Madeleine Hull
Diarrhea is a common issue that can be caused by chronic diseases, temporary illnesses, allergies, food poisoning, or a chronic condition like irritable bowel syndrome. While it usually resolves within a week or less, it can be effectively treated at home by making dietary changes, such as eating bland, low-fibre foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet). It is also important to stay hydrated, as diarrhea can lead to dehydration, and to consult a doctor if symptoms persist or worsen.
How to change your diet to stop diarrhea
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet type | Bland, low-fibre, short-term |
| Foods to eat | Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, potatoes, eggs, yogurt, broths, pasta, crackers, pretzels, meat, fish |
| Foods to avoid | Fried foods, dairy, citrus fruits, legumes, cabbage, artificial sweeteners, prunes, prune juice, coffee, soda, carbonated drinks, alcohol |
| Fluids | Drink plenty of water, herbal teas, vegetable juices, oral rehydration solutions, broth, smoothies, coconut water, electrolyte-enhanced water |
| Meals | Eat smaller meals throughout the day |
| Probiotics | Consider taking a daily probiotic supplement to improve gut health |
| Medical advice | Consult a doctor or dietitian before making significant dietary changes |
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What You'll Learn
Eat bland, low-fibre foods
Eating bland, low-fibre foods is a well-known strategy to combat diarrhoea. This strategy is often referred to as the BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These foods are bland and low in fibre, which means they won't irritate your digestive system and will help slow down your intestines, reducing the frequency of bowel movements.
The BRAT diet is a good starting point for treating diarrhoea, but it's not very nutritious and should only be followed for a short period. After a day or two of the BRAT diet, you can start adding other bland, low-fibre foods such as lean ground chicken, scrambled or soft-cooked eggs, and low-fat yogurt. You can also try having broths, soups, and sports drinks. It is important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and replace lost fluids, but try to drink fluids between meals as drinking liquids with a meal may speed up stomach emptying and worsen diarrhoea.
In addition to the BRAT diet foods, there are other bland, low-fibre foods that can be helpful to eat when you have diarrhoea. These include potatoes, ripe bananas, apricot or peach nectar, fish, and meat. It is recommended to eat small amounts of food frequently, as this will give your body more time to process and digest the volume of food, reducing the likelihood of triggering diarrhoea.
It is important to note that dietary advice is not universal, and individual responses to different foods may vary. Keeping a food diary can help you identify which foods trigger your diarrhoea and which foods help relieve your symptoms. Consulting a healthcare professional is always recommended if you have any concerns or if your diarrhoea does not improve.
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Avoid dairy and citrus fruits
Dairy products are among the foods that should be avoided when experiencing diarrhea. This is because they contain a sugar called lactose, which the body breaks down using an enzyme called lactase. However, diarrhea can deplete lactase, making it harder to digest milk and other dairy products. This can lead to further diarrhea, as well as gas, nausea, and bloating.
The only dairy product recommended for treating diarrhea is yogurt, as it contains probiotics, which can help balance intestinal flora and ease diarrhea. However, if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk proteins, you should opt for dairy-free yogurt or probiotic supplements instead.
Citrus fruits are also known to irritate the stomach and intestines, potentially worsening diarrhea. This is due to their acidic nature. While fruits in general are considered healthy, certain fruits, particularly those high in insoluble fiber, can be hard to digest and may worsen diarrhea.
It is important to note that dietary advice is not universal, and individual responses to specific foods may vary. Keeping a food diary can help identify problem foods and trigger symptoms. Consulting a healthcare provider or dietitian is recommended to determine the best course of action for your particular situation.
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Try the BRAT diet
If you're experiencing diarrhea, it's a good idea to try a short-term diet of bland, binding foods, such as the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, apples or applesauce, and toast. These foods are bland and low in fiber, so they won't irritate your digestive system and will help slow down your intestines, reducing the frequency of your bowel movements.
In addition to the BRAT foods, you can also eat other mild foods that are gentle on your GI tract, such as saltines, oatmeal, or boiled potatoes. It's important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids, especially if you're experiencing diarrhea with vomiting or fever, as this can lead to dehydration. You should also try to drink fluids between your meals, as drinking liquids with a meal may speed up stomach emptying and worsen diarrhea.
The BRAT diet is not very nutritious and should not be followed for an extended period. After a day or two of following this diet, you can start adding more nutritious foods back into your diet, such as lean ground chicken, scrambled eggs, and cooked vegetables. If your diarrhea is severe or persists for more than a few days without improvement, consult a healthcare professional, as you may need other treatments such as anti-diarrhea medication.
Remember that generalized dietary advice does not work for everyone, and it's always a good idea to consult your healthcare provider or a dietitian before making any significant changes to your diet, especially if you have any underlying health conditions. Keeping a food and symptom diary can also help you and your healthcare provider identify any problem foods that may be triggering your diarrhea.
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Keep a food diary
Keeping a food diary is an effective way to identify problem foods, drinks, and supplements that may be causing or worsening your diarrhea. It can also help you to identify difficult times of the day and symptoms.
Firstly, it is important to understand the link between diet and diarrhea. The foods you eat can either help your body recover from diarrhea or prolong and worsen your symptoms. For example, dairy products can irritate the digestive system because the lactose present in these foods can be difficult to digest. Similarly, fatty and fried foods, sauces, gravies, and highly spiced foods may not be well tolerated and could worsen diarrhea. On the other hand, eating bland, low-fiber foods can help your diarrhea go away faster and prevent stomach upset and irritation. The BRAT diet, which stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast, is often recommended for people with diarrhea as these foods slow down the intestines and decrease how often you have bowel movements.
Therefore, keeping a food diary can help you to identify which foods help your body recover from diarrhea and which foods worsen your symptoms. Write down everything you eat and drink throughout the day, including any supplements you take. Also, make a note of the times of day that you are eating and any symptoms you experience. This will help you to identify any patterns between your diet and your symptoms. For example, you may find that every time you eat dairy products, your diarrhea worsens. Or you may find that eating small meals throughout the day rather than a few large ones helps to keep your digestive system from becoming overworked.
You should also share your food diary with your healthcare provider or dietitian. They will be able to help you identify any dietary changes that may decrease your symptoms and improve your quality of life. They can also ensure that you are still meeting your nutritional needs while making any recommended diet changes.
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Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is crucial when experiencing diarrhea, as the condition can quickly lead to dehydration. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluid than it takes in, and diarrhea is a common cause of this. Water plays a crucial role in normal body functions, and it doesn't take a large volume to hydrate. Therefore, drinking plenty of water is a top priority when experiencing diarrhea. Aim for room temperature or slightly warm water, as cold water can be a shock to the stomach.
The body also needs to replenish electrolytes, such as sodium, calcium, and potassium, which are lost through diarrhea. Electrolytes are essential for moving water through the body. A good way to replace lost electrolytes is by drinking oral rehydration solutions (ORS), which contain the right mix of salt, sugar, and potassium, along with other nutrients. Coconut water is also an excellent natural source of electrolytes and has no added sugar.
For the elderly, it is recommended to drink at least 1.7 liters of fluid every 24 hours, or about seven eight-ounce glasses of water. Children can lose fluids very quickly, so parents should be vigilant in ensuring they take in enough fluids and watch for signs of dehydration, such as a dry mouth and tongue, no tears when crying, and crankiness.
In addition to water and electrolyte-enhanced liquids, clear broths are a good way to stay hydrated. It is recommended to drink at least one cup (240 ml) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement.
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Frequently asked questions
BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. These foods slow down the intestines and decrease how often you have bowel movements. It is not very nutritious and should not be used for a long period of time.
It is recommended to eat bland, low-fibre foods such as bananas, plain white rice, boiled potatoes, and toast. You can also eat soft-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt, clear broths, and plain pasta.
You should avoid dairy products, fried and greasy foods, carbonated drinks, and alcohol. You should also avoid foods that have a laxative effect, such as prunes and prune juice, and artificial sweeteners.
It is important to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Aim for at least 8-10 cups of fluid per day, including water, herbal teas, vegetable juices, broths, and coconut water.
In addition to dietary changes, it is recommended to get plenty of rest and take probiotics or over-the-counter medications such as loperamide (Imodium) to help relieve diarrhea. Keeping a food diary can also help you identify any problem foods or triggers.
