What can you eat with diarrhea?
Do you have a case of the runs? Has your rectum declared mutiny on your colon? Fear not, for we are here to help! But first, let us dig into what diarrhea is and why it happens in the first place.
Diarrhea is a condition where you pass loose or watery stools due to an infection or irritation in your gastrointestinal tract. The leading causes of diarrhea are bacteria from contaminated food, viruses like Norovirus and Rotavirus, parasites like Giardia Lamblia, and antibiotics (get well soon!).
People diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may also experience chronic diarrhea as part of their symptoms. Diarrhea can cause dehydration and nutrient deficiencies because it disrupts normal digestive processes. So controlling this dreaded monster will require replenishing lost fluids while feeding our bodies specific nutrients that aid in digestion.
So without further ado, let us explore what kind of meals you can eat with diarrhea while still satisfying your cravings!
Foods to Avoid
Before talking about what foods should be included during episodes of diarrhoea; It is necessary to know which ones must be avoided under all circumstances:
- Fatty foods: Fried items (chicken nuggets at MacD won’t make you feel right), oily/fatty dressings etc.
- Spicy & Acidic foods: Anything causing acid reflux such as citrus fruits
- Dairy products: Milk-based products like cheese/ice cream
- Caffeine-based drinks
- Raw Vegetables and grains
Avoiding these type of foods will lessen the irritation on gut allowing better absorption rate thus accelerating recovery process.
A Balanced Diet
The most important thing when it comes to managing any digestive issues is keeping up a balanced diet while ensuring proper hydration. Consider supplementing regular meals throughout the day by consuming high-energy concoctions such as ginger tea or yogurt-based smoothies.
It’s essential to chew food thoroughly and eat slowly & in small intervals instead of the regular three meals strategy. When dealing with diarrhea, it is best to consume foods that are low in fiber as those which are high can lead to further irritation. This means consuming less whole grains and more white bread/pasta, cooked vegetables than raw ones (don’t freak out, it’s only for now).
What to Eat
Many people continuously face a conundrum over what foods exactly constitute appropriate options when trying to manage Diarrhea? Fear not Mighty Reader! We’ve got you covered!
Bananas
Bananas are rich in potassium, vitamin C/B6 aiding digestion while also helping alleviate inflamed stomachs. They provide an easy-to-digest starchy meal that helps regulate bowel movements without discomfort.
White Rice
White rice is gentle on the gut since it works like an edible sponge by soaking up fluids thus firming up your stools, thereby reducing urge frequency especially suitable during episodes of diarrhea-induced anal distress.
Chicken Broth
The nice part about broths; they soothe irritated digestive tracts mainly acting as hydrating agents (hydration being one key ritual motive). Clear chicken broth contains valuable electrolytes such as sodium and potassium making them ideal replenishing liquids after occasional bouts with large scale fluid loss via defecation (ew).
Boiled Vegetables
Most leafy veggies come equipped with fibers hard-on-the-gut causing bloating/irritated tummy affected individuals should opt for moist-cooked vegetables such as carrots or dark green leafy spinach/kale providing nutrient-dense liquid relief.
Hydration Hacks
While determining what to eat may seem daunting task at first but ensuring proper hydration levels become imperative too since water accounts for seventy percent of our body functions – Yes! The human body almost runs on H2O. Keep following these tips to maintain hydration levels:
- Drink sufficient water throughout the day.
- Avoid Caffeine-based drinks
- Skip alcohol consumption for a little while until it gets better!
Other Things to Consider
Apart from what you eat and maintaining proper hydration other factors make an impact on your gut health.
Probiotics
Research suggests that probiotics promote ‘good’ bacteria growth in our tracts, regulating bowel movements. Thus consider supplementing meals with fermented foods like yogurt/kefir or uhh eccentric options like Kimchi/Sauerkraut – which often provide good source of intestinal friendly microflora
Exercise
As horrible as this may sound, light exercise can help regulate one’s digestive system speeding up the healing process (That is if you feel up for it)
Remember; patience is key! While mild symptoms tend to ease off within days up to two weeks other types might require doctors consultation before resorting on self-medicating techniques. Do consult your doctor if experiencing persistent diarrhea.
Don’t let Diarrhea get the Better Of You!
Having dealt with troublesome underbelly madness ourselves; we understand how daunting a task managing food intake while trying not to incite another episode becomes however understanding suitable foods goes hand in hand with fighting through bouts of diarrhea-induced stress commonly faced by many individuals worldwide!
Stay positive, stay motivated & remember much like snowflakes no 2… Um stools are ever alike so keep calm and poop on 👋🏻💩