Diet For Diarrhoea

Diet for Diarrhoea includes lots of fluids like water, juices, soups, curd, apples, oranges, apricots, and pears, and eating smaller meals.

Supplementation of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) is necessary to maintain the electrolyte balance.

Morning Drink	Peppermint tea
Breakfast	Crispy rice cereal
Soup	Pesto chicken soup
Salad	Banana honey salad
Lunch	White rice + mashed potato + cabbage curry
Evening Snack	Apple sauce
Dinner	Sweet potato bread toast

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Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is a condition when the stools become very frequent, loose, and watery. Here we’ll see the detailed diet for diarrhoea.

Diarrhoea may be caused due to viruses or infections through food. The person becomes weak and tired due to the loss of fluids. This in turn leads to the loss of salts (sodium and chloride) and minerals such as potassium.

Diarrhoea may be a warning symptom for many diseases such as cancers and covid-19. If the condition persists for more than 3 days, it is necessary to find the root cause of diarrhoea and treat it as early as possible.

Main causes of Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea can be caused by a wide variety of factors which may be due to

• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Parasites
• Food poisoning
• Fructose
• Lactose intolerance
• Digestive disorders

Types of Diarrhoea

There are 3 common types of diarrhoea which are classified as

• Acute watery diarrhoea
• Acute diarrhoea with blood (Dysentery)
• Persistent diarrhoea

Best diet for Diarrhoea

Diet plays a dual role during diarrhoea. A poor and unhygienic diet triggers diarrhoea, whereas a healthy balanced nutritious diet helps in recovery.

Intake of liberal amounts of fluid is advisable to balance the dehydration caused due to diarrhoea. 8 – 10 glasses of water should be taken in which electrolyte solutions can be included.

Soluble fibre is mostly preferred as it adds bulkiness to stools rather than insoluble fibre.

BRAT diet for Diarrhoea

The BRAT diet is commonly recommended for diarrhoea. BRAT stands for Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. The BRAT diet is low in fibre and easy to digest. These foods bind with the digestive system because of their binding properties and make the stools bulkier.

Foods to eat during loose motion

• Foods low in fibre
• Foods rich in sodium and potassium
• Moderate protein
• High carbohydrates
• Low fat

Ginger is considered good for diarrhoea, which can be taken in the form of ginger tea or juices. Plain rice crackers help during hard times. Intake of curd helps in controlling diarrhoea as it is a probiotic food. It decreases the time duration of bathroom visits.

• Lots of fluids
• Coconut water
• Fruit juices
• Vegetable juices
• Probiotic foods
• Soups

These foods help in managing the fluid loss and tiredness that is caused due to diarrhoea.

Foods to avoid during Diarrhoea

Certain foods may worsen the condition during diarrhoea. They are

• Foods rich in fibre
• Dairy products
• Fried foods
• Spicy foods
• Citrus fruits
• Caffeinated drinks

In addition to these foods, adequate rest is also necessary to restore energy and electrolyte levels. Soft-cooked vegetables, steamed food, and solid foods can be given as small meals at shorter intervals once the patient starts recovering from the condition.

It is necessary to stop the BRAT diet after recovering as it lacks many of the essential nutrients and vitamins.

Green stool causes

When the food passes quickly through the intestines, the bile pigment can’t break down. This causes the stools to be green in colour due to the presence of bile pigments. Green stools may indicate some problems in the gallbladder or liver. If there is a malfunction in the gallbladder, it affects the secretion of bile pigment.

Reasons for green stools

The stool may be green in colour due to some infection caused by viruses or bacteria or parasites. When the unabsorbed bile rapidly flushes out, the stools may appear green. Sometimes the green colour may be due to the intake of leafy greens or food colouring.

The stool colour usually depends on the food that we eat and the amount of bile pigment that is secreted. The bile pigment may be yellow or green which is helpful for the digestion of fats.

Fats in stools

The presence of fats in stools is called Steatorrhea. When there is excessive fat in the stools it means that the digestive system is unable to break down the food. Fatty stools are usually greasy, foul-smelling, and float in the water.

Certain criteria to reduce fat in the stools are limiting the fat intake, drinking lots of water, and eating more soluble fibres rather than insoluble fibres. It is also advisable to restrict the intake of foods rich in potassium oxalates such as potatoes, dates, almonds, beetroot, and soy foods.

The fats present in the stools may be due the malabsorption. This may be caused due to some problems in the pancreas which produces the enzymes required for the absorption of fats.  

Treat Diarrhoea at home

Diarrhoea makes a person weak and tired. Following certain rules, loose motion can be treated in the comfort of a home. It is necessary to seek medical advice if the person is an infant or a smaller child.

• Rehydrating with lots of fluids and water
• Eat smaller meals at frequent intervals to gain strength
• Follow BRAT diet
• Include probiotics in the meal
• Avoid foods high in fat
• Avoid coffee and sugars

Fruits good for Diarrhoea

Fruits rich in pectin helps to control diarrhoea. The following foods are rich in potassium

• Apples
• Apricots
• Avocados
• Bananas
• Pears

Diarrhoea diet plan

Morning Drink	Tender coconut water (1 cup)
Midmeal	Ginger and Lemon drink
Breakfast	Boiled White Chickpeas and Tomato (1 cup)
Salad	Sesame broccoli salad
Lunch	Boiled Rice (1/2 cup) + Baked Pumpkin (1/3rd cup)
Soup	Baked Tomato and broccoli with bell pepper soup (1 cup)
Evening Snack	Boiled Potato n Black grams (1/2 cup) + Black Tea (1 cup)
Dinner	Chapati (2) + Fish stew (1pc)