Diarrhea can be uncomfortable and disruptive. Luckily, dietary adjustments can significantly ease symptoms. A short-term diet focusing on bland, easily digestible foods is often recommended. This article explores “What Food For Diarrhea” is best, offering a comprehensive guide on what to eat and what to avoid to help you recover quickly.
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The good news is that managing diarrhea through diet can be relatively straightforward. Some foods actively help alleviate symptoms, while others can worsen them. The key is to understand these differences and make informed choices. For optimal results, aim for frequent, small, snack-sized meals instead of three large ones, reducing stress on your digestive system. Room temperature beverages are also preferable, avoiding the extremes of hot and cold.
Best Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea
When considering “what food for diarrhea” will provide relief, focus on bland, easily digestible options. Here’s a breakdown:
1. White Bread or Toast
Refined white bread is a good choice because it is easy to digest and can help to firm up stools. Avoid whole grain breads, which are harder on the digestive system during a bout of diarrhea.
2. Plain Pasta
Similar to white toast, plain pasta can aid in recovery. Saltine crackers and pretzels also offer the same benefit, helping to solidify stools.
3. White Potatoes
Boiled or steamed plain white potatoes are a good option. Skip the skin, as it can exacerbate digestive issues. Other suitable choices include cooked carrots, plain white rice, and squash.
4. Bananas
Bananas are easily digestible and gentle on the stomach, making them an excellent choice when experiencing diarrhea. They are also a valuable source of potassium, an essential electrolyte that can be depleted due to diarrhea.
5. Applesauce
Applesauce is better than raw apples. The skin of raw apples contains insoluble fiber, which can worsen diarrhea. Applesauce contains pectin, which helps to bind stools. Canned pears are another safe fruit choice.
6. Hot Cereals
Easily digestible hot cereals like farina, often fortified with vitamins, are a good choice. Oatmeal is also beneficial, being a good source of soluble fiber, which can help firm stools.
7. Lean Protein
Skinless chicken breast is an excellent option when you have diarrhea. You can also consume lean, fat-free cuts of turkey, beef, pork, and fish. Soft-cooked eggs are another diarrhea-friendly protein source.
8. Low-Fat Yogurt
While most dairy should be avoided, low-fat yogurt is an exception. It contains probiotics, which can help restore the healthy balance of gut microorganisms and aid in digestion. Kefir is another probiotic-rich dairy option.
Foods to Avoid When You Have Diarrhea
Knowing “what food for diarrhea” to avoid is equally important. Here’s a list of foods that can worsen symptoms:
1. Dairy
Limit most dairy products, except for yogurt and kefir, until your condition improves. Lactose, the sugar in dairy, can be difficult to digest and can worsen diarrhea.
2. Whole Grains
Avoid oatmeal, brown rice, whole wheat and other bread products containing the bran and germ of the grain. White bread is easier to digest.
3. Nuts and Seeds
Avoid nuts and seeds, as they can worsen diarrhea. You should also avoid beans and legumes, including lentils.
4. Raw Vegetables
Raw vegetables and dried fruit are harder to digest and should be avoided when you have diarrhea. Also avoid cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, as they can cause gas and bloating. Skip corn, onion, and garlic while you have symptoms.
5. Fried and Fatty Foods
Avoid fatty red meat, particularly ground beef and processed meats like sausage, bacon, and salami, which are high in saturated fat. Fried foods, including snack products like potato chips, are also harder to digest.
6. Butters and Sauces
Nut butters like peanut butter can exacerbate symptoms, as can regular butter because it’s a dairy product. Also, avoid sauces, gravy, mayonnaise, or heavy spices.
7. Sugar-Free Candy
Avoid treats made with artificial sweeteners like sorbitol, xylitol, or erythritol, which have a mild laxative effect. Also avoid ice cream, baked goods, pudding, and whipped topping, as they can contain these sweeteners as well as fats and other problematic ingredients.
What Should You Drink When You Have Diarrhea?
Replacing lost fluids and electrolytes is essential. Plain water is a good option, but coconut water, electrolyte-rich sports drinks, and other beverages may be used as long as they are low in sugar.
Consider these options:
- Clear bone broth
- Weakly brewed decaffeinated tea
- Kefir
Avoid these beverages:
- Caffeinated coffee and tea
- Citrus fruit juices
- Sodas
- Alcohol
- Carbonated drinks
- Extremely hot or cold drinks
These drinks can stimulate bowel movements or cause gas and bloating. Limit milk consumption.
Ice pops, especially those low in sugar and electrolyte-enhanced like Pedialyte freezer pops, can help prevent dehydration, particularly in children.
Benefits of a Diarrhea Diet
A temporary, restrictive diet can help solidify watery stools and allow your bowels to rest. It can also restore lost fluids and balance electrolytes in your body.
Foods that help are generally high in soluble fiber, found in potatoes, bananas, and refined wheat. Soluble fiber absorbs fluid in the gut, slowing digestion. Insoluble fiber, found in bran, some fruits, and whole grains, doesn’t absorb fluid and can speed up digestion, worsening diarrhea.
This diet is for short-term use for occasional diarrhea, but it can also help ease sudden, severe diarrhea in people with chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and celiac disease.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Consult your healthcare provider if your diarrhea doesn’t resolve or if you experience additional symptoms like fever, fatigue, or trouble breathing.
Discuss the safety of anti-diarrheal medications, as they can be dangerous in certain conditions. Remember that underlying health conditions, like irritable bowel syndrome, may require treatment.
If symptoms improve by day three, you can reintroduce other foods gradually over one to two weeks. A diarrhea diet is generally safe for older children and adults, but watch for signs of nutritional deficiency, including paleness, weakness, increased sensitivity to cold, depression, and high blood pressure.
A diarrhea diet is not intended for long-term use. If symptoms don’t improve within a few days, other treatments may be necessary.
Summary
Managing occasional diarrhea often involves dietary changes for a few days, focusing on bland, binding, and easily digestible foods. Staying hydrated is crucial. Consult a healthcare provider for dietary changes in babies and toddlers with diarrhea, as restrictive diets can be harmful to them. By understanding “what food for diarrhea” helps and hinders recovery, you can effectively manage symptoms and promote a quicker return to normal digestive function.
