Requiring you to go to the toilet several times a day, sometimes when you are suffering from abdominal pain and are weak, diarrhea can quickly become very restrictive and disrupt the course of your life. This when it does not lead to complications, in the event of severe dehydration and loss of mineral salts. It therefore becomes essential to properly treat diarrhea and in particular by paying attention to your diet.
Because, you should know, certain foods can have a harmful effect on your condition while others will. calm your diarrhea and facilitate your healing.
If you have diarrhea, usually a symptom of gastroenteritis, and are wondering what foods to eat or what foods to avoid to get rid of them, then you are in the right place! Read what follows:
What you can eat when you have diarrhea
1. Drink water, lots of water
When you have diarrhea, your body loses a lot of water. Must therefore make sure you stay well hydrated by drinking water regularly. The ideal is to drink between 1.5L and 2L of liquid per day. This amounts to drinking between four and six glasses of water per day. Sugary drinks, carbonated drinks and fruit juices should be avoided. It is better to stick to fresh, pure water while you regain more stable intestinal transit.
2. Bananas
The banana is known to be an effective remedy for diarrhea. Rich in potassium, this fruit will replenish your body with mineral salts. In addition, due to its consistency and texture, eating banana will fill your intestines to come effectively relieve and calm your diarrhea.
3. Rice
Another food that is recommended to consume for limit the effects of diarrhea: it’s rice. Rice acts as a binding agent and will make your stools less watery. This facilitates rehydration and accelerates healing. You can eat white rice or in soup at your convenience. Note that the rice cooking juice can also be consumed throughout the day to relieve diarrhea.
4. Potatoes
Boiled or mashed, potatoes help you fight against diarrhea. They are rich in vitamin C, iodine, vitamin B6 and niacin. They will also provide you with many essential nutrients. However, be careful not to eat them with their skins and not to prepare them with butter.
5. Chicken
As for meats, in case of diarrhea it is advisable to eat boiled chicken. Prepared this way it will be less fatty and will be easier to digest, while still providing you with your protein ration.
6. Applesauce
Just like bananas, applesauce contains a lot of pectin, a soluble fiber that helps make stools more consistent. Applesauce therefore allows reduce diarrhea. However, be careful not to drink apple juice which is a laxative.
7. Probiotics
It is important to consume probiotics during a period of diarrhea because they have the effect of recolonizing the intestinal mucosa with good bacteria and fighting harmful bacteria. Although dairy products should be avoided in case of diarrhea, you can still eat yogurts rich in probiotics.
What to avoid eating when you have diarrhea
Now let’s move on to the foods you should avoid when you have diarrhea:
1. Dairy products
With the exception of yogurts, which contain probiotics, dairy products should be avoided in case of diarrhea. You should know that one of the consequences of diarrhea is the reduction in lactase, an enzyme essential for the digestion of lactose. Hence the need to take precautions with dairy products.
2. Fatty foods
Stay away from fatty foods which tend to accelerate contractions of the intestine, which will therefore only make your condition worse. Avoid as much as possible all fatty, fried or breaded foods as well as dishes bathed in a fatty sauce.
3. Alcohol and caffeine
Alcoholic or caffeinated drinks are irritating to the gastrointestinal system just like carbonated drinks which should therefore be avoided.
4. Raw fruits and vegetables
In case of diarrhea, it is recommended not to eat raw fruits or vegetables. because they are rich in fiber and accelerate intestinal transit. And when faced with acute diarrhea, it is also recommended to limit the consumption of cooked vegetables and fruits.
5. Cereals
Rich in fiber, cereals tend to stimulate intestinal transit. It is therefore better to avoid consuming foods containing cereals such as whole grain bread, pasta or rice.
6. Red meat
Red meat is fatty and therefore difficult to digest. This is why it is necessary avoid eating it while you have diarrhea.
7. Sugar and sweeteners
To combat diarrhea, it is also important to limit your consumption of sugar and artificial sweeteners. As hard as the temptation is, you will have to wait until you recover to be able to enjoy candies and sweet desserts again.
Some tips to quickly recover from diarrhea
Apart from knowing which foods to favor and which to avoid, when faced with diarrhea, here are three tips and recommendations that will be useful to you to ensure that your diarrhea resolves quickly :
- Eat light and several times during the day rather than consuming three large meals per day.
- Make sure you drink and hydrate regularly.
- If your diarrhea persists, or it is acute, then do not hesitate to consult your doctor.