Health A to Z Last updated on 2022-02-04 22:46:59

Food For Diarrhea

Dr. Abhishtita Mudunuri
2 Min Read
Fact Checked

What you eat and drink impacts your digestive system

Food for diarrhea — whether caused by pathogens, street-side food or a chronic condition such as IBS-D, diet and diarrhea are intricately related. What you eat and drink determines your overall well-being.

What to eat for diarrhea?

Here is a list of foods to eat when you have diarrhea: - Bland food: Believe it or not, mom's recipe and home remedies are still the best. People suffering from diarrhea should eat bland food such as the BRAT diet: Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. - Probiotics: Foods rich in probiotics include yoghurt, dhokla, kefir, idli, paneer and fermented pickles. Probiotics aid digestion by replenishing your digestive system with good bacteria. The good bacteria also enhances your gut health by preventing intestinal inflammation and have been associated with preventing thyroid diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, heartburn, constipation and type 1 diabetes. - Fruits: Include fruits rich in soluble fibre, i.e., foods that are easily digested and absorbed by the intestines. Some examples of fruits rich in soluble fibre are bananas and applesauce. Bananas are rich in potassium, an important electrolyte that can be lost when you have diarrhea. Similarly, prefer applesauce over apples. The skin of apples has insoluble fibre, making it hard for your system to digest it, especially when you have diarrhea. - Vegetables: Include vegetables such as boiled potatoes, green beans and carrots. Vegetables are an essential source of vitamins and minerals, but they can be hard to digest when eaten raw. Consider cooking, peeling, or removing seeds to make them diarrhea diet-friendly food. - Grains: Include white plain rice over brown rice and white bread over whole wheat bread. Whole wheat and brown rice may be healthier, but white bread and plain white rice are easier to digest. - Dairy: Dairy products are generally not recommended if you have diarrhea, except yoghurt or curd. They are probiotic foods that stop diarrhea. - Proteins: Steamed lean chicken is a good source of protein and is also easily digested. Lean fish is also okay.

What to drink?

One of the major problems of diarrhea is that you lose plenty of water and electrolytes due to dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially in young children. Following is a list of drinks or beverages that help rehydrate or replenish lost electrolytes: - Drink plenty of water - Ginger tea - Coriander water - Lemonade - Coconut water - ORS solution

Food and drinks to avoid

As much as it's important to know what to eat, it's equally important to know what not to eat. You don't want to aggravate your health by eating the wrong foods. Avoid the following: - Dairy - Spicy food - Oily and fatty food - Sugary drinks - Caffeine - Beans - Broccoli - Cabbage - Alcohol

When to see a doctor?

Usually, the symptoms of diarrhea go away in a couple of days. However, if that isn't the case and you have persistent diarrhea for more than two days, it could indicate an underlying health condition. Schedule an appointment with a doctor if – You don't recover after two days – You have severe rectal and abdominal pain – You have a high fever – You've been to the toilet more than ten times a day – Your stools are black or bloody

References:

What to eat when you have diarrhea (1)
What foods to eat if you have diarrhea (2)
Diarrhea home remedies | How to stop diarrhea fast (3)

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Dr. Abhishtita Mudunuri

Dr. Abhishtita Mudunuri is an Internal Medicine Physician Diabetologist with over 10 years of experience in treating lifestyle disorders like Diabetes, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, etc. She has worked previously at Columbia Asia, Sunshine Hospitals, and Apollo Group of Hospitals. Currently, she is working as a Senior Manager and Diabetologist at MFine.