Diarrhea - self-care; Diarrhea - gastroenteritis During bouts of diarrhea, the acid in the stool is very irritating to a baby's skin. Frequent diaper
changes are necessary to avoid a painful rash. These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea: Ask your health care provider if you should take a multivitamin or drink sports drinks to boost your nutrition. Also ask about taking a fiber supplement, such as Metamucil, to add bulk to your stools. Your provider may also recommend a special medicine for diarrhea. Take this medicine as you have been told to take it. Eating When you Have DiarrheaYou can bake or broil beef, pork, chicken, fish, or turkey. Cooked eggs are also OK. Use low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt. If you have very severe diarrhea, you may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days. Eat bread products made from refined, white flour. Pasta, white rice, and cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes are OK. You may also try pancakes and waffles made with white flour, and cornbread. But don't add too much honey or syrup. You should eat vegetables, including carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, asparagus tips, acorn squash, and peeled zucchini. Cook them first. Baked potatoes are OK. In general, removing seeds and skins is best. You can include desserts and snacks such as fruit-flavored gelatin, fruit-flavored ice pops, cakes, cookies, or sherbet. Things you Should Avoid Eating or DrinkingYou should avoid certain kinds of foods when you have diarrhea, including fried foods and greasy foods. Avoid fruits and vegetables that can cause gas, such as broccoli, peppers, beans, peas, berries, prunes, chickpeas, green leafy vegetables, and corn. Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks. Limit or cut out milk and other dairy products if they are making your diarrhea worse or causing gas and bloating. When to Call the DoctorContact your provider if you have:
ReferencesBartelt LA, Guerrant RL. Diarrhea with little or no fever. In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 98. Schiller LR, Sellin JH. Diarrhea. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 16. Version InfoLast reviewed on: 12/5/2021 Reviewed by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 
If you have diarrhea, food may be the last thing on your mind. However, it's crucial to stay hydrated and get adequate nutrition during a bout of diarrhea, says Deepti Mundkur, MD, a primary care physician with her own practice in San Diego. According to the Cleveland Clinic, dehydration is one of the biggest dangers of diarrhea. Some foods can make an upset stomach worse, so it is important to eat foods that are easy on the tummy. Boiled vegetables, low-fiber starches, lean poultry, crackers, soup, and eggs are some of the foods that are recommended for patients with diarrhea, says Mundkur. On the other hand, foods to avoid include spicy foods, sugary foods, dairy products, and foods with a high fat content. You should also avoid foods that give you gas. You may have heard of the BRAT diet of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, which is a traditional remedy for diarrhea. It isn't a diet that you should go on long term, but can be helpful over short periods of time. Here are some foods you should eat when you have diarrhea, to help ease your symptoms and speed up your recovery. 5 types of foods that can help diarrhea1. Low-fiber starches and cerealsWhile fiber is a critical nutrient that adds bulk to stool and keeps your bowel movements regular, a low-fiber diet is recommended when you have diarrhea since it makes digestion easier and reduces the frequency of bowel movements. Mundkur says boiled rice, noodles, wheat, or oats can help, especially if you have watery stools. 2. Boiled vegetablesRaw vegetables can be harder to digest and can cause discomfort in the form of gas and bloating, so boiled vegetables may be easier on your system when you have diarrhea. Mundkur recommends opting for boiled vegetables like green beans, potatoes, and carrots. 3. Soup and crackersSoup can help replenish your fluid and nutrient levels, whereas crackers are helpful since they typically have a high salt content. Diarrhea can result in considerable loss of fluid and electrolytes, which are minerals like sodium and potassium, so eating salty foods can help restore them. 4. Lean chicken or turkeyGreasy foods with a high fat content can make your diarrhea worse, so opt for low-fat meat options like skinless chicken or turkey. Mundkur recommends baking the meat and eating it unseasoned, since spices and seasonings can irritate your system. You can use dry or fresh herbs, like basil, parsley, thyme, rosemary, oregano, or cilantro to flavor the meat, says Mundkur. 5. EggsCooked eggs are safe to consume when you have diarrhea. Opt for preparations that don't involve a lot of butter, cheese, or seasonings, like scrambled eggs seasoned with salt. While the BRAT diet, consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once prescribed to treat diarrhea, the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders says that this diet is not nutritionally adequately for long periods of time. However, you can eat these foods when you have a short bout of diarrhea. If you don't have an appetite, or if you have nausea or vomiting in addition to diarrhea, Mundkur says you can stick to only liquids for a short while, until you're able to tolerate some food. Liquids are easier to digest and can help prevent bowel irritation. 5 types of foods you should avoid eating if you have diarrheaThese are some foods that tend to worsen diarrhea. Mundkur recommends checking with your doctor about what foods might trigger diarrhea for you if you have it chronically (i.e. over an extended period of time or very frequently), individually, as food intolerances can lead to diarrhea. 1. Foods high in fatFoods that have a high fat content can make diarrhea worse, resulting in more trips to the bathroom as well as greasy and smelly stools. Mundkur says this can happen because diarrhea can sometimes temporarily affect your body's ability to absorb fat. Fat typically takes longer to digest so it slows down the movement of food through your system; however, if your body is unable to digest fat, food may pass through your system a lot faster. "Foods with a high fat content should be avoided until gut function returns to normal after a severe bout of diarrhea," says Mundkur. Some foods to avoid include fried foods, meat dishes with added fat or a high fat content, nuts, and creamy sauces or dressings. It's also worth noting that the reverse can also happen sometimes — you may develop fat malabsorption, which is the inability to digest fats, and that can lead to chronic diarrhea, says Mundkur. 2. Dairy productsAccording to Mundkur, you may not be able to adequate digest dairy products while you have diarrhea, and sometimes up to several weeks or months after your illness. Dairy products to avoid include milk, cheese, cream, and butter; yogurt however is the exception because it's a probiotic that can help treat diarrhea, says Mundkur. "Plain yogurt is best since the added sugars in flavored yogurt are not easy on the gut during an episode of diarrhea," she says. 3. Spicy foodsSpicy foods and seasonings can irritate your digestive system and add to your discomfort, so avoid them while you have diarrhea. Moreover, what makes spicy food so spicy going down might also make it spicy coming back out. Therefore, do your rump a favor and season your food with just salt or herbs instead, since that can help replenish your electrolyte levels. 4. Sugary foodsSugar can make diarrhea worse because it causes the gut to release a lot of water, resulting in loose stools. Avoid sugary foods and drinks, even those with artificial sweeteners like stevia and aspartame, like baked goods, candy, and soda when you have diarrhea. 5. Foods that cause gasCertain foods tend to cause gas and should be avoided when you have diarrhea, as they can worsen diarrhea and add to your discomfort. These foods include:
Treating diarrheaMost cases of diarrhea are caused by viral infections, says Mundkur. They often clear up on their own, without requiring any treatment. But you can take over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol or Kaopectate for relief. "If vomiting and severe diarrhea limit your ability to hydrate yourself, it is time to seek care at a clinic or hospital for intravenous (IV) repletion of fluids," says Mundkur. If your diarrhea is caused by a bacterial infection, Mundkur says you may experience severe diarrhea, fever, and bloody stools; however, antibiotics can help treat the infection if it's bacterial. On the other hand, persistent blood in your stools could also be an indication of something more serious. "Sometimes colon cancer can cause diarrhea and blood in the stool, so it is important to talk to your primary care physician about whether you need a colonoscopy," says Mundkur. Insider's takeawayIf your diarrhea is mild, it will likely get better on its own. You can take over-the-counter medications for relief and make it a point to get adequate nutrition and hydration to avoid dehydration. Spicy foods, sugary foods, dairy products, foods high in fat, and foods that cause gas can worsen your symptoms, whereas low-fiber starches, boiled vegetables, soup, crackers, lean meats, and eggs may be easier to digest. If you don't feel like eating or you are unable to keep food down, you can drink liquids for a few hours until you're able to eat something. It may be easier to eat small portions of food more frequently, rather than attempting to eat a large meal at one go. However, if you are unable to stomach any foods or liquids, you should seek medical attention.
Sanjana has been a health writer and editor since 2014. She has written extensively for platforms like Livestrong.com, Verywell Mind, and Times Internet. Her work spans various health-related topics, including fitness, nutrition, mental health, and wellness. Sanjana balances her love for chocolate with a penchant for fun workouts like aerial yoga and kickboxing. Read more Read less What drinks are good for diarrhea?The most important treatment for diarrhea is to drink fluids that contain water, salt, and sugar, such as oral rehydration solution (ORS). Sports drinks (eg, Gatorade) may be acceptable if you are not dehydrated and are otherwise healthy.
What relieves diarrhea fast?BRAT diet
A diet known as BRAT may also quickly relieve diarrhea. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. This diet is effective due to the bland nature of these foods, and the fact that they're starchy, low-fiber foods. These foods have a binding effect in the digestive tract to make stools bulkier.
What to eat or drink if you have diarrhea?BRAT stands for “bananas, rice, apples, toast.” These foods are bland, so they won't aggravate the digestive system. They're also binding, so they help firm up stool.. cooked cereal, like Cream of Wheat or farina.. soda crackers.. applesauce and apple juice.. Is it OK to drink when you have diarrhea?These things may help you feel better if you have diarrhea: Drink 8 to 10 glasses of clear fluids every day. Water is best. Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement.
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What can i drink when i have diarrhea
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