Gain a better understanding of diarrhea, including its symptoms, causes, treatment options, and prevention strategies. Learn what the experts say about how certain foods can make this digestive problem worse. While not a pleasant topic to think about, everyone has gastrointestinal issues from time to time. One of the most common digestive problems is diarrhea, or loose, watery stools, usually accompanied by the frequent and urgent need to use the bathroom.
Your body can lose a lot of fluids and salts when you have diarrhea, making dehydration a major concern. Frequent loose and watery stools can quickly lead to fluid loss. When dealing with a brief bout of diarrhea, you want to keep your diet bland.
Then you can slowly add bland foods to your diet. Some bland foods include bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast β otherwise known as the BRAT diet. Crackers and mashed potatoes β minus the butter β may offer a better alternative for both adults and children.
These include beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, avocados, and carbonated drinks. These include foods high in fiber , such as bran, whole grains, and brown rice, as well as greasy and highly processed foods, dairy including yogurt , and excessively sweet foods.
Foods that are sweetened with sorbitol may also aggravate diarrhea, Bickston says. Diarrhea that persists for more than two weeks should prompt a visit to your doctor. They can check for infections, food intolerances, and more serious illness. Tests are available to see if you have a food allergy or condition like lactose intolerance, celiac disease, or a gluten sensitivity.
