aka a bunch of natural sugars that are hard for you to digest.

Spicy foods and caffeine can trigger diarrhea, so skip the Sriracha and coffee for now.;

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Is There A Link Between Diet And Diarrhea

Whether your diarrhea is only occasional and caused by allergies or food poisoning, or due to a chronic condition like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohns disease, 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 digestive system.

Basic Dietary Principles To Remember After Diarrhea

Knowing basic diet guidelines helps to improve your conditions and avoid making your diarrhea worse. Certain foods will also help accelerate recovery.

1. Consume Some Clear Fluids First

Keep in mind that it is best to eat a clear liquid diet after diarrhea, including apple juice, weak tea, frozen pops, clear broth, plain gelatin or simple water. Clear liquids will help prevent irritation.

2. Adopt Small Meals

It is equally important to eat smaller meals more frequently to avoid putting stress on your digestive system. You can switch to a low-fiber diet after a couple of days of diarrhea. Be sure to drink water to avoid becoming dehydrated.

3. Follw the Dietary Chart Below

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How Can Diarrhea Be Prevented

Prevention of diarrhea depends on the underlying cause. If medications are causing a person to experience diarrhea, an alternative form or type of medication should be explored, especially when diarrhea is chronic. Some people who are malnourished or on bowel rest, may experience diarrhea for the first few days when starting to eat again because the bowel walls ability to function decreases when it is not used and resumes normal function slowly. Consult your physician to determine the underlying cause and treatment for your diarrhea, especially if there is any associated pain, blood, or distension.

Bacterial And Viral Infection

Bacteria that cause diarrhea-producing infections include salmonella and E. coli. Contaminated food and fluids are common sources of bacterial infections.

Rotavirus, norovirus, and other kinds of viral gastroenteritis, commonly referred to as stomach flu, are among the viruses that can cause explosive diarrhea.

Anyone can get these viruses. But theyre especially common among school-age children. And theyre common in hospitals and nursing homes, and on cruise ships.

Learn more: Is it a stomach bug or food poisoning? Tips for identification »

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What To Eat When You Have Diarrhea

• Outlook

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.

How To Manage Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common issue. However, it can be treated quite easily, even if the most serious cases require medication. Find out how to manage diarrhea.;

Although diarrhea is common and not severe in most cases, it is still a serious annoyance that can cause a lot of discomfort in people who suffer from it. Though, treating mild diarrhea at home is quite easy, mainly through diet. In some cases, taking medication is possible but it must be supervised by a health professional.

The most common medical management – Hydration;

– Foods: You may not feel like eating during diarrhea. However, certain foods can ease your symptoms. It is advisable to consume “BWAT” foods: bananas, white rice, applesauce, and toast.Other foods are also well tolerated such as oatmeal, potato, or skinless chicken.;

– Over the counter medication;After consulting your doctor, you can take several over-the-counter medications to help you fight diarrhea, if your symptoms are not severe.Careful, these medicines may relieve your short term symptoms but will not treat the cause of your diarrhea and can lead to side effects such as constipation. Therefore, be careful and consult a doctor, especially for young children and the elderly.

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Path To Improved Health

The BRAT diet is a bland food diet recommended for adults and children. The benefits of using the BRAT diet to treat upset stomach and diarrhea include:

• The foods used in the diet make your stools firmer. Thats because the foods are considered binding foods. Theyre low-fiber, bland, starchy foods.
• The foods help replace nutrients your body needs and has lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Bananas, for example, are high in the vitamin potassium.

Bland foods dont irritate your stomach. After you have diarrhea or vomiting, follow the BRAT diet to help your body ease back into normal eating. This diet also may help ease the nausea and vomiting some women experience during pregnancy.

You can add other bland foods to the BRAT diet. For example, you can try saltine crackers, plain potatoes, or clear soup broths. Dont start eating dairy products, sugary, or fatty foods right away. These foods may trigger nausea or lead to more diarrhea.

Stomach viruses are easy to catch and can make you feel miserable. For mild cases, I recommend simple home treatment.;Read;More

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.

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Foods/fluids That May Improve Diarrhea

• Increase fluids to prevent dehydration. Try to drink these fluids between your meals. Liquids with a meal may speed up stomach emptying and possibly worsen diarrhea.
• Eat and/or drink foods and beverages with sodium and potassium. Diarrhea can lead to low levels of both sodium and potassium, so it is important to replace these electrolytes through your diet
• Broth
• Sports drinks ; however, avoid sugar-free drinks which have artificial sweeteners
• Equalyte®, Pedialyte®
• Bananas

Energy And General Health

Having diarrhea causes your body to lose a lot of water, and preventing dehydration is especially important to your wellbeing when you are following the diarrhea diet. Babies, young children, and the elderly are especially at risk.

While you may not feel up to guzzling down glass after glass, be sure to sip on water or another approved beverage as frequently as you can. If the balance of fluid and salts in your body is off, not only will you continue to feel rundown and generally unwell, but it can lead to potentially serious complications.

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Role Of The Brat Diet

If have experienced chronic diarrhea, you have probably been advised to try the BRAT diet. This stands for: Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast.

These foods slow down the intestines and decrease how often you have bowel movements.; The BRAT Diet is not very nutritious and should not be used for a long period of time.;;

As a starting point, here are some extreme diet changes that are not recommended:

• Do not avoid all fiber,
• Do not limit your diet to only liquids,
• Do not cut out all liquids , and
• Do not exclude foods with sodium and potassium. These are important electrolytes that can become low when you have diarrhea.;

Controversy On What You Should Be Eating

If you’ve done a fair amount of research on foods that you should be eating when experiencing diarrhea, then you have probably come across contradicting information Such as some sources telling you to eat this food and that food, while others tell you to avoid such.

One of the big problems here is the simple fact that everyone’s body is different and may respond differently to different foods. One person’s body may have a problem with the amount of fiber provided in one food while another person’s may respond as if it is not getting enough.

If you no something on the list above is going to cause you a diarrhea, or worsen it, it goes without saying that you shouldn’t eat it.;

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What Foods Should You Not Eat When You Have Diarrhea

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