Madeleine Hull
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once a go-to recommendation for treating stomach problems, especially in children. While it is no longer commonly advised due to its restrictive nature and lack of essential nutrients, some people may still find it helpful as a transitional diet to ease digestion and reduce stool output during recovery from stomach illnesses. This article will explore ways to make the BRAT diet more interesting and palatable, ensuring a nutritious and enjoyable experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To ease symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea |
| Food items | Bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, clear broth soups, apple juice, water, non-caffeinated tea, canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, avocado, pumpkin, canned fruit, melons, steamed or boiled vegetables, carrots, green beans, potatoes, squash, low-fiber starches, white bread, saltine crackers, instant oatmeal, noodles, skinless chicken, fish, soft tofu, egg whites, and more |
| Effectiveness | No longer recommended due to lack of essential nutrients, restrictiveness, and potential to slow down recovery |
| Alternatives | Bland diet, including lean proteins, non-gassy vegetables, and soft foods |
| Precautions | Ensure adequate hydration, consult a healthcare provider if symptoms persist or worsen |
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What You'll Learn
Bland foods to ease nausea
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once recommended for children and adults experiencing stomach problems. It is no longer advised due to its restrictive nature and lack of essential nutrients. However, bland foods are still recommended for easing nausea and other stomach issues.
Bland foods are gentle on the stomach and can help with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. They are typically low in fiber, soft, and starchy, making them easy to digest. While the BRAT diet is no longer suggested, you can incorporate its components into a bland diet, along with various other options.
- Bananas: Simple to digest, bananas also contain enzymes that aid digestion and provide potassium, an essential electrolyte.
- White rice: Easier to process than whole grains, white rice is gentle on the digestive system and can help with nausea and diarrhea.
- Applesauce: Cooking breaks down the fiber in apples, making applesauce gentle on the stomach and digestive system.
- Toast: Refined white bread, if gluten is tolerated, is another easy-to-digest carbohydrate option.
- Crackers: Saltine crackers or cream crackers are recommended.
- Lean proteins: Skinless chicken, fish (such as cod or salmon), soft tofu, egg whites, and egg yolks are good sources of lean protein.
- Non-gassy vegetables: Carrots, baked, boiled, or steamed potatoes, and sweet potatoes prepared with minimal fat are easy on the stomach.
- Canned or bottled fruits and vegetables: These can be easier to digest, but avoid vegetables that have been steamed or blanched.
- Soups: Clear broth soups, such as chicken or vegetable soup, are gentle on the stomach and provide hydration.
- Dairy: Low-fat milk and yogurt are recommended, but avoid dairy if it triggers nausea or stomach issues.
- Fluids: Stay well-hydrated by drinking water, apple juice, and non-caffeinated tea.
Remember, it is important to gradually introduce these foods and listen to your body. If nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea persist or worsen, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment.
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Soft foods to aid digestion
Soft foods are often recommended to help people heal after surgery or illness, especially when regular-textured or highly seasoned foods are hard to tolerate. Soft foods are also easier to chew and digest.
Soft foods include:
- Soft-cooked vegetables like carrots, green beans, spinach, zucchini, and broccoli florets.
- Fruits such as cooked, peeled apples or applesauce, bananas, avocado, peeled ripe peaches, cooked pears, and other puréed fruits.
- Dairy products like cottage cheese, yogurt, soft cheeses, pudding, and frozen yogurt. Lower-fat dairy is recommended for those recovering from gastrointestinal issues or surgery.
- Grains and starches such as mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cooked cereals like oatmeal or cream of wheat, soft grains like moistened farro or barley, pancakes, and soft noodles.
- Meat, poultry, and fish that are finely chopped or ground, such as moistened poultry, soft tuna, or chicken salad (without raw vegetables or fruits).
In addition to the above, the BRAT diet—which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—was once recommended to treat stomach problems, especially in children. However, experts no longer recommend this diet because it lacks essential nutrients and may slow down recovery. Instead, a bland diet is recommended to ease symptoms of stomach issues.
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Low-fibre foods to firm up stools
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once recommended for children and adults with an upset stomach or digestive issues. The idea was that these bland, low-fibre foods would be gentle on the stomach and reduce stool production. However, experts no longer recommend this diet as it lacks essential nutrients, specifically fibre, fat, and protein.
If you are looking for low-fibre foods to firm up stools, here are some alternatives that can help:
- Potatoes
- Cooked grains like rice or oatmeal
- Clear broth soups (chicken or vegetable)
- Canned peaches and pears
- Crackers
- Cream of wheat
- Eggs
It is important to note that while these foods may be easier to digest, they should only be consumed for a short period. As soon as you are able, it is recommended to eat a varied and balanced diet to restore your overall nutrition and energy levels.
Additionally, staying hydrated is crucial when dealing with stomach issues. Dehydration can lead to hard, dried-out stools that are difficult to pass. So, while increasing your fibre intake, remember to increase your fluid intake as well.
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Fluids to prevent dehydration
The BRAT diet is a temporary diet that was once considered the go-to for an upset stomach. It consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—soft, bland, and low-fibre foods that are easy to digest and may help settle your stomach. However, it is important to note that the BRAT diet lacks essential nutrients and is no longer recommended by health professionals due to the risk of nutritional and calorie deficiencies.
When following the BRAT diet, it is crucial to focus on fluids to prevent dehydration, especially if you are experiencing vomiting and diarrhea. Here are some guidelines for fluids to prevent dehydration while on the BRAT diet:
Water
Water is essential for hydration and should be your primary beverage. Aim to drink plenty of water throughout the day, taking small sips if you are experiencing nausea or vomiting.
Oral Rehydration Solutions
Oral rehydration solutions are specifically designed to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. You can purchase oral rehydration products over the counter at a pharmacy, usually in the form of liquids, popsicles, or powders that you mix with water. You can also make your own oral rehydration solution by mixing one liter of clean or boiled water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 6 teaspoons of sugar, stirring until dissolved.
Broth
Bone broth or chicken broth is a good source of fluids and electrolytes. It can be easily digested and may help replace lost nutrients.
Sports Drinks
Sports drinks are another option to help with hydration. They typically contain electrolytes, which can be beneficial when you are losing fluids through vomiting or diarrhea.
Clear Liquids
If you are actively vomiting, it is important to stick to clear liquids. Water is a good choice, but you can also try weak tea or clear nutritional supplement drinks. These liquids will help you stay hydrated without irritating your stomach further.
Apple Juice
Apple juice is a good source of sugar and fluids, which can be beneficial when trying to prevent dehydration. You can also add a pinch of salt to apple juice to create an electrolyte-rich beverage.
It is important to listen to your body and adjust your fluid intake as needed. If you are experiencing prolonged vomiting, diarrhea, or other concerning symptoms, be sure to consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment options.
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Alternatives to the BRAT diet
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once recommended for treating stomach problems. However, experts now believe that this diet lacks essential nutrients and may not be the best option for treating stomach issues. The BRAT diet is especially detrimental to children and pregnant people, as it can impair their growth and development.
The Paleo Diet
The Paleo Diet is a gentle alternative to the BRAT diet that offers more immune-boosting nutrients to encourage healing. It avoids inflammation-causing foods like wheat and sugar, which may prolong irritation of the stomach and gut lining. This diet focuses on hydration, recommending small sips of water every 5-15 minutes to replace lost body fluids. Electrolyte sports beverages can also be used to maintain hydration, although natural options like coconut water are also suggested as they are easier on the stomach. Medicinal herbal teas, such as ginger, chamomile, peppermint, or fennel, are also recommended as they have antispasmodic effects and a calming effect on gut motility.
The BERP Diet
The BERP diet, which stands for Bone Broth, Electrolytes, Rice, and (optional) Protein (eggs), is another alternative to the BRAT diet. Bone broth is easy to digest and has anti-inflammatory properties, helping to repair the gut lining and stimulate digestive secretions. Electrolyte supplements like Ultima Replenisher can be added to water to replenish potassium and other electrolytes, aiding in hydration. While white rice is typically not recommended due to its low nutrient content, it is included in the BERP diet as it is easy to digest and low in fiber. Eggs are also an easy-to-digest complete protein, but they can be swapped out for those with egg intolerances. Ginger and ginger tea can also help with nausea and vomiting, as they have been widely studied as digestive aids.
A Bland Diet
A bland diet is another alternative to the BRAT diet, as it can be easier on the stomach. Soft, bland, and low-fiber foods can help settle the stomach during gastrointestinal issues. Bananas, potatoes, and cooked grains like rice or oatmeal may be helpful during this transition back to eating solid foods. It is important to eat a varied, balanced diet as soon as you are able to restore your overall nutrition and energy levels.
A Regular Diet
The BRAT diet is extremely restrictive, and a regular diet can provide better nutrition to help heal the body. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that most children can continue to eat a normal diet while they have mild diarrhea. A normal diet provides the necessary nutrients to aid in recovery, including fiber, fat, and protein, which are lacking in the BRAT diet.
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Frequently asked questions
BRAT is an acronym that stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. It is a bland diet that was once recommended for people with stomach problems.
The BRAT diet lacks essential nutrients and is very restrictive. It is low in protein, fat, and fiber, which can lead to caloric and nutrient deficiencies over time.
Instead of the BRAT diet, experts now recommend a bland diet that includes a greater variety of foods while still being gentle on the digestive system. This can include lean proteins, non-gassy vegetables, and soft fruits.
While the BRAT diet is no longer recommended, if you are following this diet, you can try incorporating other bland foods to add some variety. This includes clear broth soups, canned peaches and pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, and cream of wheat.
The BRAT diet is meant to be a temporary solution for stomach issues and should not be followed for more than a couple of days. It is important to progress to a regular diet as soon as symptoms improve to ensure you are getting adequate nutrition.
