Foods stop diarrhea fast. Foods That Stop Diarrhea Fast: The Ultimate Guide to Eating During Digestive Distress

25.09.202303.07.2023 by alexxlab

What foods should you eat when you have diarrhea. Which foods make diarrhea worse. How can the BRAT diet help alleviate diarrhea symptoms. What drinks are best for staying hydrated during a bout of diarrhea. When should you seek medical attention for diarrhea.

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Understanding the BRAT Diet: A Time-Tested Approach to Managing Diarrhea

The BRAT diet has long been a go-to recommendation for those suffering from diarrhea. But what exactly is it, and why is it so effective? BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast – four simple foods that can help alleviate digestive distress.

What makes these foods ideal for diarrhea?

They are low in fiber, making them easy to digest
They have a binding effect, which helps firm up stools
They’re bland, reducing the risk of further stomach irritation
They provide essential nutrients without overwhelming the digestive system

While the BRAT diet is a good starting point, it’s important to note that it shouldn’t be followed for extended periods as it lacks complete nutrition. It’s best used as a short-term solution to help manage acute diarrhea symptoms.

Beyond BRAT: Expanding Your Diet During Digestive Recovery

As your digestive system begins to stabilize, you can gradually introduce other mild foods to ensure you’re getting adequate nutrition. What other foods can you consider adding to your diet?

Cooked cereals like oatmeal or Cream of Wheat
Soda crackers
Baked or boiled potatoes (without skin)
Lean, grilled chicken or turkey (without skin)
Cooked carrots or green beans
Pretzels
Gelatin

These foods continue the theme of being easily digestible while providing a wider range of nutrients. Remember to introduce new foods slowly and in small portions to avoid overwhelming your digestive system.

Hydration: The Key to Recovering from Diarrhea

One of the most crucial aspects of managing diarrhea is staying hydrated. Diarrhea can lead to rapid fluid loss, potentially resulting in dehydration if not addressed promptly. What are the best drinks for staying hydrated during a bout of diarrhea?

Water (room temperature or slightly cool)
Clear broths (chicken, vegetable, or beef with fat removed)
Electrolyte-enhanced water or coconut water
Pedialyte or similar oral rehydration solutions
Weak, decaffeinated tea

Why are these drinks particularly beneficial? They help replace not only lost fluids but also essential electrolytes that your body needs to function properly. It’s important to sip these drinks slowly throughout the day rather than consuming large amounts at once, which could potentially irritate your stomach.

Foods to Avoid: What Can Exacerbate Diarrhea Symptoms?

While knowing what to eat is crucial, it’s equally important to understand which foods can worsen diarrhea symptoms. What foods should you steer clear of when experiencing digestive distress?

Dairy products (including milk-based protein drinks)
Fried, fatty, or greasy foods
Spicy foods
Processed foods with additives
Raw vegetables
Citrus fruits and other high-acid fruits
Alcohol
Caffeinated or carbonated drinks
Artificial sweeteners

Why are these foods problematic during diarrhea? Many of these items can irritate the digestive tract, stimulate bowel movements, or be difficult to digest when your system is already compromised. Avoiding these foods can help your digestive system recover more quickly and prevent prolonging your symptoms.

The Role of Probiotics in Digestive Health

Probiotics have gained significant attention in recent years for their potential benefits in digestive health. But what exactly are probiotics, and how can they help with diarrhea?

Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. In simpler terms, they’re “good” bacteria that can help maintain a healthy balance in your gut.

How can probiotics potentially help with diarrhea?

They may help restore the balance of gut bacteria disrupted by diarrhea
Some strains have been shown to reduce the duration of infectious diarrhea
They can help prevent antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Probiotics may strengthen the intestinal barrier, potentially reducing the risk of future episodes

While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of probiotics on different types of diarrhea, many healthcare providers recommend them as a complementary approach to managing digestive issues. Probiotic-rich foods like yogurt (if tolerated) or fermented vegetables can be gradually introduced as your symptoms improve. Alternatively, probiotic supplements are available, but it’s always best to consult with a healthcare provider before starting any new supplement regimen.

Home Remedies and Lifestyle Adjustments for Managing Diarrhea

In addition to dietary changes, there are several home remedies and lifestyle adjustments that can help manage diarrhea symptoms. What are some effective strategies you can try at home?

Rest: Your body needs energy to fight off infections and repair the digestive system
Avoid strenuous activities: Physical exertion can worsen dehydration
Use over-the-counter medications: Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or loperamide (Imodium) can help reduce diarrhea in adults
Try herbal teas: Chamomile, peppermint, or ginger tea may help soothe the digestive system
Apply a warm compress: This can help alleviate abdominal cramps
Practice good hygiene: Wash hands frequently to prevent spread of infection

It’s important to note that while these remedies can be helpful, they should not replace medical advice, especially for severe or prolonged cases of diarrhea. Always consult with a healthcare provider if you’re unsure about the best course of action for your specific situation.

When to Seek Medical Attention for Diarrhea

While many cases of diarrhea can be managed at home, there are situations where medical attention is necessary. How can you determine if your diarrhea requires professional medical care?

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

Severe abdominal or rectal pain
Blood in your stool
Black, tarry stools
High fever (above 102°F or 39°C)
Signs of severe dehydration (extreme thirst, dry mouth, little or no urination, severe weakness, dizziness, or lightheadedness)
Diarrhea lasting more than 3 days without improvement

These symptoms could indicate a more serious underlying condition that requires prompt medical evaluation and treatment. Additionally, certain groups of people should be more cautious with diarrhea and seek medical advice sooner:

Infants and young children
Older adults
Pregnant women
People with weakened immune systems
Individuals with chronic health conditions

Remember, it’s always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to your health. If you’re unsure whether your symptoms warrant medical attention, it’s best to consult with a healthcare provider.

Understanding the Causes of Diarrhea

To effectively manage diarrhea, it’s helpful to understand its potential causes. What are some common triggers for diarrhea?

Viral infections (e.g., norovirus, rotavirus)
Bacterial infections (e.g., salmonella, E. coli)
Parasitic infections
Food intolerances or allergies
Medications (especially antibiotics)
Chronic conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Stress or anxiety

Identifying the underlying cause of your diarrhea can help guide treatment and prevention strategies. For instance, if your diarrhea is caused by a food intolerance, avoiding the triggering food can prevent future episodes. If it’s due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be necessary. Always consult with a healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment recommendations.

The Importance of Gradual Dietary Transitions

As your diarrhea symptoms begin to improve, it’s crucial to reintroduce foods gradually. Why is this slow transition important, and how should you approach it?

A gradual reintroduction of foods allows your digestive system time to adjust and helps prevent a recurrence of symptoms. Here’s a general guideline for transitioning back to your normal diet:

Start with the BRAT diet and clear liquids for the first 24-48 hours
Slowly add in other bland, low-fiber foods like cooked eggs, lean meats, and cooked vegetables
Introduce one new food at a time, waiting 24 hours before adding another
Pay attention to how your body responds to each new food
Gradually increase portion sizes as tolerated
Return to your regular diet over the course of about a week, or as advised by your healthcare provider

Remember, everyone’s digestive system is different, and what works for one person may not work for another. Listen to your body and don’t hesitate to slow down the reintroduction process if you experience any discomfort or a return of symptoms.

Long-Term Strategies for Digestive Health

While managing acute episodes of diarrhea is important, maintaining long-term digestive health can help prevent future occurrences. What strategies can you implement for optimal digestive health?

Maintain a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins
Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day
Incorporate probiotic-rich foods or supplements into your diet
Manage stress through techniques like meditation, yoga, or regular exercise
Get adequate sleep to support overall health and immune function
Avoid known trigger foods if you have food sensitivities or intolerances
Practice good food safety habits to prevent foodborne illnesses
Consider keeping a food diary to identify patterns or triggers if you experience frequent digestive issues

By implementing these strategies, you can support your digestive system and potentially reduce the frequency and severity of diarrhea episodes. Remember, good digestive health is an important component of overall wellness and can significantly impact your quality of life.

The Connection Between Gut Health and Immune Function

Recent scientific research has highlighted the intricate relationship between gut health and immune function. How does this connection impact our overall health, and what does it mean for managing conditions like diarrhea?

The gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of microorganisms living in our digestive tract, plays a crucial role in our immune system. In fact, approximately 70% of our immune system is located in the gut. This means that maintaining a healthy gut can have far-reaching effects on our overall health and ability to fight off infections.

How does this relate to diarrhea?

A healthy gut microbiome can help prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing and causing diarrhea
A strong immune system can more effectively combat viruses and bacteria that might cause diarrhea
Chronic diarrhea can disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially weakening the immune system
Probiotics and a balanced diet can help restore gut health after a bout of diarrhea, potentially strengthening the immune system

Understanding this connection underscores the importance of maintaining good gut health not just for digestive wellness, but for overall health and immunity. This holistic approach to health can be particularly beneficial in preventing and managing conditions like diarrhea.

The Role of Fiber in Digestive Health

While it’s important to limit fiber intake during acute diarrhea, fiber plays a crucial role in maintaining long-term digestive health. What are the benefits of fiber, and how can you incorporate it into your diet once you’ve recovered from diarrhea?

Fiber offers numerous benefits for digestive health:

Promotes regular bowel movements
Helps prevent constipation
Feeds beneficial gut bacteria
May help prevent diverticular disease, hemorrhoids, and colon cancer
Can help regulate blood sugar levels

Once your diarrhea has resolved and you’ve returned to a normal diet, gradually increase your fiber intake. Good sources of fiber include:

Whole grains (oats, quinoa, brown rice)
Legumes (beans, lentils, peas)
Fruits (especially those with edible skins and seeds)
Vegetables (particularly leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables)
Nuts and seeds

Remember to increase fiber intake slowly and drink plenty of water to avoid digestive discomfort. If you have a history of digestive issues, consult with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian for personalized advice on incorporating fiber into your diet.

The Impact of Stress on Digestive Health

Stress can have a significant impact on digestive health, including potentially triggering or exacerbating diarrhea. How does stress affect the digestive system, and what strategies can help manage stress-related digestive issues?

The gut-brain connection is a two-way communication system between the central nervous system and the enteric nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract. This means that stress can directly affect digestive function:

Stress can increase gut motility, potentially leading to diarrhea
Chronic stress can alter the gut microbiome
Stress may increase inflammation in the gut
It can exacerbate symptoms in people with conditions like IBS

To manage stress and its impact on digestive health, consider these strategies:

Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation
Engage in regular physical activity
Prioritize sleep and maintain a consistent sleep schedule
Consider mindfulness practices or meditation
Seek support from friends, family, or a mental health professional if needed

By managing stress effectively, you may be able to reduce its impact on your digestive system and potentially decrease the frequency of stress-related digestive issues, including diarrhea.

What to Eat and What to Avoid When You Have Diarrhea

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Medically reviewed by Adrienne Seitz, MS, RD, LDN, Nutrition — By Ana Gotter — Updated on May 11, 2023

Eating bland foods can help diarrhea go away faster and prevent stomach upset and irritation. You can follow the BRAT diet, which stands for “bananas, rice, applesauce, toast.” This diet also helps firm up stool.

Whether your diarrhea is caused by allergies, food poisoning, or a chronic condition like irritable bowel syndrome, diet and diarrhea are intricately linked.

Even if you have long-term conditions that affect the digestive system, your food can affect your comfort levels.

When you’re experiencing an episode of diarrhea, certain foods you eat can help your digestive system get back on track. Other foods might prolong or worsen your symptoms.

When you have diarrhea, the foods you eat and avoid can be critical to a quicker recovery. This is where BRAT foods come in.

The BRAT diet includes:

bananas
white rice
applesauce
toast made from white bread

These foods are bland and low in fiber so they won’t aggravate the digestive system. They’re also binding, so they help firm up stool. While following a BRAT diet, you can combine these ingredients, such as putting applesauce or bananas on toast.

You can eat additional foods as part of a bland diet. These can include:

cooked cereal, like oatmeal, Cream of Wheat, or Farina
soda crackers
apple juice that’s low in added sugar
baked or boiled potatoes

Drinking plenty of liquids can help you stay hydrated and replace the lost fluids. Options to try include:

water or sucking on ice chips
clear broths, like vegetable, chicken, or beef broth with any grease removed
electrolyte-enhanced water or coconut water with vitamins or electrolytes (try to avoid ones high in sugar)
solutions like Pedialyte
weak, decaffeinated tea

After you’ve started to recover, you can try to add in foods like scrambled eggs and cooked vegetables.

When you’re experiencing diarrhea or recovering from it, certain foods can trigger the digestive system and worsen or prolong diarrhea.

Foods to avoid while experiencing diarrhea include:

milk and dairy products (including milk-based protein drinks)
fried, fatty, greasy foods
spicy foods
processed foods, especially those with additives
pork and veal
sardines
raw vegetables
onions
corn
all citrus fruits
other fruits, like pineapples, cherries, seeded berries, figs, currants, and grapes
alcohol
coffee, soda, and other caffeinated or carbonated drinks
artificial sweeteners, including sorbitol

Many cases of diarrhea are short-lived and respond well to home treatments such as:

modified diet
increased fluid intake
over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as anti-diarrheal medications like Pepto-Bismol, which can help stop or slow down diarrhea
rest

But you may also develop diarrhea due to a bacterial infection. In these cases, a doctor may recommend antibiotics.

Taking probiotics after taking antibiotics can help prevent adverse reactions to antibiotics by introducing healthy bacteria back into the digestive system. This can also help prevent future cases of diarrhea.

If your diarrhea is severe, you may need to be admitted to the hospital to receive intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration.

While many cases of diarrhea can be treated at home, if your bout is prolonged or you experience concerning symptoms, you may have an underlying medical condition. Diarrhea that lasts more than a few days without improvement or occurs with dehydration may require medical care.

If you have concerning symptoms, you may need to go to the emergency room for treatment. These symptoms can include:

black or bloody stools
severe abdominal pain
a fever of 102°F (39°C) or higher

If a child has diarrhea, they may need urgent or emergency care if they:

don’t improve after 24 hours
haven’t had a wet diaper in 3 or more hours
have a fever of 100. 4°F (38°C) in children under 3 months old or 102.2°F (39°C) or higher in children between 3 and 36 months old
have a dry mouth or tongue
cry without tears
have skin that doesn’t flatten if pinched and released
have a sunken appearance to the abdomen, cheeks, or eyes
have black or bloody stools

The foods you eat can cause and help your body recover from diarrhea.

When you have diarrhea, get lots of rest, drink plenty of water, and start introducing BRAT foods after a few hours. After a day or 2 of bland, soft foods, you can add in foods like lean ground chicken and scrambled eggs.

Sticking to this diet can help you recover faster and feel better sooner, so you can return to eating all the foods you love as soon as possible.

Eating bland foods low in fiber can help your diarrhea go away faster. Always remember to rehydrate to replenish lost fluids.

Last medically reviewed on May 11, 2023

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Diarrhea. (2016).
niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea
Nemeth V, et al. (2022). Diarrhea.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK448082/
Weir S-B, et al. (2022). Bland diet.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538142/

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Medically reviewed by Adrienne Seitz, MS, RD, LDN, Nutrition — By Ana Gotter — Updated on May 11, 2023

Myths and Facts About Diarrhea

Medically Reviewed by Melinda Ratini, MS, DO on January 28, 2023

Myth. Bland “BRAT” foods — bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast — were once recommended to treat diarrhea. But BRAT foods don’t have enough of other nutrients you need, like protein and fat. You can eat bland foods for the first day or so. But you should return to your normal diet as soon as you can.

Fact. Diarrhea causes you to lose fluids. Losing too much fluid can bring on dehydration, especially in children. A child may be dehydrated if they seem thirsty, has a dry mouth or sunken soft spots on the head (infants), or is urinating less than usual or crying without tears. Adults may have similar symptoms, as well as sunken eyes and lethargy. Call your doctor if you see signs of dehydration. Your doctor may recommend drinking oral rehydration solutions, water, uncaffeinated teas, low-sugar sports drinks, diluted fruit juices, and broths.

Myth. Seasonal flu — or influenza virus — can cause fever, body ache, and general misery, but it rarely causes diarrhea. Influenza is generally a disease of the airways and lungs. The sickness that some people call “stomach flu” can cause diarrhea, but that bug is different from influenza. “Stomach flu” is just a catch-all name for viral gastroenteritis, which is caused by many different germs.

Myth. Greasy, fried foods often make diarrhea worse because they’re hard to digest. But eating a little fat could help ease diarrhea. The slow digestion of fats may reduce diarrhea symptoms. As long as you don’t have a problem absorbing fat, add a teaspoon of mayo, a pat of butter, or a little lean meat to your next meal. It may help with your symptoms.

Fact. Side effects of medications may include diarrhea. For example, antibiotics and some drugs for cancer, depression, diabetes, and high blood pressure may cause diarrhea. If you develop diarrhea after starting a new drug, call your doctor.

Fact. Some people reach for sports drinks or sodas to replenish lost fluids when they have diarrhea. But very sugary foods and drinks — even natural sugars found in fruit — may make diarrhea symptoms worse. During digestion, sugar draws fluid into the intestines, diluting the stools. Some sugar substitutes, like sorbitol, may have the same effect.

Myth. Many parents believe that teething triggers diarrhea in babies. But pediatricians say it’s not true. Your baby may be cranky or irritable during teething. But if they also have diarrhea or a fever, talk to your doctor.

Fact. But it depends on what type of fiber you eat. Soluble fiber, found in beans, peas, oat bran, and peeled fruits and cooked vegetables — absorbs water in the intestines and makes stools firmer. But insoluble fiber — which is found in the skins of raw fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and wheat bran — may speed up stools as they pass through the intestines.

Fact. The caffeine in coffee, tea, soft drinks, and chocolate might make your bowels work faster. Caffeine works as a stimulant in the intestines, making digestion speed up and causing your bowels to empty faster. Even though decaffeinated coffee has less caffeine than regular, decaf may still have enough caffeine to stimulate your bowels.

Myth. Diarrhea often goes away on its own, so treatment isn’t usually necessary. But over-the-counter diarrhea medications can offer some relief from symptoms. Avoid them if you have a fever or other symptoms, such as bloody stool. Don’t give babies or children any diarrhea medicine unless a pediatrician recommends it.

Fact. According to public health experts, washing your hands is still the best way to fight the germs that cause diarrhea. One review of research found that good hand washing can cut the transmission of infectious diarrhea by almost 40%. Use soap and water — and scrub as long as it takes you to recite the alphabet.

Fact. Yogurt may help people recover from diarrhea faster. The live, natural, “friendly” bacteria, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus, in some yogurt may help promote healthy digestion. Some studies have found that yogurt with live or active cultures may help prevent diarrhea caused by antibiotics.

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REFERENCES:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: “What Should You Eat When You Have Diarrhea?”
American Academy of Family Physicians: “BRAT Diet.”
CDC: “Managing Acute Gastroenteritis Among Children,” “Myths about Seasonal Influenza and Influenza Vaccines. “
American Academy of Family Physicians: “Vomiting and Diarrhea in Children.”
National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus: “Diarrhea.”
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Diarrhea.”
PubMed Health: “Viral Gastroenteritis.”
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging: “Diarrhea.”
FDA: “High Blood Pressure — Medicines to Help You.”
Nemours Foundation: “Sorbitol.”
MedlinePlus: “Teething,” “Diarrhea.”
American Dental Association: “Teething.”
HealthyChildren.org: “Teething: 4 to 7 months.”
Medline Plus: “Soluble vs. Insoluble Fiber.”
The AGS Foundation for Health in Aging: “Diarrhea.”
Rao, S. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, February 1998; vol 10(2): pp 113-118.
McCusker, R. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, October 2006; vol 30(8): pp 611-613.
American College of Gastroenterology: “Diarrheal Diseases.”
The Cochrane Library: “Hand washing for preventing diarrhea.”
Luby, S. Journal of the American Medical Association, June 2, 2004; vol 291: pp 2547-2554.
University of Maryland Medical Center: “Lactobacillus acidophilus.”

Foods to eat and not to eat with diarrhea

A person’s diet is critical if they are experiencing diarrhea. Some foods can help relieve this symptom, while others can make it worse.

What to eat and drink

To relieve diarrhea, it is recommended to eat soft, simple foods that are easy to digest, which will help absorb excess water from the stool. Among them it is worth noting: oatmeal, rice porridge, bananas, plain white rice, bread or toast, boiled potatoes. These foods may be especially helpful on the first day of diarrhea treatment. Frequent consumption of such food in small quantities throughout the day will help improve the functions of the digestive system.

Probiotic foods such as yogurt and kefir may help in some cases, but can sometimes further irritate the digestive system.

Fluids are vital to recovery. Persons with diarrhea should drink plenty of water, during the day it is necessary to drink an additional cup of water after each bowel movement. A large intake of fluid helps prevent dehydration and remove toxins from the body. However, in addition to water, the body also loses minerals and electrolytes. To replenish them, it is recommended to use soup-broth, electrolyte water, sports drinks.

Foods and drinks to avoid

Many foods can aggravate irritation of the digestive system and increase the severity of diarrhea. These include: spicy foods, fried foods, sweets and foods with artificial sweeteners, foods high in fiber, onions and garlic, raw vegetables, foods that lead to gas formation in the intestines (cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower), citrus fruits, fatty meat, including pork and veal, dairy products. You should also avoid carbonated drinks, those containing caffeine, alcohol.

In addition to diet, over-the-counter medications can help manage diarrhea. Persons with diarrhea should also be provided with sufficient rest, as stressful situations can worsen the situation. Physical activity can lead to a higher risk of dehydration and should be limited.

Hospitalization is required if there is blood or mucus in the stool accompanied by fever. In severe cases of diarrhea, hospitalization and intravenous electrolytes may also be required. Diarrhea in children requires special attention. If your child shows any signs of dehydration, seek immediate medical attention. Symptoms include: dry mouth, weight loss, crying without tears.

Many cases of diarrhea last only a few days and are well controlled by home treatments. A simple diet, increased fluid intake, and use of over-the-counter medications as needed can help relieve symptoms quickly. In cases where the body does not respond to these procedures, you should consult a doctor after 2-3 days.

According to www.medicalnewstoday.com

Weak and strong: which foods will relieve constipation and which ones will relieve diarrhea

Health

Almost all of us know why you should not eat pickles with milk — after such an experiment, you can sit in the toilet for a long time.

May 15, 2022

Source:: iStockphoto

In almost half of the cases, diarrhea – loose stools – is due to our eating habits, the use of poorly combined with each other or laxative foods. In addition, diarrhea can be the result of eating spoiled food, a sign of poisoning, an intestinal infection, or an allergic reaction to certain food components. A separate option is lactase deficiency, which many mistakenly take for the “fresh cucumber with milk” or “herring with milk” effect.

The problem here is not the herring or the cucumber, but the whole milk. Many adults and some children do not digest lactose, the milk sugar from milk, poorly. This leads to bloating, fermentation and diarrhea. What other products can affect the stool, whether it is possible to solve digestive problems with their help, the therapist, gastroenterologist of the Moscow Clinic Valeria Trapeznikova told Doctor Peter.

If you want to relax, drink milk

Diarrhea (or more simply, diarrhea, loose stools) is an increase in stool more than 3 times a day. Loose stools and severe diarrhea can be due to many reasons, one of which is the use of foods that form a laxative effect. That is, some products, consumed in a certain amount, change the frequency of stools per day and the nature of feces. These, first of all, include fermented milk products (kefir, fermented baked milk, curdled milk, yogurt).

It is worth noting here that dairy products containing whole cow’s milk (and the milk of any other animal – goat, camel, mare) can additionally cause symptoms of bloating in the abdomen and severe diarrhea. They are not recommended for people who are lactose intolerant. This is a condition in which the intestines lack the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar, lactose.

When there is not enough enzyme (or none at all), lactose, milk sugar, enters the colon. It is inhabited by bacteria that enjoy lactose, producing lactic acid, carbon dioxide and water. Gases accumulate, provoking bloating, lactic acid irritates the intestinal walls – bloating and thinning of the stool occur.

Fiber will help cure constipation

In addition to fermented milk products, products with fiber (coarse vegetable fibers) can help in eliminating constipation. For example, foods containing a large amount of indigestible or partially digestible fiber have a laxative effect – these are mainly vegetables, fruits, cereals. If you want to help yourself with constipation, consider the following products:

bell pepper
cucumber
spinach
garden greens
900 36
broccoli
cauliflower
beets ,
green grapes,
plums,
prunes,
dried apricots,
linseed,
whole grain rye bread,
oat bran.

They are recommended for those who suffer from chronic constipation. However, it is important to remember that without enough water, these products will not work as effectively. The fact is that fiber absorbs water, swells. Accordingly, this water must be taken from somewhere. Therefore, to combat constipation, eat vegetables and drink water.

How to stop diarrhea

There is not only a group of products with a pronounced laxative effect. There are also foods that, on the contrary, can fix the stool and complicate the act of defecation, if the stool becomes very hard.

These include:

Rice is the most popular product for acute stool disorders. Rice broth and porridge on the water are recommended for people who suffer from diarrhea on the background of SARS, intestinal infections, acute poisoning or allergies, loosening the stool after taking antibiotics.
Potatoes, jelly and other starchy products. They have an enveloping effect, soothe the intestinal wall, helping to stop diarrhea.
Berries: blueberries, bird cherry, chokeberry. They contain fixing components, astringent and enveloping the walls of the intestine.
Strong black tea – tannins have an astringent effect.
Black and red grapes,
Bananas.

Please note that this is a general product listing. Each person has their own individual reactions to a particular product, and they may differ from the generally accepted ones.

Individual reactions to foods

In some people, but not in the general population, certain foods can cause an acute attack of diarrhea as a variant of food intolerance. Moreover, this is a dose-dependent effect: the more dangerous product is taken, the longer you sit in the toilet, cleansing the intestines. Among the most basic irritants are:

Alcohol, especially wine and beer;
Spicy foods and dishes;
Kiwi, broccoli;
Coffee – some only black, others only with milk;
Products with sweeteners – Sorbitol and fructose from 0% sugar diet drinks are especially weak.