The best and worst foods you can eat during diarrhea

Diarrhea is one of the most annoying digestive problems and in some cases can be a concern. Adults usually develop this problem on average once a year. But if you have a food allergy or a certain illness, you may experience it more than once a year. Diarrhea can sometimes be treated with diet. Depending on the cause of the diarrhea, eating certain foods may help relieve it or make it worse.

In this article, we will talk about the cause of diarrhea from trends and then answer the question of what to eat and what foods to avoid to treat diarrhea. Stay with us until the end of this article.

Causes of diarrhea

You have diarrhea when your stools are watery and your bowel movements are more frequent than normal. This common digestive problem is divided into acute and chronic categories:

Acute diarrhea

Acute diarrhea lasts only a few days and often occurs as a result of food poisoning. However, other factors, such as the flu, parasites, and even some medications, such as antibiotics, may play a role. If you travel to a place where food or water is contaminated, you may develop ” traveler’s diarrhea ” or “traveler’s diarrhea.”

Chronic diarrhea

Chronic diarrhea lasts at least four weeks. This complication can be a sign of more serious problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). If you have chronic diarrhea, consult your doctor to treat it.

Symptoms of diarrhea

In addition to watery stools, you may have stomach pain or nausea. There is also a possibility of fever or chills depending on the cause of the diarrhea.

Diarrhea Diet: Useful Foods

Most people lose the urge to eat when they have diarrhea. In acute diarrhea, the most important thing to do is identify the cause of the problem and fix it. Usually in these conditions foods can not help cure diarrhea.

In the past, many experts encouraged patients to follow the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast). Research shows that while this diet does not harm your health, it does not help with diarrhea. In other words, there is not much evidence that the BRAT diet is effective.

If you have chronic diarrhea, your diet, that is, all the foods you eat and the foods you avoid, can all be effective in relieving this complication. Diet is most effective in treating chronic diarrhea.

Eliminate foods you may be sensitive to, such as milk or nuts, for a while and then gradually add them back to your diet. Your doctor may ask you to write down the foods you eat so that you can more easily identify the causes of your digestive problems.

You can use probiotic foods or supplements to treat diarrhea. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that live naturally in the gut and are involved in maintaining a healthy digestive tract.

Sometimes, probiotics are used to treat irritable bowel syndrome and other chronic gastrointestinal diseases. You can find these beneficial bacteria in dairy foods such as yogurt, non-dairy foods such as kimchi and tempeh , or dietary supplements. However, consult your doctor before using them as part of a diarrhea diet.

1. Low-fiber starches and cereals

Although fiber is a vital nutrient that increases stool volume and regulates bowel movements, following a low-fiber diet is recommended when you have diarrhea. Because such a diet facilitates digestion and reduces the frequency of defecation. Rice, noodles, wheat or oats are some of the cereals that you can use in case of diarrhea.

2. Boiled vegetables

Raw vegetables are harder to digest and can cause gas in the digestive tract and bloating. Therefore, when having diarrhea, it is better to use boiled vegetables such as green beans, potatoes and carrots, which are easier to digest.

3. Soup and crackers

Having soup in your diarrhea diet helps provide the fluids and nutrients your body needs. Crackers are also good for people with diarrhea because they contain sodium (salt). Because diarrhea causes the body to lose large amounts of fluids and electrolytes (such as sodium and potassium).

4. Lean turkey and chicken

Eating high-fat foods can make diarrhea worse. Therefore, use lean meats such as turkey and skinless chicken to which you have not added spices. Spices stimulate the gastrointestinal tract. You can use dried or fresh herbs such as basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano or coriander to flavor the meat.

5. egg

In case of diarrhea, consumption of boiled eggs is harmless. Use a method of cooking eggs that does not require the addition of butter, cheese or condiments. You can add salt to taste the egg.

Diarrhea Diet: Harmful Foods

Eating the following foods can make your digestive problems worse and may delay recovery time:

1. High fat foods

Foods high in fat can make diarrhea worse and can lead to greasy and bad stools. Because sometimes diarrhea temporarily reduces the body’s ability to absorb fat. Fats usually take a long time to digest and therefore slow down the movement of food in the digestive tract. But if your body is unable to digest and absorb fats, food may pass through the digestive tract very quickly.

You should avoid high-fat foods, such as fried foods, high-fat meats, nuts, and sauces, until your diarrhea goes untreated and your bowel function returns to normal.

2. dairy

You may not be able to digest dairy products well as long as you have diarrhea and sometimes even weeks or months after your illness is treated. Milk, cheese, cream and butter are some of the dairy products that you should avoid.

Among dairy products, yogurt is an exception. Because due to having probiotics, it can help treat diarrhea. In the diarrhea diet, it is better to use plain yogurt and avoid flavored yogurts that contain added sugar.

3. Spicy foods

Seasonings and spicy foods irritate your digestive system and aggravate diarrhea. So avoid them as long as you have diarrhea. Instead of spices, use salt or fresh, dried herbs to flavor your food.

4. Sweet foods and drinks

If you have diarrhea, avoid sugary foods and drinks such as sweets, candy and soft drinks. Because they cause the intestines to release a lot of water and diarrhea worsens. Diet drinks, sugar-free chewing gum and candies containing artificial sweeteners such as sorbitol may also help with diarrhea.

5. Foods that cause gas

If you have diarrhea, you should avoid foods that cause gas in the digestive tract. These foods include:

Cabbage vegetables such as broccoli and kale: because they contain raffinose. Rafinose is a type of sugar that is difficult to digest.
Legumes such as beans and peas: Because they are high in fiber and raffinose.
Chewing gum: Because it causes you to swallow a lot of air and get bloated.
Carbonated drinks: Because they have gas, they aggravate digestive problems.

The best drink for people with diarrhea

When you have diarrhea, you should drink plenty of water to make up for lost fluids. Pay attention to your urine volume to find out if you have drunk enough water. Generally, you should urinate every three hours and the color of your urine should be light. If you do not need to urinate for a long time or your urine is dark in color, you should drink more water.

Almost all foods help replace lost electrolytes. But if you do not have an appetite and do not want to eat or you have nausea and vomiting in addition to diarrhea, you can use sodium and potassium drinks such as sports drinks. Fluids are easier to digest and can help prevent intestinal irritation.

Time to see a doctor

Diarrhea is an annoying digestive problem, but it usually goes away on its own within a few days. See your doctor right away if your diarrhea is accompanied by fever or severe stomach pain, or if you feel so sick that you can not drink anything. This is because you should not have serious problems such as diverticulitis (inflammation or infection in the large intestine) or appendicitis.

Also, consult your doctor if acute diarrhea does not improve after one to two days and chronic diarrhea after three to four weeks. Occasionally, colon cancer can cause diarrhea and blood in the stool. Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor about whether you need a colonoscopy.

The final word

If your diarrhea is mild, it will probably go away on its own. Spicy foods, sugary foods, dairy products, high-fat foods, and foods that produce gas may make your symptoms worse. But low-fiber cereals, boiled vegetables, soups, crackers, lean meats and eggs are easier to digest.

If you can not eat, drink fluids. Increasing the number of meals and decreasing the volume of each meal may help. Be sure to see your doctor if you also have difficulty drinking fluids or have other symptoms such as fever or severe stomach pain or blood in your diarrhea.