Diarrhea
The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.
BRAT Diet
Some doctors recommend the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, apples, and toast) for acute bouts of diarrhea. These foods are mild, well-tolerated, and good sources of helpful nutrients.BRAT DietSome doctors recommend a diet called the BRAT diet for acute bouts of diarrhea. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, apples and toast. These foods are mild, well-tolerated and good sources of fiber, potassium and other nutrients that may be helpful in diarrhea. The efficacy of this diet has not been evaluated in clinical trials.
Elimination Diet
Allergies and food sensitivities are common triggers for diarrhea. People with chronic diarrhea not attributable to other causes should discuss the possibility of food sensitivity with a doctor.Elimination DietAllergies and food sensitivities are common triggers for diarrhea.56 For example, some infants suffer diarrhea when fed cow’s milk-based formula but improve when switched to soy-based formula.57 People with chronic diarrhea not attributable to other causes should discuss the possibility of food sensitivity with a doctor.
Coffee
Drinking several cups of coffee per day causes diarrhea in some people. Avoiding all coffee for a few days should help determine whether coffee is the culprit.CoffeeDrinking several cups of coffee per day causes diarrhea in some people.58 People with chronic diarrhea who drink coffee should avoid all coffee for a few days to evaluate whether coffee is the culprit.
Fructose and Sorbitol
Avoid fructose in fruit juices such as apple juice and pear juice, and in soft drinks and desserts. Also avoid sorbitol in dietetic sweets. These sugars may be poorly absorbed, sometimes leading to diarrhea.Fructose and SorbitolSome foods contain sugars that are absorbed slowly, such as fructose in fruit juice or sorbitol in dietetic confectionery. Through a process called osmosis, these unabsorbed sugars hold onto water in the intestines, sometimes leading to diarrhea.59 By reading labels, people with chronic non-infectious diarrhea can easily avoid fruit juice, fructose, and sorbitol to see if this eliminates the problem.
Dairy-Free
People whose diarrhea is caused by lactose intolerance can avoid the problem by steering clear of milk and ice cream or by taking lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose.Dairy-FreePeople who are lactose intolerant—meaning they lack the enzyme needed to digest milk sugar—often develop diarrhea after consuming milk or ice cream. People whose lactose intolerance is the cause of diarrhea will rid themselves of the problem by avoiding milk and ice cream or in many cases by taking lactase, the enzyme needed to digest lactose. Lactase is available in a variety of forms in pharmacies (and in grocery stores in the form of lactase-treated milk).
Diarrhea-Causing
Large amounts of vitamin C or magnesium found in supplements can also cause diarrhea, avoiding the offending supplement brings rapid relief.Diarrhea-CausingLarge amounts of vitamin C or magnesium found in supplements can also cause diarrhea, although the amount varies considerably from person to person. Unlike infectious diarrhea, diarrhea caused by high amounts of vitamin C or magnesium is not generally accompanied by other signs of illness. The same is true when the problem comes from sorbitol or fructose.60 In these cases, avoiding the offending supplement or food brings rapid relief.