Milly Gaines
The BRAT diet, comprising bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, is often recommended for people experiencing diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. The diet is designed to be bland and low in fibre, making it gentle on the stomach and helping to firm up stools. While it may provide short-term relief, health professionals advise against following the BRAT diet for more than a few days due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies. Peanut butter, being creamy and low in fibre, is considered suitable for the BRAT diet in small amounts. However, it should be avoided by those with peanut allergies or sensitive stomachs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To ease gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea, vomiting, and nausea |
| Foods included | Bananas, rice, apples/applesauce, toast, tea, clear broth, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, peanut butter, yogurt, noodles, white bread, lean meat, boiled or mashed potatoes, watermelon |
| Foods excluded | High-fibre foods, whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, milk and milk products (limit to 2 cups a day), fried, spicy or very sweet foods |
| Liquids | Cranberry, apple and grape juice, tea (without caffeine), water, sports drinks, bouillon, apple juice with a pinch of salt, Pedialyte |
| Other recommendations | Eat small, frequent meals and snacks, drink at least one cup of liquid after each loose bowel movement, eat more foods than those listed in the BRAT diet if feeling unwell |
| Duration | Not recommended for more than 24-48 hours or a few days, avoid long-term use due to risk of nutritional deficiencies |
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What You'll Learn
Peanut butter is safe to eat on the BRAT diet
The BRAT diet, which stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast, is typically recommended for people dealing with gut issues, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. The diet is designed to be bland and low in fiber, making it gentle on the stomach and helping to reduce symptoms such as loose stools. While the BRAT diet does not include a wide variety of nutritional foods, it can be a helpful short-term solution for gastrointestinal issues.
Peanut butter is not specifically mentioned in the traditional BRAT diet plan. However, some sources do include it as a suitable snack option when following the BRAT diet. Peanut butter can be paired with bananas and cinnamon on toast, providing a simple and palatable snack that is easy to make when you are feeling unwell. This combination includes two of the BRAT diet foods—bananas and toast—while also adding some protein and nutrients like iron, magnesium, and potassium.
It is important to note that peanut butter is not a replacement for the core foods in the BRAT diet but rather an additional option to enhance the taste and nutritional value of BRAT-friendly snacks. If you are allergic to peanut butter or find it unappealing when unwell, you can substitute it with another type of nut or seed butter. Alternatively, you can opt for applesauce on toast, which includes another BRAT diet food.
While peanut butter can be a safe addition to the BRAT diet, it is crucial to consume it in moderation, starting with small amounts to ensure it does not overload your digestive system. Additionally, the BRAT diet should only be followed for a short duration, typically not exceeding 24 to 48 hours, due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies. If your symptoms persist or worsen, it is important to seek professional medical advice and explore other dietary options that can address the underlying causes of your gastrointestinal issues.
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BRAT diet foods
The BRAT diet, which stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast, is a short-term nutritional strategy to help people with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It consists of foods that are bland, low-fat, easy-to-digest and gentle on the stomach.
The diet is designed to provide relief from symptoms of gastrointestinal distress, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It is important to note that the BRAT diet is not nutritionally complete and should not be followed long-term. As diarrhea can lead to dehydration, it is important to drink plenty of fluids. People can drink a range of liquids, including water, clear broths, herbal teas, and electrolyte drinks.
The BRAT diet is often recommended for a short period to help solidify stools and ease symptoms without irritating the stomach further. The foods in the BRAT diet are starchy and low in fiber, which helps to bind loose and runny stools more easily. They are also low in protein, fat and overall calories, which makes them less likely to irritate the stomach and puts less stress on the digestive system. Due to their bland flavour and lack of strong smells, BRAT foods do not tend to cause nausea or vomiting.
In addition to the core four foods, other foods that fall under the BRAT diet include:
- Soups: clear broth, such as chicken, vegetable or beef
- Liquids: cranberry, apple and grape juice, tea (without caffeine)
- Snacks: canned peaches, pears, sweet potatoes, crackers, cream of wheat, eggs, gelatin, oatmeal, creamy peanut butter
- Lean meats: steamed, baked, or grilled skinless chicken without fat
- Yogurt
- Noodles
- White bread
- Watermelon
Peanut butter is okay to eat when following the BRAT diet, but it is recommended to start with a small amount.
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Benefits of the BRAT diet
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once recommended for treating diarrhea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints. The diet is low in fiber, protein, and fat, making it easy to digest and helping to firm up stools. It is also gentle on the stomach and may help reduce nausea due to its bland nature.
The BRAT diet is typically recommended for a limited time, such as a day or two when one is at their sickest, as it lacks essential nutrients and may lead to malnutrition and low energy if followed for extended periods. During this time, it is important to stay hydrated, and oral rehydration products can be purchased over the counter to help treat dehydration in adults and children.
The BRAT diet can be a helpful starting point for transitioning to a wider range of foods after a stomach illness. It is important to note that a bland diet is now often recommended over the BRAT diet as it includes a greater variety of foods and nutrients while still being gentle on the stomach.
Some snack ideas that follow the BRAT diet include peanut butter-banana cinnamon toast and toast topped with applesauce, sliced bananas, and cinnamon. These snacks are simple, palatable, and provide some protein and nutrients like iron, magnesium, and potassium.
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Risks of the BRAT diet
The BRAT diet, comprising bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, has been used to treat diarrhoea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints. It is based on the theory that consuming bland, easy-to-digest foods can help reduce symptoms like nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting. However, there are several risks associated with this diet:
Nutritional Deficiencies
The BRAT diet is low in protein, fat, and fiber, which can make it inadequate in terms of nutritional content. Prolonged adherence to this diet may lead to malnutrition and low energy due to insufficient calories and vital nutrients. It is recommended only for a couple of days and should be avoided for extended periods to prevent nutritional deficiencies.
Restrictive Nature
The BRAT diet is restrictive and lacks a variety of nutritional foods. This restrictiveness can slow down recovery, especially in children, as their gastrointestinal tracts may not get enough nutrients to recover effectively. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend the BRAT diet for children with diarrhoea due to its restrictiveness and inadequate nutrient content.
Lack of Clinical Evidence
Despite being recommended for decades, there is a lack of recent clinical evidence or research supporting the effectiveness of the BRAT diet in treating diarrhoea or gastrointestinal illnesses. No recent clinical trials have examined its efficacy, and health professionals increasingly suggest other diets or approaches.
Inadequate for Long-Term Use
The BRAT diet is intended for short-term use during periods of illness and should not be followed as a regular, long-term diet. It is meant to be a temporary solution to help manage symptoms of stomach illnesses and should not replace a balanced diet that provides all the necessary nutrients for overall health.
Potential Dehydration
Diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, and it is crucial to ensure adequate fluid intake when following the BRAT diet. This may include water, clear broths, herbal teas, and electrolyte drinks to prevent dehydration and maintain hydration during illness.
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BRAT diet alternatives
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, is a short-term eating plan that was previously recommended for children recovering from stomach flu or diarrhea. It is no longer advised by healthcare providers due to its lack of important nutrients, which can lead to malnutrition and low energy if consumed for extended periods.
Bland Diet
The bland diet offers more variety than the BRAT diet while still being gentle on the gastrointestinal system. It includes foods such as yogurt, noodles, white bread, lean meat, boiled or mashed potatoes, and small amounts of smooth peanut butter. This diet helps to avoid undernourishment, which is a risk with the BRAT diet.
Paleo Diet
The Paleo Diet is a gentle and healing alternative to the BRAT diet, especially for children and adults who are ill. It provides more immune-boosting nutrients and avoids inflammation-causing foods like wheat and sugar, which may prolong irritation of the stomach and gut lining. This diet also emphasizes hydration, recommending small sips of water every 5-15 minutes during illness to maintain fluid levels.
Oral Rehydration Therapy
Oral rehydration therapy is recommended for children with diarrhea to help replace lost body fluids. Products labeled as oral rehydration solutions, such as Pedialyte or Amazon's Basic Care Electrolyte Solution, contain a precise ratio of water, sugar, and salt to maximize fluid uptake and reduce stool output.
Balanced Diet
Instead of restricting to the BRAT diet, a balanced, nutritionally adequate diet can help speed up recovery from diarrhea. This includes a mix of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Natural yogurt, kefir, miso soup, and fermented vegetables are great options to introduce beneficial bacteria called probiotics, which may help shorten the course of diarrhea.
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Frequently asked questions
BRAT is an acronym for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. The diet is meant to help treat diarrhea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints.
The goal of the BRAT diet is to ease gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. The diet is low in fiber, which helps to firm up stools.
Yes, peanut butter is allowed on the BRAT diet. In fact, peanut butter on banana cinnamon toast is recommended as a good snack option when following the BRAT diet.
Other foods that fall into the BRAT diet include clear broth, cranberry juice, tea, water, canned peaches, sweet potatoes, crackers, and eggs.
The BRAT diet is meant to be followed for a short period of time, typically no longer than 24-48 hours. It is important to start adding other foods back into your diet slowly to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
