What to Eat When You Have Diarrhea

One can say he has diarrhea, when the person passes loose, watery and frequent stools. It can also sometimes become a chronic condition. If the person has eaten something wrong, the condition does not take too long to heal and there may not be as many complication. However, you will have to be on the look out, that diarrhea does not cause dehydration, especially in children. One of the measures, that should be taken, is to have salt, sugar and water mixed together. If you do not have salt and sugar at your disposal, you will want to ensure, you consume sufficient quantities of water. The other alternative is to use the electrolyte solutions commonly available at drug stores. What causes diarrhea? There are various causes of diarrhea. It can caused due to mild viral infection, which is often referred to as stomach flu. Food poisoning is another cause of diarrhea. This is caused, due to eating food or drinking water, that is contaminated. Some medications can also give rise to this condition, as can chemotherapy. So that the condition does not deteriorate further, you will have to ensure you have the right food. Let's see, which are the foods that one can consume when one has diarrhea.

Best Foods to Eat When you have Diarrhea

When you suffer from a bad stomach, it is important to know what to eat when you have diarrhea, without making the condition worse. The basic BRAT diet plan for diarrhea, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast diet is a good diet to have. Food rich in pectin, potassium, sodium and protein should be consumed, so that you are not fatigued. Let's see how to stop diarrhea, with the right food, in other words, foods to stop diarrhea are:

Bananas
Bananas are one of the diarrhea home remedies, as they are easily digestible, hence they are recommended, when a person suffers from diarrhea as well as constipation. When a person suffers from diarrhea, more often than not, electrolytes are lost from the body. It is high in potassium, which takes care of the electrolytes lost from the body. It is also high in pectin, which is a water soluble fiber, that helps in reducing diarrhea. Banana promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal system, which counteracts diarrhea.

Rice
Rice is low in fiber, hence should be included in diarrhea diet. It is made of starch, therefore can easily be digested. Along with rice, mashed potatoes can also be consumed. As they are also rich in starch, which take care of the system. However, as far as possible avoid any sort of fat with rice and potatoes, as it can irritate the digestive system.

Applesauce
Apple is a rich source of fiber. If they are consumed, when a person suffers from diarrhea, it can be taxing on the digestive system, due to a lot of roughage in them. Therefore, cooking the apples are recommended, so that they are easier on the digestive system and the person also benefits from pectin and other nutrients present in them.

Toast
Eating whole grain products is recommended, when a person suffers from diarrhea. Toast is one such food, therefore, that is recommended. Along with toast, crackers can also be had, as it helps in digestion. The sodium level in crackers also takes care of the electrolyte balance in the body.

Yogurt
When a person suffers from diarrhea, he is asked to stay away from milk and milk products, but yogurts are an exception to this rule. Live or active cultures present in yogurt help to establish a healthy balance of useful bacteria in the digestive system.

What NOT to Eat When you have Diarrhea

We know, what foods to eat when you have diarrhea, but it is equally important to know, the foods that cause diarrhea.

• High fat food should be avoided, as it can speed up intestinal contractions and cause negative effects.
• Dairy products, apart from yogurt should be avoided. Because, when you suffer from diarrhea, it leads to depletion of lactase enzyme in the body, which helps to digest lactose.
• Artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes also should be avoided, as they have laxative effect and can also cause gas and bloating.
• Alcohol, caffeine and aerated beverages need to be avoided as well. Although in a healthy individual, they will not cause diarrhea, but they are known to irritate the stomach, when the person is suffering from diarrhea.

At the end of this article, I hope you know which foods to eat when you have diarrhea as well as what not to eat when you have diarrhea. Make sure, if you suffer from diarrhea for an extended period of time, you visit your health care professional, to avoid any further complications.