What foods can help stop diarrhea. How does the BRAT diet work for managing diarrhea symptoms. Which foods should be avoided when experiencing diarrhea. Why is staying hydrated crucial during bouts of diarrhea. How can probiotics assist in recovery from diarrhea.

Understanding Diarrhea: Causes, Symptoms, and Risks

Diarrhea is a common digestive issue characterized by loose, watery stools occurring three or more times in a single day. While it typically resolves within a day or two, persistent symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying condition.

Common symptoms of diarrhea include:

• Loose, watery stools
• Urgent need to use the bathroom
• Loss of bowel control
• Abdominal cramps or pain

In cases where a virus is the cause, additional symptoms may manifest:

• Chills
• Fever
• Blood in the stool

Chronic diarrhea, lasting four weeks or more, requires medical attention to rule out underlying conditions. The primary risk associated with diarrhea is dehydration, making fluid replacement crucial during episodes.

The BRAT Diet: A Time-Tested Approach to Managing Diarrhea

The BRAT diet is a widely recommended approach for managing diarrhea in both adults and children. BRAT stands for:

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

These foods are chosen for their specific properties:

1. They are binding foods, helping to firm up stools.
2. They are starchy and low in fiber, making them easy to digest.
3. They provide essential vitamins and minerals to replace those lost during diarrhea.

For instance, bananas are an excellent source of potassium, an electrolyte often depleted during bouts of diarrhea.

Expanding the BRAT Diet: Additional Foods to Consider

While the BRAT diet forms the foundation, other bland foods can be incorporated to provide variety and additional nutrients:

• Saltine crackers
• Potatoes
• Clear soup broth
• Pasta
• Low-fiber cereals

These foods share the characteristics of being easy to digest and unlikely to irritate the stomach, making them suitable additions to the diarrhea diet.

The Role of Cereals in Managing Diarrhea

When selecting cereals, opt for low-fiber options containing less than 1 gram of fiber per serving. Good choices include:

• Cornflakes
• Puffed rice

These cereals provide easily digestible carbohydrates without exacerbating diarrhea symptoms.

Hydration: The Key to Recovering from Diarrhea

Maintaining proper hydration is crucial when experiencing diarrhea. The body loses significant amounts of water and electrolytes, which need to be replenished to prevent dehydration.

Effective hydration strategies include:

• Drinking clear fluids containing both salt and sugar
• Using over-the-counter electrolyte solutions
• Consuming chicken soup with saltine crackers

The combination of sodium and sugar helps slow fluid loss while promoting electrolyte absorption.

Foods to Avoid During Diarrhea Episodes

Certain foods can exacerbate diarrhea symptoms and should be avoided during recovery:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Caffeine-containing products
• Most dairy products
• Fructose-rich fruits (e.g., apples, pears, peaches)
• Fatty and greasy foods
• Spicy foods
• Diet drinks and artificial sweeteners (xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol)

These foods can irritate the digestive system or increase fluid loss, potentially worsening diarrhea symptoms.

The Probiotic Exception: Yogurt and Kefir in Diarrhea Management

While dairy products are generally discouraged during diarrhea, probiotic-rich yogurt and kefir may be beneficial exceptions. These fermented dairy products contain beneficial bacteria that can help restore the gut microbiome disrupted by diarrhea.

Potential benefits of probiotics in diarrhea management include:

• Reduced duration of diarrhea episodes
• Decreased frequency of loose stools
• Restoration of beneficial gut bacteria

When choosing yogurt or kefir, opt for low-sugar varieties to avoid exacerbating symptoms. More research is needed to fully establish probiotics as an adjunct therapy, particularly for children in developing countries.

Low-Fiber Diet: A Strategic Approach to Easing Digestive Stress

During diarrhea recovery, a low-fiber diet can help reduce digestive stress. The University of Wisconsin recommends limiting fiber intake to no more than 13 grams per day.

Fruits in a Low-Fiber Diet

When incorporating fruits, choose options with less than 1.5 grams of fiber per half-cup serving:

• Grapes
• Cherries
• Cantaloupe
• Cooked applesauce
• Pineapple
• Grapefruit
• Mandarin oranges

Vegetables in a Low-Fiber Diet

Cooked vegetables are generally better tolerated during diarrhea, although cooking does not reduce fiber content. Low-fiber vegetable options include:

• Cucumber
• Cauliflower
• Beets
• Peeled eggplant
• Green beans
• Lettuce
• Peeled tomatoes
• Onions

These vegetables provide essential nutrients while minimizing fiber intake, supporting digestive recovery.

Gradual Reintroduction of Normal Diet

As diarrhea symptoms subside, it’s important to reintroduce a normal diet gradually. This process allows the digestive system to readjust without triggering a relapse of symptoms.

Steps for reintroducing a normal diet:

1. Continue with the BRAT diet and other bland foods for 24-48 hours after symptoms improve.
2. Slowly introduce small portions of easily digestible proteins, such as lean chicken or fish.
3. Gradually increase fiber intake through well-cooked vegetables and fruits.
4. Reintroduce dairy products cautiously, starting with small amounts of low-fat options.
5. Monitor your body’s response and adjust accordingly.

If symptoms return during this process, revert to the BRAT diet and consult a healthcare professional if problems persist.

Monitoring Hydration During Recovery

Even as you transition back to a normal diet, maintaining proper hydration remains crucial. Signs of adequate hydration include:

• Clear or light yellow urine
• Regular urination (at least every 3-4 hours)
• Moist mouth and lips
• Normal skin elasticity

Continue to prioritize fluid intake until you’re confident your body has fully recovered from the diarrhea episode.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Diarrhea

While most cases of diarrhea resolve on their own, certain situations warrant medical attention:

• Symptoms persisting for more than 3 days
• Signs of severe dehydration (extreme thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination)
• Fever above 102°F (39°C)
• Severe abdominal or rectal pain
• Bloody or black stools
• Symptoms of shock (rapid heartbeat, cold/clammy skin, confusion)

These symptoms may indicate a more serious underlying condition requiring professional medical intervention.

Special Considerations for Children and Elderly

Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to complications from diarrhea. Seek immediate medical care if:

• A child shows signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears when crying, sunken eyes)
• An elderly person experiences persistent diarrhea or signs of dehydration
• Diarrhea is accompanied by a high fever in any age group

Early intervention can prevent serious complications in these at-risk populations.

Preventing Future Diarrhea Episodes

While not all cases of diarrhea are preventable, certain measures can reduce your risk:

1. Practice good hand hygiene, especially before eating and after using the bathroom.
2. Ensure food is properly cooked and stored.
3. Avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products and untreated water.
4. Be cautious with food and water when traveling to areas with poor sanitation.
5. Maintain a healthy diet rich in fiber and probiotics to support gut health.

By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you can help minimize the occurrence of diarrhea and maintain overall digestive health.

The Role of Stress Management in Digestive Health

Stress can significantly impact digestive function and potentially contribute to diarrhea episodes. Implementing stress-reduction techniques can support overall gut health:

• Regular exercise
• Meditation or mindfulness practices
• Adequate sleep
• Time management strategies
• Seeking support when needed

By addressing stress levels, you may reduce your susceptibility to digestive issues, including diarrhea.

Nutritional Supplements to Support Recovery

In some cases, nutritional supplements may be beneficial during and after a bout of diarrhea. Consider the following options under the guidance of a healthcare professional:

• Zinc supplements: May reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea, especially in children.
• Vitamin A: Can support immune function and gut health during recovery.
• Glutamine: An amino acid that may help repair the intestinal lining.
• Probiotic supplements: Can complement dietary sources in restoring gut flora.

Always consult with a healthcare provider before starting any supplement regimen, especially when recovering from illness.

The Importance of Individualized Approaches

While general guidelines for managing diarrhea are helpful, it’s important to recognize that individual responses may vary. Factors such as underlying health conditions, medications, and personal dietary tolerances can influence the effectiveness of different strategies.

Consider keeping a food and symptom diary during recovery to identify patterns and optimize your personal approach to managing diarrhea episodes.

Long-Term Gut Health: Beyond Diarrhea Management

Maintaining long-term gut health is crucial for overall well-being and can help reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea episodes. Key strategies for promoting gut health include:

1. Consuming a diverse, fiber-rich diet to support beneficial gut bacteria.
2. Regularly incorporating fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut.
3. Staying adequately hydrated with water and herbal teas.
4. Limiting processed foods, excessive sugar, and artificial additives.
5. Managing stress through lifestyle practices and relaxation techniques.

By prioritizing gut health in your daily life, you can build resilience against digestive issues and support overall health and well-being.

The Gut-Brain Connection

Emerging research highlights the significant connection between gut health and mental well-being, known as the gut-brain axis. This bidirectional communication system underscores the importance of maintaining a healthy gut for both physical and mental health.

Strategies to support the gut-brain connection include:

• Practicing mindful eating
• Incorporating prebiotic and probiotic-rich foods
• Engaging in regular physical activity
• Prioritizing quality sleep
• Managing chronic stress

By nurturing this connection, you may experience improvements in both digestive function and overall mental well-being.

List of Starchy Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea

Saltine crackers are a good starchy food to eat when you have diarrhea.

Image Credit: manoa/Moment/GettyImages

When you’re sick with diarrhea, it’s important to drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated. However, there is also a list of foods to eat when you have diarrhea to recover faster. As soon as you start to feel better, you can slowly reintroduce other foods.

How to Deal With Diarrhea

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, you have diarrhea if you experience loose, watery stools three or more times in a single day. Generally, it only lasts a day or two.

If your symptoms don’t subside, it could be a sign of a more serious issue. Several things may cause chronic diarrhea, which lasts at least four weeks, so it’s worth seeing a doctor to make sure you don’t have an underlying condition.

Because diarrhea can lead to dehydration, it’s important to address it with plenty of fluids and medications, such as bismuth subsalicylate, to soothe your stomach. In the meantime, you can also make the condition more manageable by paying attention to what you eat and switching to an anti-diarrhea diet.

Though loose, watery stools are the primary symptom, you may also experience an urgent need to use the bathroom, loss of bowel control and abdominal cramps or pain. If a virus has caused diarrhea, you may also experience chills, fever and blood in the stool.

Read more: Is It Bad to Drink a Lot of Water When Dehydrated?

The Diarrhea Diet

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a diarrhea diet is essentially the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. This is a bland diet recommended for both adults and children.

Using this approach helps make your stools firmer because all of the above are binding foods. They are starchy and low in fiber. Rich in vitamins and minerals, these foods help replace the nutrients your body needs and lost as a result of diarrhea. Bananas, for instance, are a good source of potassium.

Bland foods will not irritate your stomach. When you have an upset stomach, follow the BRAT diet to help your body move back toward normal eating. The BRAT diet, of course, is not only limited to these four products. As long as the food is bland, it’s OK to add to the list of foods to eat when you have diarrhea. Your meals may also include:

• Saltine crackers
• Potatoes
• Clear soup broth
• Pasta
• Low-fiber cereals

According to the Cleveland Clinic, you should guard against dehydration by drinking liquids that contain both salt and sugar. Sodium will slow down the fluid loss while sugar helps you absorb the salt. You can do this with over-the-counter products, such as electrolyte solutions, or eat some chicken soup with saltine crackers.

Foods to Avoid With Diarrhea

So what shouldn’t be on the list of foods to eat when you have diarrhea? As the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases points out, you should avoid:

• Alcoholic beverages
• Anything that contains caffeine
• Dairy products
• Anything that contains fructose, including fruits, such as apples, pears and peaches
• Fatty and greasy foods
• Any spicy foods
• Any diet drinks and artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol

The Cleveland Clinic says that one exception to the dairy rule is yogurt with probiotics. You may also drink kefir, which is fermented milk that contains probiotics. According to a study in the May-June 2012 issue of Holistic Nursing Practice, using probiotics may reduce the duration of diarrhea.

A September 2013 meta-analysis published in BMC Public Health also says that using probiotics may reduce duration and frequency of diarrhea, but more research is needed to support it as an adjunct therapy for children in developing countries.

Adding probiotics to your diet can help restore the beneficial bacteria in your gastrointestinal tract, which your body loses when you have an upset stomach. For best results, make sure the kefir or yogurt you choose is low in sugar, as high levels of this nutrient may worsen your symptoms.

The University of Wisconsin recommends following a low-fiber diet or one that provides no more than 13 grams of fiber per day. Cornflakes and puffed rice are good low-fiber cereals to eat. Ideally, cereals should contain less than 1 gram of fiber per serving.

If you want to have fruit, opt for fruits that contain less than 1.5 grams of fiber per half-cup serving. These include grapes, cherries, cantaloupe, cooked applesauce, pineapple, grapefruit and Mandarin oranges.

If you want to eat vegetables, cooked veggies are generally better tolerated, but cooking them will not reduce the fiber content. Low-fiber vegetables include cucumber, cauliflower, beets, peeled eggplant, green beans, lettuce, peeled tomatoes and onions.

If you decide to eat meat, choose lean cuts that are baked, steamed or broiled. Do not add fat.

If you get tired of water, you can drink fruit juice, except prune. You may also drink caffeine-free soft drinks that have been diluted with club soda or water. Weak decaffeinated coffee or tea is fine too. Ice pops, sports drinks and gelatin may help with hydration.

Remain on this diet until your symptoms subside. Once your bowel movements have returned to normal, you can start adding other foods to your meals. This is important because the BRAT diet doesn’t meet your daily nutritional needs.

Within 24 to 48 hours after you’re feeling better, you should be able to resume your regular diet. If your symptoms return, it could be the result of food intolerances or food allergies. Go back to starchy foods for diarrhea until you can get to the doctor.

Read more: Ice Cream & Diarrhea

When to See a Doctor

According to the Mayo Clinic, in cases of severe diarrhea, dehydration may be life-threatening if it’s left untreated. Dehydration is most dangerous for children, people with weakened immune systems and older adults.

You should seek medical attention for your child if:

• Diarrhea does not improve after 24 hours.
• Your child is in diapers and hasn’t had a wet diaper for three or more hours.
• Your child has a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
• Bloody or black stools are present.
• Your child has sunken eyes, cheeks or abdomen.
• Your child has a dry tongue or mouth or cries without tears.
• Your child has skin that will not flatten if pinched and released.
• Your child is unresponsive or unusually irritable, drowsy or sleepy.

As an adult, you should schedule a doctor’s appointment for yourself if:

• You experience diarrhea that lasts more than two days without improvement.
• You have a fever of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit.
• You become dehydrated.
• You experience severe rectal or abdominal pain.
• Bloody or black stools are present.

Starchy foods for diarrhea will help you feel better while you’re sick. As soon as you can, go back to a nutritionally balanced diet with plenty of fiber.

The Best Food to Eat to Recover from Diarrhea

When patients attempt to recover from diarrhea, the first course of action is to switch to simple meals. For cases that aren’t serious or threatening, doctors recommend that food excessive in salt, fat, and oil are cut back.

When medical professionals consider food that’s beneficial for diarrhea, opinions vary regarding the incorporation of probiotics and other supplements into meals plans. A review published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (2011) proposed that food with probiotics comprise a type of beneficial bacteria that may shorten the duration of diarrhoea.

Today’s post dives into a few common recommendations doctors make to patients trying to recover from diarrhea.

Causes of diarrhea

Diarrhea could be the result of a variety of gastroenterological medical conditions. Patients generally experience frequent bowel movements that are more liquid than solid or those that have a loose texture.

Potential causes include general gastroenterological conditions such as infective gastroenteritis, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, lactose intolerance, ulcerative colitis, coeliac disease and, less commonly, malignancy.

Many patients experience infective gastroenteritis a few times every year, often with no long-term consequences, diarrhea that lasts more than 3 days requires medical attention.

Symptoms include cramps, nausea, abdominal bloating and pain, fever, vomiting, and an urgent need to go to the bathroom.

How long does it take to recover from diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea usually takes 2 to 4 days to clear up, but depending on the underlying cause, it can take up to a week.

What should you eat when you have diarrhoea? 
The following types of foods are ideal for individuals trying to recover from diarrhoea: .

Bland food

For patients trying to recover from diarrhoea, doctors recommend bland, unflavoured food.

These include items like oats, toast, plain pasta, crackers, boiled potatoes, plain white rice, applesauce, bananas, and other cereals such as rice porridge or cream of wheat.

Food with probiotics

For individuals trying to recover from diarrhea, food high in probiotic content is useful in reducing symptoms of this condition.

Recommendations include consuming yogurt, kombucha, kimchi, sauerkraut (raw cabbage), and kefir (a fermented beverage) for patients trying to recover from diarrhea.

What drinks help with diarrhoea? 

For patients recovering from a bout of this condition, staying hydrated is highly important.

Apart from water, clear broths like chicken or beef broth without any grease, coconut water or other forms of water with added vitamins and electrolytes, Pedialyte, and weak coffee are also recommended.

The types of food patients recovering from diarrhea must avoid

While patients recover from diarrhea, the urge to consume heavy meals may be present. Nonetheless, steps must be taken to avoid certain food items that can upset the stomach and trigger another attack of diarrhea.

Food items and beverages to avoid include:

• Spicy food
• Fried, fatty and greasy food
• Milk and dairy products
• Citrus fruits
• Coffee and carbonated drinks
• Sardines
• Artificial sweeteners
• Pineapples, cherries, seeded berries, figs, currants, and grapes
• Processed food
• Raw vegetables including onions and corn
• Pork and veal

Signs that patients require further medical attention

If patients are still suffering from diarrhea following the recommended changes to their diet, it is recommended that they seek medical attention promptly to exclude other causes.

If diarrhea lasts longer than three days, results in dehydration or presents other serious symptoms, patients will need further treatment and medication.

Other symptoms include black or bloody stools, severe abdominal pain, and high fever. In the scenario where a child is experiencing this condition, parents of the patient need to be mindful of the following signs:

• Hasn’t had a wet diaper in a couple of hours
• High fever
• A dry mouth or tongue
• Sunken appearance
• Skin that doesn’t flatten if pinched or squeezed
• Black or bloody stools

If children experience these symptoms, immediate medical attention is critical. Between 2005-2015, diarrhea killed an average of 11.5 children annually in Australia.

Patients need to consume the right kind of food and beverages to recover from diarrhea

For bouts of diarrhea that aren’t severe, patients may be able to control and recover from their symptoms through the modification of their diet. By consuming simple, bland meals, they can expect to recover from their pain and discomfort.

For further information about diarrhea, its long-term effects, potential causes and treatment, patients can visit Dr Suhirdan Vivenanandarajah’s site. He is a trained interventional gastroenterologist and hepatologist.

Appointments can also be requested here.

The best foods to eat when you have diarrhea — and which foods you should definitely avoid

• The best foods for diarrhea are clear broth and beverages with electrolytes like coconut water.
• You can also follow the BRAT diet when you have diarrhea, which includes foods like bananas, toast, applesauce, and other easily-digestible foods.
• When you have diarrhea, you should avoid milk and dairy products, raw vegetables, processed foods, and spicy foods.
• This article was medically reviewed by Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition and wellness expert with a private practice based in New York City.

When you have diarrhea, you pass loose or watery stool more than three times a day. It’s a common problem and in most cases isn’t indicative of any underlying conditions. However, it can be uncomfortable.

There are many foods you can eat to help you stop diarrhea. But on the other hand, consuming some foods may potentially worsen your diarrhea symptoms. Here’s a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid when you have diarrhea, and how they work.

Foods that help with diarrhea

Bland foods that are easy to digest are the best foods to eat when you have diarrhea. These can include:

The BRAT diet

BRAT is an acronym that stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, “but can also include similar foods such as oatmeal and soup or broth,” says Amir Masoud, MBBS, a board-certified gastroenterologist at Yale Medicine.

The BRAT diet is great for diarrhea because it is made up of low-fiber foods that are easy to digest and can reduce the quantity of undigested food moving through your digestive tract. This helps your body to produce less stool.

Here’s a breakdown of each food in the BRAT diet and why they work to help treat diarrhea.

• Bananas: Bananas are full of potassium, which is helpful because your body needs to replace lost nutrients after a bout of diarrhea.
• Rice: Plain white rice is easy to digest and can help bind your stool, making it firmer as you pass it.
• Applesauce: Applesauce is made from cooked, pureed apples. The process of making applesauce breaks down the cell structures of apples, making them easy to digest but still highly nutritious.
• Toast: Toasted white bread is a great option to help with diarrhea because it’s easy to digest. You might want to avoid whole wheat bread, as it contains more fiber, making it harder to digest.

The BRAT diet is a helpful guide to some low-fiber foods, but there are many others that can help with diarrhea. A low-fiber diet contains less than 13 grams of fiber per day. Some other examples of foods you can eat include:

• Cereals
• Crackers
• Plain pasta

Clear broth

Clear broth is an easily digestible liquid that provides your body with sugar, salt, and other key nutrients that your body may be craving if you have not been able to eat solid food. It also has a high water content which can help keep you hydrated. Keeping hydrated is especially important because diarrhea that lasts more than a day can lead to dehydration.

“Clear broth or light soups are low in fats and proteins and this makes them easier to digest — literally giving your digestive system the break it needs during the illness,” says Masoud.

A clear broth is completely liquid and unlike other soups, doesn’t contain any solid ingredients like meats and vegetables. You can make your own broth at home or buy a can of it at your local supermarket. You can also combine clear broth with other low-fiber foods like white bread for a slightly more satisfying meal.

Beverages with electrolytes

When you have diarrhea, your body loses electrolytes, which are essential minerals that your body needs like sodium, calcium, and potassium.

Consuming beverages with electrolytes can help you replenish this loss and prevent dehydration. Here are some that you can choose from:

• Coconut water is a great source of electrolytes, as it contains large amounts of potassium and sodium.
• Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS) are another great source of electrolytes that can be prepared at home. These are made up of a combination of salts, sugar, and water and are one of the most common ways to replace fluids lost as a result of diarrhea.

Sports drinks like Gatorade have lots of electrolytes but are not a good idea to drink when you have diarrhea because they contain a lot of processed sugars, which might worsen your symptoms.

Foods to avoid with diarrhea

Certain foods are more likely to worsen diarrhea symptoms and further irritate your bowels. These include:

Milk and dairy products

Milk and dairy products that contain lactose are harder to digest when you have diarrhea, even if you aren’t lactose intolerant. That’s because when you have diarrhea, your body produces less lactase than it usually would. Lactase is an enzyme your body needs to digest lactose properly.

When lactose isn’t digested properly it may worsen your diarrhea, and also cause bloating and nausea.

Spicy foods

Spicy foods can further irritate your already sensitive bowels and digestive tracts when you have diarrhea. They might also cause a sensation known as burning diarrhea.

This happens because capsaicin — the active ingredient in most spicy foods — passes quickly through your digestive tract without breaking down properly, causing a burning sensation when you pass stool.

Processed foods

Processed foods often contain high amounts of salts, fats, and sugars. Examples include:

• Pizzas
• Sugary drinks like soda
• Pastries
• Cakes

“High sugar foods or even artificial sweeteners can also worsen diarrhea by “pulling in” water and leading to more voluminous diarrhea,” says Masoud. This can make your stool even more watery.

Raw vegetables

Raw vegetables are great for you on a regular day, but they can be hard to digest when you have diarrhea. Vegetables like broccoli, beans, and cabbage can also make you very gassy.

“Not all vegetables need to be avoided, but certain ones like broccoli, cauliflower, and onions can lead to an increase in intestinal gas formation, which can make bloating and cramping when you have diarrhea worse,” Masoud says.

Takeaways

Diarrhea is a common problem and in most cases is nothing to worry about. Your diet plays a vital role in how you manage it. Eating low fiber foods when you have diarrhea is recommended because they are easy to digest and can help reduce the amount of stool your body produces.

On the other hand spicy foods, dairy products, processed foods and raw vegetables should be avoided until your diarrhea is treated. These foods can be hard to digest and could worsen your diarrhea symptoms.

If you have persistent diarrhea, that fails to go away in 2 to 4 days, then you should see a doctor. You should also see a doctor if you experience severe abdominal pain, frequent vomiting, or blood in your stool when you have diarrhea.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

This information explains what diarrhea is and how to manage it.

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About Diarrhea

Diarrhea is a loose or watery bowel movement (poop), having more bowel movements than what’s normal for you, or both. Here are the most common symptoms of diarrhea. You may have none, some, or all of these:

• Abdominal (belly) pain and cramps
• Gas
• Mucus (a jelly-like substance) in your bowel movement
• Bleeding from your rectum (a holding area for poop)
• A fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher
• Dehydration (not having enough water in your body)

Many people get diarrhea at some point during their cancer treatment. If you have diarrhea, talk with your healthcare provider. They’ll help you find the best way to manage it.

Infections that cause diarrhea spread person to person. The best way to prevent these infections is to wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the bathroom and before eating.

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Managing Diarrhea

Ask your healthcare provider about the best way to treat your diarrhea. The ways to manage diarrhea and the amount of time it takes to feel better is different for everyone. They may have suggestions that are specific to your needs. These suggestions may be different than the guidelines in this section.

Medication to treat diarrhea

Don’t take any medication to treat diarrhea without talking with your healthcare provider first. Depending on the reason you’re having diarrhea, taking medications to stop it may be harmful.

If it’s safe for you, your healthcare provider may prescribe a medication or an antibiotic (a medication that kills bacteria and other germs) to treat your diarrhea. They may also suggest an over-the-counter medication you can buy at your local pharmacy without a prescription.

Foods and liquids to include in your meals

Try to eat 6 or more small meals each day when you have diarrhea. Don’t have meals with large portions.

Follow the BRATY diet to help control your diarrhea. The BRATY diet is made up mostly of:

• Bananas (B)
• Rice (R)
• Applesauce (A)
• Toast (T)
• Yogurt (Y)

Here are some other foods and liquids that will help you get enough nutrients (something in food that helps your body work) to manage your diarrhea.

Meat and meat substitutes

• White-meat poultry with the skin removed (such as chicken and turkey)
• Plain baked fish
• Eggs
• Tofu

Vegetables

• Well-cooked carrots, green beans, asparagus tips, and beets
• Baked potatoes with the skin removed (no fried potatoes)

Fruits

• Bananas
• Applesauce
• Cooked or canned fruits with the skin and seeds removed (such as apples, peaches, apricots, pears, and fruit cocktail)

Starches

• White and Italian bread, rolls, plain bagels, and English muffins
• Saltine crackers
• Graham crackers
• Cold cereals (such as cornflakes, Corn Chex^TM, puffed rice, Rice Chex^TM, and Rice Krispies^®)
• Hot cereals (such as Cream of Rice^®, Cream of Wheat^®, and Farina^®)
• White rice
• Plain pasta without heavy sauce

Dairy

• Lactose-free milk (such as Lactaid^® and Dairy Ease^®)
• Lactose-free cottage cheese and ice cream
• Plain yogurt
• Sorbet
• Lactose-free supplements (such as Ensure^®). A supplement is something you add to your diet to make sure you get all the nutrients you need.

Foods and liquids to avoid

High-fiber foods and liquids

Fiber is the part of your food that doesn’t get digested by your body. It’s what most of your bowel movements are made up of. Don’t eat high-fiber foods and liquids when you have diarrhea. These include:

• Whole-grain breads and cereals
• Bran
• Cooked or raw gas-producing vegetables (such as lettuce, onions, garlic, cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli)
• Fresh and dried fruits
• Juice with pulp (such as prune and orange juice)
• Beans, peas, corn, and popcorn

High-fat foods

Eating high-fat foods can make your diarrhea worse. Try not to eat:

• Butter
• Margarine
• Oil
• Salad dressing

Don’t eat:

• Fried foods
• Gravies
• Cream sauces
• High-fat deli meats
• Sausage and bacon

Foods and liquids with lactose

Lactose is a sugar that’s found in milk and milk products. When your bowels (intestines) are irritated, you may not be able to fully digest lactose. This can cause gas, stomach cramping, and diarrhea. Try not to eat foods and liquids with lactose when you have diarrhea. These include:

• Milk (low-fat, whole, and skim)
• Cheese
• Cream and sour cream
• Ice cream and sherbet

If you’re not able to avoid foods and liquids with lactose, you can take a lactase supplement (such as Lactaid) that helps you digest lactose. Take the supplement before you eat or drink any milk or milk products.

Other foods to avoid

• Foods and liquids that have sorbitol (a sugar alcohol found in some gum and sugar-free hard candies)

Depending on the reason you’re having diarrhea, your healthcare provider will make suggestions on what you can eat and drink. They may suggest you only limit certain foods and liquids, or they may recommend a special diet.

If you’re on a special diet or have diabetes, it may be hard for you to follow these guidelines. A clinical dietitian nutritionist or a diabetes educator can work with you. Ask your healthcare provider for a referral. A referral is when your healthcare provider sends you to see another healthcare provider for more services.

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Preventing Dehydration

You’re more likely to become dehydrated when you have diarrhea. This is because diarrhea causes you to lose more fluid from your body than usual. The following things can help prevent dehydration.

• Try to drink at least 8 to 10 (8-ounce) glasses of liquids each day. This will help you rehydrate (replace the fluid your body loses from having diarrhea). Rehydration is the most important treatment for diarrhea.
• Drink small amounts of liquids often. This is more helpful than drinking large amounts of liquids at once.
• If you don’t enjoy drinking water, try mixing in a small amount of fruit juice to add flavor.
• Drink hydration fluids (such as Pedialyte^® and Rehydralyte). These fluids have electrolytes, which help to balance the fluids in your body and keep you from becoming dehydrated.
• Drink clear soups, broth, gelatin (such as Jell-O^®), and Gatorade^®. These liquids have salt and sugar, which can help keep you from becoming dehydrated and feeling weak.
• Don’t drink alcohol or liquids with caffeine (such as coffee, tea, and some sodas). They can make you dehydrated.
• If you’re not able to drink liquids, you can get them through an IV (a thin, flexible tube that puts fluids directly into your vein).

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Caring for the Skin Around Your Anus

Diarrhea may irritate the area around your anus (the opening where poop leaves your body). It can cause itching, pain, or a rash and make hemorrhoids (clumps of enlarged blood vessels in your rectum) worse. The following things can help prevent irritation.

• Use witch hazel pads (such as TUCKS^® Medicated Cooling Pads) to help lessen pain and swelling. Hold the pads against the skin around your anus. You can keep the pads in your refrigerator so they’re cool, or you can use them at room temperature.
• Use a pain relief cream that doesn’t have steroids, such as a hemorrhoid cream with pramoxine (such as Preparation H^® Maximum Strength Pain Relief Cream). Apply the cream to the skin around your anus up to 4 times a day. Apply the cream either before or after you have a bowel movement, whichever is more helpful.
• Apply vitamin A&D cream (such as A+D^® ointment) or zinc oxide cream (such as Desitin^® cream) to the skin around your anus after every bowel movement. Apply it right after you dry the area to prevent rashes and soothe your skin. Don’t apply any of these creams if you’ve already applied a pain relief cream.
• Take a sitz bath (sitting down and soaking in a warm water) after every bowel movement or as needed.
• If you’re not able to use a sitz bath, wipe the skin around your anus with unscented baby wipes (baby wipes that don’t have a smell) after every bowel movement. Scented baby wipes can bother your skin. Dry the area with a soft towel.
• Wear loose underwear and pants. Don’t wear thongs.
• Try not to do any activities that may hurt the area around your anus (such as riding a bicycle, motorcycle, or horse).
• Don’t use scented body lotion on the skin around your anus.

You can buy these items at your local pharmacy without a prescription.

Once you finish taking care of the skin around your anus, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is the best way to prevent infections that cause diarrhea from spreading person to person.

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When to Call Your Healthcare Provider

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

• Diarrhea that doesn’t get better after you follow the guidelines in this resource
• Diarrhea that has bright red blood in it or dark colored poop that has bloody streaks in it
• A fever of 100. 4 °F (38 °C) or higher
• Pain or swelling in your abdomen that doesn’t feel better after you take medication
• Fatigue (feeling more tired and weak than usual)
• You’re not able to drink liquids without vomiting (throwing up)
• You’re vomiting

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Supportive Care and Diet Tips for Diarrhea

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What is diarrhea and when does it occur?

Diarrhea is generally described as abnormally frequent bowel movements that are more fluid than usual. Patients describe it based on their past and present experiences; therefore, what is normal for one person may be considered diarrhea to another. Often, health professionals characterize diarrhea as 4 or more loose stools per day. It is a common side effect experienced by many patients with cancer.

Diarrhea may be caused by:

• lactose intolerance
• bacterial infection
• damage to intestinal wall
• hormone-producing tumors (including certain types of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors)
• inflammation or ulceration of the bowel
• malabsorption caused by surgery that has shortened the intestines
• pancreatic enzyme insufficiency
• chemotherapy
• radiation therapy to the lower abdomen
• dumping syndrome.
• certain medications

People may experience different types of diarrhea. Clay-colored stools are often a result of problems with or obstructions of the biliary tract. The biliary tract is the drainage system for the gall bladder, pancreas and liver. Biliary tract blockages are common for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Floating stools often result from poor absorption of nutrients or changes in the diet, such as increased fiber. Malabsorption is common for patients with pancreatic cancer because the pancreas may not be able to produce or release enough pancreatic enzymes to aid in proper food digestion.

If a patient experiences diarrhea, a journal may be helpful to track the onset, frequency, duration, stool consistency and self-care measures taken to control it. It is helpful to share this written record with the doctor or dietitian to help devise a plan to manage the diarrhea. Since diarrhea can cause dehydration, it may also be helpful to keep track of fluid intake.

Discuss with the doctor the use of pancreatic enzyme replacement products. If the levels of enzymes produced naturally by the pancreas are insufficient, the patient may experience diarrhea.  The doctor will prescribe the type, dosage and administration schedule based on individual need, symptoms and quantity of food intake.

Regardless of the cause of diarrhea, the following diet modifications may help decrease the volume and frequency of stools.

The following foods may worsen diarrhea:

• Fatty, greasy or fried foods, including high fat meats or cheeses, whole or 2% milk, rich desserts, many fast foods and foods with added oil, butter, margarine, sour cream, cream cheese or salad dressing.
• High intake of insoluble fiber food sources during occurrences of diarrhea.  Foods such as whole grain breads/cereals, raw fruits with thick peels, raw vegetables and nuts can make foods move faster through the intestines.
• Gas-forming foods, including vegetables in the cabbage or onion family, dried beans, corn, popcorn and chewing gum.   If carbonated beverages are used, leaving them open for at least 10 minutes prior to drinking may help reduce.
• Foods high in sugar may cause diarrhea due to dumping syndrome. The symptoms of dumping syndrome include watery diarrhea or feelings of low blood sugar that occur within 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating high-sugar foods. Symptoms of low blood sugar include flushing, faintness and sweating.
• Hot liquids.
• Products made with regular milk if lactose intolerance is present or develops.
• Foods sweetened with sugar alcohols (type of reduced-calorie sweetener such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol).

The following foods are less likely to aggravate diarrhea:

• Low fat food choices.
• Foods that contain soluble fiber, such as oat fiber, and high-pectin foods like applesauce and bananas.
• If lactose intolerance is present or develops, it may help to consume plant based milk alternatives, such as soy or rice milk, or dairy products with added lactase (Lactaid®). Lactaid® Fast Act caplets or chewable tablets can also be taken with dairy products instead of milk alternatives.

Other supportive care techniques:

• Plan to eat 6-8 small meals and snacks each day.
• Talk to the healthcare team including the doctor or registered dietitian about pancreatic enzymes or other anti-diarrhea medications that may be appropriate.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines:
  • Loperamide:  Slows down the time it takes food to travel through the intestinal tract (e.g., Imodium A-D® and Imodium®).
  • Adsorbents: Attract diarrhea-causing substances from the digestive tract (e.g., Pepto-Bismol® and Kapectolin®).
  • Absorbents: Make stools more solid by adding bulk (e.g., Metamucil®, Benefiber® and Konsyl®).
• Prescription anti-diarrhea medicines:
  • Opioids:  Slow down the time it takes food to travel through the intestinal tract (e.g., Lomotil® and tincture of opium).
  • Anticholinergics:  Relieve spasms and cramping (e.g., atropine, belladonna and scopolamine).
  • Somatostatin analogues:  Reduce the secretion of extra fluid and help the body reabsorb valuable water and electrolytes.  They also slow down the time it takes food to travel through the intestinal tract (e.g., Sandostatin®).
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• The use of probiotics appears helpful in improving tolerance of and support for treatment and radiation-related diarrhea. Further research is needed to confirm the effects of probiotics when used in patients with pancreatic cancer. Sources of probiotics include foods such as yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, tempeh, sauerkraut and cottage cheese. Therapeutic foods such as DanActive™, Activia® and dietary supplements such as Align®, Culturelle® and Florastor® also contain probiotics.

Diarrhea and Dehydration

Diarrhea can cause dehydration. Dehydration results in the loss of fluids and electrolytes, including sodium and potassium, from the body.

Here are some suggestions to avoid dehydration:

• Drink 48–96 ounces of mild, clear liquids throughout the day to replace fluid loss from diarrhea.  Liquids are better tolerated at room temperature.
• Avoid beverages that contain caffeine such as coffee, tea and sodas.
• Drink an additional cup of fluids for each loose bowel movement.
• Check with the doctor to see if sports drinks or electrolyte replacement drinks (e.g., Gatorade®, G2®, Pedialyte® or Ceralyte70®) may be beneficial.
• Replace lost sodium with slightly warm broth or soup, crackers, pretzels, and sports drinks or electrolyte replacement drinks.
• Replace lost potassium by drinking fruit juices, sports drinks or electrolyte replacement drinks, or by eating peeled potatoes and bananas.

We’re Here to Help

For more information on diet and nutrition or for free, in-depth and personalized resources and information on pancreatic cancer, contact a PanCAN Patient Services Case Manager.

Information provided by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, Inc. (“PanCAN”) is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or other health care services. PanCAN may provide information to you about physicians, products, services, clinical trials or treatments related to pancreatic cancer, but PanCAN does not recommend nor endorse any particular health care resource. In addition, please note any personal information you provide to PanCAN’s staff during telephone and/or email communications may be stored and used to help PanCAN achieve its mission of assisting patients with, and finding cures and treatments for, pancreatic cancer. Stored constituent information may be used to inform PanCAN programs and activities. Information also may be provided in aggregate or limited formats to third parties to guide future pancreatic cancer research and education efforts. PanCAN will not provide personal directly identifying information (such as your name or contact information) to such third parties without your prior written consent unless required or permitted by law to do so. For more information on how we may use your information, you can find our privacy policy on our website at https://www.pancan.org/privacy/.

What Should You Eat When You Have Diarrhea?

Along with proper rest, sleep, and hydration, nutrition plays an important role in recovering from diarrhea. Deciding what to eat and what not to eat during a bout of diarrhea can be challenging. Fortunately, there are several foods that will support your body and help restore gut health as quickly as possible.

First, as with any illness, if you don’t feel hungry, there is no need to force yourself to eat. A lack of hunger is the body’s natural response to certain types of illness, so simply focusing on staying well-hydrated and incorporating some basic broths and soups is perfectly fine for both children and adults.

Top 5 Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea

If you are feeling up to eating, you’ll generally do best sticking with foods that are low in fat and insoluble fiber (the type of fiber found in veggies and fruits), and foods that aren’t overly spicy. Most people find they feel much better sticking with bland foods when they have diarrhea.

Bananas

Bananas are high in potassium, which is a key electrolyte lost when you have diarrhea. This tasty fruit also contains resistant starch, which is a type of starch that helps your body form short-chain fatty acids which stimulate sodium and fluid absorption. Proper fluid absorption during diarrhea is key as the body rids itself of fluids and nutrients which can lead to dehydration.

Unsweetened Applesauce

Unsweetened applesauce contains a compound called pectin, a type of soluble fiber that works as a prebiotic in your gut. It has been shown to boost the amount of bifidobacteria which supports the gut in calming inflammation, which in turn decreases intestinal permeability and fluid loss.

Homemade Broths

Both bone and vegetable broth can be very supportive and nourishing when you have diarrhea. If you can’t keep anything in due to diarrhea, broth is a very easily digestible food that provides amino acids that can help to heal the gut, support proper digestion, and boost the immune system so you get better faster.

Soups

Like broth, soups offer a powerhouse of nutrients that are more easily digested than raw foods. It’s best to wait on soups and stews until your body is ready for more solid foods, so begin with broth and progress to broth with cooked vegetables or meat.

A soup prepared in a slow-cooker will provide tender, gentle foods for healing your digestive tract. Avoid making your soups too spicy, but adding a bit of fresh or powdered ginger can be settling for the stomach.

Coconut Water

Unsweetened, natural coconut water is an excellent natural electrolyte replenisher, and is especially high in magnesium and potassium. Alternate it or mix it with pure water and sip throughout the day as a replacement for commercial sports drinks, which are full of artificial ingredients and sweeteners.

What Not to Eat

Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit juices, as these can worsen your symptoms. It’s also best to avoid fatty, greasy, and spicy foods, as all these can be irritating to the digestive tract. Stick with nutrient-dense foods that are simple and easy to digest.

You may also consider keeping extra support on hand, such as DiaResQ, a food for special dietary use that can help restore normal intestinal function quickly and effectively. A unique combination of nutrients and immune factors, DiaResQ helps support your body during diarrhea and is safe for both children and adults.

Food Poisoning (for Parents) – Nemours KidsHealth

What Is Food Poisoning?

Food poisoning is caused by

bacteriaand, sometimes,
virusesor other germs. They can get into the food we eat or the liquids we drink. We can’t taste, smell, or see these germs (at least not without a microscope). But even though they’re tiny, they can have a powerful effect on the body.

When germs that cause food poisoning get into our systems, they can release toxins. These toxins are poisons (the reason for the name “food poisoning”), and can cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Usually, doctors use “food poisoning” to describe an illness that comes on quickly after eating contaminated food. People often get diarrhea or start throwing up within a few hours after being infected. The good news is, food poisoning usually goes away quickly too. Most people recover in a couple of days with no lasting problems.

In a few cases, severe food poisoning can mean a visit to the doctor or hospital. When people need medical treatment for food poisoning, it’s often because of dehydration. Getting dehydrated is the most common serious complication of food poisoning.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Food Poisoning?

How food poisoning shows up depends on the germ that caused it. Someone might start to feel sick within an hour or two of eating or drinking contaminated food or liquid. Other times, symptoms may not appear for a number of weeks. In most cases, symptoms will clear up within 1 to 10 days.

Signs that a child might have food poisoning include:

• nausea (feeling sick)
• belly pain and cramps
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• fever
• headache and overall weakness

In rare cases, food poisoning can make someone feel dizzy, have blurry vision, or notice tingling in the arms. In very rare cases, the weakness that sometimes goes along with food poisoning will cause trouble breathing.

What Causes Food Poisoning?

When people eat or drink something that’s contaminated with germs, they can get sick with food poisoning. Often, people get food poisoning from animal-based foods — like meat, poultry, eggs, dairy products, and seafood. But unwashed fruits, vegetables, and other raw foods also can be contaminated and make people sick. Even water can cause food poisoning.

Foods and liquids can be contaminated at lots of different points during food preparation, storage, and handling. For example:

• Water that is used to grow food can become infected with animal or human feces (poop).
• Meat or poultry may come into contact with germs during processing or shipping.
• Bacteria can infect foods stored at the wrong temperature or kept too long.
• Cooks or other food handlers can contaminate foods if they don’t wash their hands or they use unclean utensils or cutting boards.

People with health conditions (like chronic kidney disease) or weakened immune systems are more at risk of getting ill from food poisoning than people who are in good health.

P

What Germs Cause Food Poisoning?

Germs that often cause food poisoning include:

Salmonella. Salmonella bacteria are the leading cause of food poisoning in the United States. These bacteria usually get into foods when they come into contact with animal feces. The main causes of salmonella poisoning are eating dairy products, undercooked meat, and fresh produce that hasn’t been washed well.

E. coli (Escherichia coli). E. coli bacteria usually get into food or water when they come into contact with animal feces. Eating undercooked ground beef is the most common cause of E. coli poisoning in the United States.

Listeria. These bacteria are mostly found in unpasteurized dairy products, smoked seafood, and processed meats like hot dogs and luncheon meats. Listeria bacteria also can contaminate fruits and vegetables, although that’s less common.

Campylobacter. These bacteria most commonly infect meat, poultry, and unpasteurized milk. Campylobacter also can contaminate water. As with other kinds of bacteria, these usually get into foods through contact with infected animal feces.

Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria (which can be found in meats, prepared salads, and foods made with contaminated dairy products) spread through hand contact, sneezing, or coughing. That means that people who prepare or handle food can spread the infection.

Shigella. Shigella bacteria can infect seafood or raw fruits and vegetables. Most of the time these bacteria spread when people who prepare or handle food don’t wash their hands properly after using the bathroom. Sometimes, an infection causes blood in the stool (poop).

Hepatitis A. People mostly get this virus from eating raw shellfish or foods that have been handled by someone who is infected. It can be hard to know the source of an infection because people may not get sick for 15 to 50 days afterward.

Noroviruses. These viruses usually contaminate food that’s been prepared by an infected handler.

Some of these, including Listeria and E. coli, can cause potentially dangerous heart, kidney, and bleeding problems.

P

When Should I Call the Doctor?

Most cases of food poisoning don’t need medical attention, but some do. The most common serious problem from food poisoning is dehydration. A child who is healthy is unlikely to get dehydrated as long as he or she drinks enough liquids to replace what’s lost through throwing up or diarrhea.

Call the doctor if your child has any of these symptoms:

• vomiting that lasts for more than 12 hours
• diarrhea with a fever higher than 101°F (38. 3°C)
• severe belly pain that doesn’t go away after a bowel movement
• bloody feces (diarrhea or regular poop) or bloody vomit
• bowel movements that are black or maroon
• a racing or pounding heart

It’s important to watch for signs of dehydration, which include:

• extreme thirst
• making little or no urine (pee)
• dizziness
• sunken eyes
• lightheadedness or weakness

If your family recently been to a foreign country and your child starts having diarrhea or other stomach problems, call your doctor.

Food poisoning (especially dehydration) can be more serious for people with weakened immune systems or health conditions. If your child has a health condition (such as kidney problems or sickle cell disease), call your doctor right away. Pregnant women also should let their doctors know if they get food poisoning as some germs can affect the unborn child.

P

How Is Food Poisoning Diagnosed?

A doctor will ask about what your child ate most recently and when symptoms began. The doctor will do an exam, and might take a sample of blood, stool, or pee and send it to a lab for analysis. This will help the doctor find out what’s causing the illness.

How Is Food Poisoning Treated?

Usually, food poisoning runs its course and kids get better on their own. Occasionally, though, doctors prescribe antibiotics to treat more severe types of bacterial food poisoning. A child with severe dehydration may need to be treated in a hospital with

intravenous(IV) fluids.

At-Home Care

Food poisoning usually goes away on its own in a few days. To help your child feel better in the meantime, make sure he or she:

• Gets plenty of rest.
• Drinks liquids to protect against dehydration. Electrolyte solutions work, but anything except milk or caffeinated beverages will do.
• Takes small, frequent sips to make it easier to keep the fluids down.
• Avoids solid foods and dairy products until any diarrhea has stopped.

Do not give over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medicines. These can make the symptoms of food poisoning last longer. When diarrhea and vomiting have stopped, offer your child small, bland, low-fat meals for a few days to prevent further stomach upset.

If symptoms become serious or you see signs of dehydration, call your doctor.

How Can We Prevent Food Poisoning?

Follow these tips to help protect your family from food poisoning:

• Teach everyone in your family to wash their hands well and often, especially after using the bathroom, before touching food, and after touching raw food. Use soap and warm water and scrub for at least 15 seconds.
• Clean all utensils, cutting boards, and surfaces that you use to prepare food with hot, soapy water.
• Don’t serve unpasteurized milk or food that contains unpasteurized milk.
• Wash all raw vegetables and fruits that you can’t peel yourself.
• Keep raw foods (especially meat, poultry, and seafood) away from other foods until they’re cooked.
• Use perishable food or any food with an expiration date as soon as possible.
• Cook all food from animal sources to a safe internal temperature. For ground beef and pork, this means at least 160°F (71°C). For solid cuts of meat, the safe temperature is 145°F (63°C). For chicken and turkey (ground and whole), it’s at least 165°F (74°C). Cook chicken eggs until the yolk is firm. Fish generally is safe to eat once it reaches a temperature of 145°F (63°C).
• Refrigerate leftovers quickly, preferably in containers with lids that snap tightly shut.
• Defrost foods in the refrigerator, a microwave, or cold water. Food should never be thawed at room temperature.
• If food is past its expiration date, tastes funny, or smells strange, throw it out.
• If you’re pregnant, avoid all raw or undercooked meat or seafood, smoked seafood, raw eggs and products that might contain raw eggs, soft cheeses, unpasteurized milk and juice, patés, prepared salads, luncheon meats, and hot dogs.
• Don’t drink water from streams or untreated wells.

If someone in your family gets food poisoning, tell your local health department. Officials there might be able to find the cause and stop an outbreak that could affect others.

90,000 The seven best foods for an upset stomach

An upset stomach is a nuisance that can happen to anyone. Special therapeutic nutrition helps to save the situation with diarrhea, which restores the water-salt balance and normalizes the digestive tract.

An upset stomach can unexpectedly disrupt all plans, ruin the trip and just the mood. To get rid of diarrhea as soon as possible, include these foods in your diet, according to med2.ru.

Rice

For an upset stomach, plain boiled rice is best. It stabilizes the gastrointestinal tract, absorbs gases and acids, helping to stop diarrhea.

Chicken broth

Chicken broth is recommended by specialists for diarrhea, as it is highly digestible and helps to eliminate toxins. Chicken has a high nutritional value and perfectly nourishes a weakened body.

Boiled or steamed vegetables

Boiled vegetables help to improve intestinal motility and, as a result, to stop diarrhea.

Bagels, biscuits, crackers

They are easily absorbed and relieve stomach gurgling, and quickly absorb stomach acids, soothing it.

Oatmeal

Thanks to the enveloping properties of oatmeal, the work of the digestive system is restored faster. Just remember that for diarrhea, you need to eat sugar-free oatmeal, boiled in water, not milk.

Herbal tea

Peppermint soothes the intestines and relieves stomach cramps, while chamomile has an antibacterial effect.Thus, a cup of warm tea that contains one of these ingredients has a beneficial effect on the body.

Natural yoghurt and kefir

These fermented milk products contain probiotics that restore intestinal microflora and allow normal digestion. The main thing is to choose yogurt and kefir without sugar and other additives.

Author: med2.ru

90,000 10 foods to stop diarrhea and get well

10 foods to stop diarrhea and get well

Martina Ferrer

Except in severe cases, diarrhea is a mild reaction or reaction of the body to certain external or internal aggression.It is best to relieve it with food and dietary habits that help the body return to normal.

white rice

Boiled white rice is not only fiber-free, but it also produces starch and contributes to an increase in stool density .

Drink boiled, in small portions , 1-2 times a day.

Grated Apple

Grate the apple and let it darken slightly, so that more tannins develop.Only then is it beneficial for diarrhea. In fact, if you eat a raw apple with the peel, it will provide you with a lot of fiber and is ideal for treating the opposite problem: constipation.

Take 1 grated apple per day, is especially useful for severe diarrhea.

Kuzu

This root is originally from China and according to traditional medicine it helps to harmonize the digestive system as it soothes diarrhea, regulates constipation and prevents vomiting.

You will find it in off-white pieces. Take 2 tablespoons per day , diluted with water or unsweetened apple juice.

You can also prepare it as infusion :

1. Put a teaspoon of kuzu and a glass of water in a saucepan.
2. Heat to a boil, stirring occasionally, and then over low heat until dissolved.

Banana

It contains potassium and starch, which are ideal for feeding the beneficial bacteria in the intestines.

In addition, it is rich in tannins .

Eat 1 banana a day, very ripe .

Miso

This soy derivative is an interesting fermentation for restoration of the intestinal flora population, without contraindications when taken in small amounts.

You should be looking for its unpasteurized . Moreover, it cannot be exposed to high temperatures.

Add 1 tablespoon daily unheated to the vegetable broth.

Turnip

It is very rich in minerals, aids digestion and is ideal for flavoring vegetable broths and boiled rice. Along with carrots and onions, it also helps soothe and reduce inflammation of the digestive system and its mucous membranes .

Take this tuber 1 or 2 times a day , adding it to rice during cooking or to broth.

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Umeboshi Paste

Umeboshi plums are Japanese plums fermented with salt and sisho leaves.

Besides the fact that they are rich in vitamin C and have a great disinfecting effect, they help to maintain the necessary acidic environment in the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines .

You can find plums as they are, in the form of a paste or vinegar.

For diarrhea, it is helpful to have umeboshi paste handy. Take half teaspoon daily, leaving under the tongue.

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Carrot

In case of diarrhea, should be eaten cooked, and not raw; in this way it alters the fibers and helps to relax the intestinal mucosa.

Take once a day with well-cooked white rice .

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Kukicha tea

This Japanese tea is very low in caffeine and caffeine, but is very high in minerals needed to replace the lost.

It is also rich in tannins , an astringent taste polyphenols that act as antidiarrheal, antifungal, antibacterial and antioxidants.

You can take 2 cups of of this Japanese tea daily at the onset of diarrhea and reduce to 1 cup when you notice improvement.

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Kombu Seaweed

Contains minerals and trace elements that are lost during the diarrheal process.

If you cook it as a decoction , it will release mucus, a type of soluble fiber that benefits the microbiota, deflates and softens the intestinal mucosa.

It is most practical to add to broth or when cooking rice twice a day. Plus, its glutamic acid will add flavor and soften fibers to other foods while cooking.

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The best diet for diarrhea

Diarrhea is not a disease, but a symptom that can have one or more causes . One of these can be a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection.

But diarrhea can also often be caused by alterations in the gut microbiota , digestive weakness, or liver secretions caused by nervous change, stress, or eating very fatty foods.

A common recommendation is to eat a soft diet.But we can also regulate our diet, taking into account the following recommendations:

What foods to avoid

While the episode of diarrhea lasts, it is recommended to avoid foods rich in non-fermentable fiber , such as whole grains, legumes or vegetables high in fiber . This type of food stimulates the intestines.

It is also not recommended to consume foods rich in fats, dairy products, or colon irritants such as spicy foods or caffeine.

What you can eat

Yes starchy foods will be useful, for example, boiled white rice or root vegetables, for example, carrots or boiled turnips.

Other foods, such as ripe bananas or grated apples, can be valuable because they contain minerals or astringents .

Introducing probiotic products that help balance the intestinal flora will also be beneficial. For example, umeboshi plums in the form of a paste or miso.

In addition, it is recommended to distribute doses throughout the day, taking frequent and small doses .

Occasionally it may be necessary to take probiotic supplements .

Beware of dehydration!

It’s easy that if diarrhea lasts several days, dehydration occurs, so you have to replace fluids and minerals. Of course, should avoid fruit juices, cold drinks, and 90,004 high sugar soft drinks.

Vegetable broth or Kukicha tea infusion can be a very good option. Also, an infusion of kuzu or kuzu root, diluted in water or juice without sugar, will also help you stabilize the digestive system.

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5 signs that your pet urgently needs to be taken to the vet

Loss of consciousness, disorientation or convulsions

Fainting, disorientation, and seizures can indicate serious health problems for the dog or cat, such as anemia, infections, lung or heart disease, and even internal bleeding.If you notice at least one of these symptoms, grab your pet and go to the veterinary clinic.

Stress during urination

Straining when urinating can be a sign of cystitis, bladder stones, tumors, or neurological diseases. Some diseases associated with toilet problems quickly become chronic, so it is very important to treat them on time.

Inability to stand, staggering or dragging with hind legs

Often, such symptoms indicate severe diseases of the brain, spine, heart or lungs.If your pet begins to drag its hind legs, rush to the doctor as best you can. Otherwise, it is highly likely that the animal will move only on its front limbs for the rest of its life.

Breathing problems, continuous cough

Difficulty breathing is often a sign of heart disease, and persistent coughing may indicate tracheal collapse or tracheobronchitis (an infectious disease). But if your dog or cat is breathing heavily in hot weather, don’t panic.Perhaps the animal is simply overheated and needs help to cool down.

Lack of appetite, nausea, diarrhea

These symptoms often appear at the same time and can be a sign of poisoning (for example, a plant), infection, or gastrointestinal problems. You need to seriously worry if you notice blood in your pet’s vomit or stool. However, even if this did not happen, it is worth contacting a veterinarian in order to exclude dangerous diseases, and also make life much easier for yourself and your pet

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