Diarrhea is one of the most common yet most threatening conditions happening to a body. It can be a mild one or a severe condition and requires medical help to avoid life-threatening scenarios. An abnormally loose and watery stool at frequent intervals is generally considered as diarrhea. Children and older people are more vulnerable to dehydration, caused due to diarrhea. Diarrhea is often a symptom of a bowel infection after contracting a virus or bacteria through food or water.

• Irritable bowel syndrome or IBS
• Crohn’s disease
• Coeliac disease
• Bowel cancer.

Thus, caused mainly by bacteria, virus, or parasites, diarrhea is highly curable with proper medicine and proper food intake. The most common causes of acute diarrhea in the United States are the bacteria Salmonella, Shigella, and Escherichia coli.

Treatments for diarrhea

• Mild cases of acute diarrhea may get cured without treatment. However, in the case of chronic diarrhea, proper treatment is essential.
• Rehydration using fluids is the first and the foremost treatment for diarrhea. This can be made possible by simply drinking more fluids or can be received intravenously in severe cases.
• Oral rehydration solution or ORS is water that contains salt and glucose. It is an important food for diarrhea as it is absorbed by the small intestine to replace the water and electrolytes lost in the stool.
• Proper food intake to balance the loss of water from the body and to reduce the frequency of passing stool.

What to eat while suffering from diarrhea?

The causes of diarrhea can be a meal or just an ingredient that you ate that reacted as a foreign particle to your body. However, as certain foods can worsen the diarrhea symptoms, it is very important to know the proper food for diarrhea, i.e.,  what to eat and what not to eat when you have diarrhea.
It is suggested to have simple, soluble, fiber-rich, thick, and bland food while one is suffering from diarrhea. Oats, banana, rice, boiled potatoes, toast, baked chicken without skin, and fat make one of the best options as the right food for diarrhea.

Nutritionists from different health centers offer some more tips regarding food for diarrhea:

• Sip on clear, still liquids such as fruit juice without added sugar, replacing lost water after each loose stool with at least one cup of liquid
• Do most of the drinking between, not during, meals
• One should consume high-potassium foods and liquids like fruit juices, potatoes, and bananas and high-sodium foods and liquids like broths, soups, and salted crackers.
• You can opt for black tea since it has astringent which acts gently on the stomach.
• Root vegetables are also good for stomach when irritated with diarrhea symptoms. Carrots, sweet potatoes, onions, turnips etc.
• You can also try rice pudding with soy milk or almond milk and artificial sweetener.
• Food to avoid while suffering from diarrhea
• Certain food items make the condition of diarrhea worse. Thus, avoid the following foods.
• Sugar-free gum, cherries, and prunes are better avoided while down with diarrhea.
• Caffeine is to be strictly restricted during diarrhea.
• Keep yourself away from high-fructose-containing food like fruit juices, grapes, honey, dates, nuts, and figs.
• Lactose in dairy products should be stayed away from while suffering from diarrhea.
• Fatty and spicy food is never the right food for diarrhea.
• Avoid excess much fiber as it can irritate the gut causing discomfort.

Using Probiotics

Probiotics is another option in food for diarrhea the acts really good in few instances of acute diarrhea. They may also help prevent Traveler’s Diarrhea, affecting mainly the people who travel a lot and are victims of frequent changes in weather, food habits, and water. Even antibiotic-associated diarrhea is cured by probiotics. However, an advice from the doctor is always recommended since there are numerous strains. Probiotics are available in different forms like capsules, tablets, powders, and liquids. Infants and older adults are more sensitive to diarrhea since they can dehydrate very easily. This can be dangerous and life threatening if not attended properly and on time.

Thus, if diarrhea does not clear up on its own after a few days of adequate fluids and electrolytes (a maximum of three days can be considered acceptable), a visit to the doctor for proper treatment is imminent. Though there are many over-the-counter medications, it is always a better idea to talk to a medical practitioner before consuming those medicines.
Of course, the correct food for diarrhea plays an important role in curing the disease. Therefore, be careful while taking a call on the food intake while you are suffering from diarrhea and a few days after the cure as well.