You must have experienced bouts of diarrhea at some point or the other in your life. The most common symptoms of this disease include watery stools, bloating and abdominal cramping. The causes of diarrhea commonly range from a wrong meal to stomach flu. Sometimes, the cause can be just an ingredient that didn’t agree with you. But suffering from diarrhea can be very exhausting, and you would naturally want a quick recovery. To do that, you need to know about what to eat as foods to stop diarrhea and sometimes what not to eat, as it might aggravate the condition.

Diarrhea is mostly your body’s way of tackling the disruptions that form in your gastrointestinal system. An acute form of diarrhea would not last for more than 2 weeks. It can happen sue to a bacterial infection, a viral infection, recent use of antibiotics, food poisoning or consumption of water contaminated by some infectious agents.

Doctors usually advise you to follow a special diet during your recovery, which is also known as BRAT diet. BRAT is an acronym for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. All these foods to stop diarrheaare known for their capability to “bind” the loose and runny stools. Knowing the right and the wrong kinds of foodis the key to manage the symptoms of the condition.

So here is a list of foods to stop diarrhea:

Bananas:

Bananas are known for their ability to pacify diarrhea and all its associated symptoms. Bananas are known as a “binding” food, which means they are capable of leading to formed stools. Bananas are very rich in potassium which is a vital nutrient but tends to deplete during the bouts of vomiting and loose motion. So eating bananas can replenish the lost potassium.

Rice:

Plain boiled rice may be bland to taste but it is easy to digest. It is known for its binding effects on the stool too. However, you need to avoid brown and other wild varieties of rice as they may exacerbate diarrhea. The objective of the diet plan for diarrhea is to incorporate more food items that are bland and low on fibers. Rice is perfect for that purpose as it is sticky and low on fibers.

Applesauce:

Applesauce contains pectin that helps to bind the bowels. This helps to minimize the symptoms of diarrhea. You tend to be low in energy due to the illness, but the natural sugar that applesauce contains helps to replenish the lost energy. This item is an ideal addition to your diet chart of foods to stop diarrheaas it is mild and well- tolerated.

Toast:

Toast is ideal during diarrhea as it adds bulk to the stools. However, you have to have it plain, do not add butter or jam to it. Toast is also a bland food which tends to provide carbohydrates that might help to improve the energy levels.

Yogurt:

Yogurt is a probiotic hence it can help you if your diarrhea is a result of an intake of antibiotics. In that case, yogurt might help to relieve or loose the stool. Antibiotics attack on the bacteria formation in your body, and in this process it might reduce the number of beneficial bacteria and microorganism. These good bacteria and microorganisms in the intestine help to regulate the stool otherwise. Yogurt might be instrumental in reintroducing these microorganisms in your body and help to curb the side effects.

While you are suffering from diarrhea, it is equally important to know the kinds of food that you should avoid. There are certain food items that travel through your intestines quickly and aggravate the process of digestion or worsen your diarrhea. Avoid thesefood to stop diarrhea:

• Fatty food: fried food and food items that are greasy or submerged in gravy tops the chart for “avoid foods to stop diarrhea“.
• Milk, butter, ice and cheese: diarrhea is caused by lactose intolerance; however, it is observed that during the bouts of diarrhea it is difficult to process sugar lactose. So stay away from all dairy products (yogurt is the only exception).
• Alcohol and caffeine drinks: caffeine and alcohol can act as diuretics which mean they would dehydrate you and it is not good for diarrhea.
• Sorbitol and other artificial sweeteners: for some people, artificial sweeteners have a laxative effect on their digestive system. Avoid sugarless gum and candies, sugar substitutes and diet sugar drinks too.
• Foods that cause excess gas: food items like cabbage, broccoli, beans and cauliflower should be avoided during diarrhea.
• Foods that may be tainted: foods that may have been mishandled or improperly stored should be avoided to prevent further stomach upset.

If you sincerely follow a proper diet, then you will recover quickly. So bear the above tips in mind and consult a doctor as well. Stock your pantry with foods to stop diarrhea and keep yourself hydrated. Avoid taking any medication without consulting your physician.