What to Eat When You Have Diarrhea: Best Foods for Quick Relief

Ever find yourself desperate for a quick solution to an upset stomach? Knowing what to eat when you have diarrhea can help it clear up faster and reduce stomach distress and irritation. Avoiding the worst foods to eat with diarrhea, such as milk and citrus fruits, is critical to preventing worsening symptoms. Diet and diarrhea are inextricably related. This stays relevant whether you have diarrhea due to allergies, food poisoning, or a chronic condition such as irritable bowel syndrome.

So, let’s define what it is, explain why it happens, describe its symptoms, and, most importantly, provide solutions such as the best and worst foods to eat when you have diarrhea!

What is Diarrhea?

In short, diarrhea is a loose or liquid-like bowel movement. Individuals can struggle with this a few times every year. Diarrhea normally resolves in a week or less. If a person is struggling with diarrhea, their diet is an important aspect to look at. Some meals can help to alleviate diarrhea symptoms, while others can aggravate them. 

Although occasional bouts of diarrhea can usually be treated at home, anyone suffering from regular diarrhea should see a doctor since they may get dehydrated over time. Understanding what to eat when you have diarrhea can alleviate symptoms, whether allergies, food poisoning, or a chronic condition like IBS cause it.

What To Eat When You Have Diarrhea

Knowing what to eat when you have diarrhea can ensure a faster recovery. While recuperating from diarrhea, a person can consume bland, basic food for diarrhea that are easy to digest and help absorb some of the water. Spicy or complicated foods may irritate the bowels.

Bland Food for Diarrhea

The BRAT diet is often the first answer to the question of what to eat when you have diarrhea. When a person develops digestive difficulties like diarrhea, doctors often recommend the BRAT diet food for upset stomach.

This diet includes:

• Bananas
• Plain white rice
• Applesauce
• Bread or toast

Other appropriate foods for diarrhea include:

• Cooked potatoes
• Unseasoned crackers
• Oatmeal, cream of wheat, and rice porridge

Simple and bland food for diarrhea may be especially beneficial during the first few days. Eating a variety of modest meals throughout the day, rather than a few large ones, can help keep the digestive system from overworking.

Probiotics

Non-dairy probiotics are another great option when deciding what to eat with diarrhea. Probiotic food for diarrhea, such as yogurt and kefir, may be beneficial in certain cases. Probiotics improve digestion by balancing the gut’s healthy and harmful bacteria. However, dairy products might irritate the digestive tract since lactose is tough to digest. As a result, a person may explore non-dairy probiotics such as fermented soy milk, fruits, and vegetables. Before taking probiotics, a person should consult with their doctor.

What To Drink

Along with knowing what to eat when you have diarrhea, choosing the right fluids is equally important. Liquids are essential for healing. People with diarrhea should drink plenty of water throughout the day and an additional cup after each loose bowel movement.

Amongst knowing what to eat with diarrhea, drinking plenty of water keeps you hydrated, while diarrhea causes the body to lose minerals and electrolytes. People should take mineral and electrolyte-rich liquids to restore what they have lost.

Sources of electrolytes and minerals include:

• Soup or Broth
• Coconut water
• Electrolyte water
• Sports beverages

Worst Foods To Eat With Diarrhea

Sometimes, knowing what to eat when you have diarrhea is as crucial as knowing what the worst foods to eat with diarrhea are. 

Many foods may trigger the digestive system and worsen diarrhea, including:

• Spicy foods: Spicy substances can irritate the digestive tract. People with diarrhea should stick to bland foods with the lowest risk of disturbing the digestive tract.
• Fried foods: Eating foods high in fat or oil while recuperating from diarrhea is not recommended. Added fats and oils from frying might be challenging for the delicate digestive system to assimilate and will most likely exacerbate symptoms. Instead, try eating boiled or steamed veggies and lean proteins.
• Foods high in sugar and artificial sweeteners: Diarrhea may worsen if sugars enter the colon and disturb the delicate microorganisms there. Fruit juices, high-sugar fruits, candies, and sweet baked goods can all contain these sugars. Additionally, since some artificial sweeteners can have a laxative impact, people with diarrhea should avoid them.
• Foods high in fiber: It might help people avoid consuming too much fiber. Fiber keeps the digestive tract functioning, which is generally good, but it might make diarrhea worse while the body is trying to heal. The primary kind of fiber for an active digestive tract is insoluble fiber.

These can be found in many foods, such as:

• Whole grains, including wheat, brown rice, and barley
• Whole grain bread or baked products
• Grain cereals
• Nuts and seeds

Soluble fibers, such as pectin in apples and bananas, can help people recover from diarrhea. However, a person should try to minimize their consumption, at least during the first day of symptoms.

Other Foods To Limit

Limiting gassy and processed foods is critical to understanding what to eat when you have diarrhea. 

Other items that can upset the bowels during diarrhea include:

• Most processed and boxed foods
• Legumes like chickpeas, beans, peas, and lentils
• Foods that cause gas in the intestines, such as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower
• Fatty meats such as sardines, bacon, and veal
• Dairy products

What Not to Drink

Pairing the right beverages with what to eat when you have diarrhea can significantly improve symptoms. Coffee, tea, and soda are examples of caffeinated drinks that might overstimulate the digestive tract and enhance symptoms. Carbonated beverages might worsen or increase other symptoms, including cramping and bloating.

Alcohol should also be avoided by people who have diarrhea. Many sports beverages have additional sugars or artificial sweeteners, even though they contain electrolytes that can aid in dehydration. Good substitutes are electrolyte-enhanced water and coconut water.

How to Treat Diarrhea

Incorporating over-the-counter medications with the right choices for what to eat when you have diarrhea can speed up recovery. A person can try a number of alternative treatments to speed up their recovery and follow a diet that will aid with diarrhea. Other remedies for diarrhea include loperamide (Imodium) and bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol). These medications may be useful to keep in a medicine cabinet and can help treat sporadic episodes of diarrhea. 

Imodium and Pepto Bismol can be purchased online or over the counter (OTC). Before utilizing these therapies, it is best to speak with a healthcare provider. This is especially true if the patient has additional symptoms, such as fever, blood in the stool, or persistent diarrhea.

In-Home Care

Resting and staying hydrated complement the right decisions on what to eat with diarrhea. Those who have diarrhea should make sure they receive enough sleep because stressing the body while they have diarrhea can make recovery take longer. They should minimize their physical activity as part of this since intense exercise can make dehydration more likely. In order to manage diarrhea, people should make it a point to stay hydrated throughout the day.

When to Call a Professional

If you’re still unsure about what to eat with diarrhea and symptoms persist, consult a doctor. In more severe bouts of diarrhea, the stool may contain blood or mucus, which might sometimes include fever. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should consult a physician as soon as possible. Dehydration is one of the major consequences of untreated diarrhea. Severe diarrhea may necessitate hospitalization and IV electrolyte administration.

Anyone experiencing a fever higher than 102°F (38.89°C) or severe abdominal pains should speak with a doctor. Parents or caregivers should carefully monitor any children with diarrhea. If the symptoms do not improve within 24 hours, they should call a doctor for guidance.

Conclusion

Knowing what to eat when you have diarrhea – like bland, low-fiber foods – can help you recover faster. Foods can both cause and soothe diarrhea. When you have diarrhea, get plenty of rest and gradually introduce BRAT foods after a few hours. Always remember to rehydrate to replace lost fluids.

After a day or two of soft foods, you can introduce lean ground chicken and scrambled eggs. Sticking to this diet will help you heal quicker and feel better sooner, allowing you to resume eating your favorite foods as soon as possible.

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