Diarrhea is one such issue regarding the body which is often caused due to heat or eating the wrong food.
A loose or mostly watery bowel movement is referred to as diarrhea. A person might have it a few times a year because it is a common issue.
Whether it’s a bacterial illness, a food allergy, or just something you ate that didn’t suit you well, it can cause you many inconveniences. Eating foods that are easy on the stomach is crucial because some foods might aggravate an upset stomach.
Some of the items that are advised for people with diarrhea are boiled vegetables, low-fiber carbohydrates, lean poultry, crackers, soup, and eggs.
Contrarily, foods to stay away from include spices, sugar, dairy, and foods with high-fat content. Foods that make you gassy should also be avoided.
List Of Foods For Diarrhea
The following foods will help you feel better and recover more quickly if you have diarrhea.
Low-Fiber Grains And Carbohydrates
While fiber is an important component that helps keep your bowel movements regular and gives your stool volume.
A low-fiber diet is advised when you have diarrhea since it helps with digestion[1] and lessens the frequency of bowel movements.
Try cooking some rice, noodles, wheat, or oats, especially if you have watery stools.
Farina and other hot cereals are typically fortified with vitamins and are simple to digest. Oatmeal might be a good addition while you recuperate.
Soluble fiber from oats can help by firming and thickening the stool to prevent diarrhea. You should refrain from adding butter, syrup, honey, or sugar to your oatmeal until your diarrhea has stopped.
The healthier toast option is typically whole wheat, but since white bread is more simple to digest, it may be preferable. White flour, as opposed to wheat flour, is frequently used to make pretzels and saltines.
They also include salt, which might aid in reestablishing the sodium balance in your body.
White rice also helps to firm up loose stools since it is easily absorbed and binding.
Make it either plain or with chicken broth. Another choice is to use plain, white-flour pasta noodles.Steamed Veggies
Although they are incredibly nutritious, fresh vegetables can be difficult to digest. Peel them, take out any seeds, and cook them thoroughly to make them better suited to a diarrhea diet.
Boiling veggies may be better for your system[2] when you have diarrhea because raw vegetables may be more difficult to digest and may create discomfort in the form of gas and bloating.
Stick to peeled, plain potatoes rather than cooked potatoes with the skin because while the skin of a baked potato is healthful, it may include more fiber than your body can handle.
Because they tend to create gas, stay away from broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, peas, green leafy vegetables, and maize. Vegetables like green beans, potatoes, and carrots should be boiled.
Soup With Crackers
Soup can aid in rehydrating you and replenishing your nutrients, whereas crackers are beneficial because they frequently include a lot of salt.
Eating salty meals can aid in restoring electrolytes, which include minerals like sodium and potassium, which can be significantly lost due to diarrhea.
The study[3] has shown that consuming rice soup along with G-ORS solution for rehydration could help with acute diarrhea.
Skinless Poultry
To avoid aggravating your diarrhea, choose low-fat meats like skinless chicken or turkey over greasy dishes with high-fat content.
The following herbs can be used to flavor the meat: basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or cilantro.
Using Probiotics
A minor case of diarrhea could be reduced by consuming probiotics in food or as supplements. Live bacteria and yeast are probiotics, which are good for your digestive system.
A lot of the beneficial bacteria in your intestines and stomach can be lost as a result of diarrhea.
These securing microorganisms can be swiftly replaced by probiotics, aiding in the recovery[4] of regular bowel movements. A few beneficial probiotics are:
- Lactobacillus bacteria
- Bifidobacterium bacteria
- Saccharomyces boulardii yeast
Yogurt and kefir containing live probiotic bacteria are two examples of dairy products that are incredibly healthy. Although not all dairy products are good for diarrhea so it may be better to avoid their consumption.
Fermented foods are additional natural sources of probiotics.
- Miso
- Kombucha
- Sauerkraut
- Old-style soft cheeses
- Cattle’s milk
- Green olives
- Soured-dough bread
- Tempeh
The fermented food kimchi is also quite well-liked. Many even refer to it as a “super-probiotic.” However, the spicy ingredients in kimchi could worsen your diarrhea.
Probiotics can have modest side effects, including gas, bloating, and upset stomach, whether they are consumed as food or supplements.
The BRAT Diet
For the treatment of diarrhea, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases does not advise a limited diet.
All foods are not considered equal, though. You should avoid some meals, but you may be able to tolerate some others better.
A prominent eating regimen[5] for reducing intestinal discomfort was the BRAT diet. Four bland items with little fiber make up the diet:
- Bananas
- Rice
- Applesauce
- Toast
Bananas are more helpful[6] as they aid in regaining whatever potassium your body may have lost due to diarrhea. As your diarrhea symptoms start to improve, you can eat additional bland, simple-to-digest foods. It consists of:
Roasted skinless chicken breasts
- Oatmeal
- Hash browns
Never consume gas-producing foods or drinks, such as:
- Seltzer or sodas that have carbonation
- Beans
- Legumes
- Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration is among the most serious effects[7] of diarrhea. A lot of people visit the emergency department because of this.
The body loses a lot of the electrolytes and water it requires for normal operations when it has diarrhea. Minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium are electrolytes and are required for several body functions.
Dehydration should always be appropriately managed because it can become risky, particularly for young children. You must replenish the electrolytes and fluids you lost even if you have a minor case of diarrhea.
Consume lots of liquids that are clear, such as water, clear broths, or sports drinks that are high in electrolytes. When you experience diarrhea, avoid drinking coffee, caffeinated beverages, prune juice, sweetened beverages, sodas, and alcohol.Each of these works as a laxative. If you have lactose intolerance, which means you have trouble digesting the primary sugar in milk, it’s a good idea to stay away from dairy products.
Infant rehydration drinks are necessary[8] for young children and babies with diarrhea. These are advertised under specific brand names, including:
- Pedialyte
- Enfalyte
- Gastrolyte
Breastfeeding infants should continue to do so. The toddler should continue eating normally. They should also drink fluids to stay hydrated.
This is preferable to placing them on a strict diet. Some individuals prefer to steer clear of the artificial colorings and flavors included in some rehydration beverages.
Using simply salt, sugar, and water, you may manufacture your rehydration beverage. Oral rehydration salts are also generally available over-the-counter in pharmacies.
Don’t use too much salt and stick to the preparation guidelines.
Conclusion
Your diarrhea will probably get better on its own if it is light. To relieve your symptoms, you can use over-the-counter drugs. However, you should also make sure to eat well and drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration.
You can drink liquids for a few hours in case you don’t feel like eating or can’t keep food down till you can. Eating smaller meals more regularly may be more manageable than attempting to eat a big meal all at once.
However, you ought to get medical help if you have trouble swallowing any foods or drinks. Also, you should consult your doctor regarding your diet during diarrhea.
References/Sources
Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed research, academic, and medical institution studies.
- Dietary fibre Reviewed on: 17-09-2021 Available from: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/fibre-in-food
- When you have diarrhea Review Date 10/2/2019 Available from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000121.htm
- Mojtaba Kianmehr, Ashraf Saber, Jalil Moshari, et al. The Effect of G-ORS Along With Rice Soup in the Treatment of Acute Diarrhea in Children: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial Nurs Midwifery Stud. 2016 Jun; 5(2): e25852.Published online 2016 May 21. doi: 10.17795/nmsjournal25852
- Stefano Guandalini Probiotics for prevention and treatment of diarrhea J Clin Gastroenterol. 2011 Nov;45 Suppl:S149-53. doi: 10.1097/MCG.0b013e3182257e98. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21992955/
- When Should You Follow the BRAT Diet? November 26, 2021 Available from: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/brat-diet/
- G H Rabbani, T Teka, B Zaman, et al. Clinical studies in persistent diarrhea: dietary management with green banana or pectin in Bangladeshi children Gastroenterology. 2001 Sep;121(3):554-60. doi: 10.1053/gast.2001.27178. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11522739/
- Dehydration and diarrhea Paediatr Child Health. 2003 Sep; 8(7): 459–460.doi: 10.1093/pch/8.7.459
- Acute diarrhoea in infants: oral rehydration is crucial Prescrire Int. 2000 Oct;9(49):146-53. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11603416/
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Otella has an experience of around eight years of writing about health and nutrition-related topics. She is a full-time mother and a housewife, and the time she has left after doing her mother and household duties is spent writing for Working for Health as a full-time writer. Her life goal is to raise both her boys into a gentleman, and at the same time, she wants to educate people on how to keep themselves fit by tweaking their daily diet.