Dietary Recommendations For Diarrhea

Author: Karen Lennox Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

In this article, learn more about Dietary Recommendations For Diarrhea. Diet is part of the treatment of diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a condition in which the affected person has had 3 or more watery stools within 24 hours . The amount of stool per day is also important. In general, diarrhea can be divided into acute and chronic. The group of acute includes diarrhea lasting up to two weeks , and chronic diarrhea is characterized by persistence of symptoms after this period.

The most common causes of diarrhea are infection with various pathogenic (pathogenic) microorganisms - bacteria, viruses, parasites . The causes can also be food poisoning, drug-induced , due to impaired digestion or absorption of food, autoimmune diseases, tumors along the intestinal tract and others.

In practice, some basic dietary rules apply during diarrhea and during the recovery period. However, in addition to their observance, it is important that the individual approach to each patient and in particular the restrictive measures regarding the menu are determined according to the tolerance to different foods - that is, how their consumption affects the symptoms of each patient.

The first step is to determine the cause of diarrhea in order to prescribe appropriate treatment. A nutritious diet is important for faster recovery and remission of diarrhea, but it is not always enough.

With diarrhea, there is a loss of water and salts from the body , which in some cases can be significant and therefore have serious consequences for the patient. Young children are especially prone to dehydration.

In the first hours after the onset of diarrhea, it is recommended to limit food intake and emphasize fluid intake. In addition to water, it is recommended to drink herbal teas - mint, chamomile, which have an antispasmodic effect . Fluid intake should be gradual, in small sips and frequent, as otherwise symptoms may worsen.

Gradually move to the consumption of easily digestible foods that are low in fiber, so as not to further irritate the intestinal mucosa. Toasted slices, rusks, which are not prepared from wholemeal flour , are recommended . The food is recommended to have a liquid-mush consistency (broths, nectars, cream soups).

Boiled potatoes, carrots, white rice, as well as lean cooked meat are gradually added to the menu. Baking is also acceptable, but not frying . It is important to avoid fatty foods as well as spicy spices.

In the first 3 to 5 days after the onset of diarrhea, it is recommended to avoid foods that lead to flatulence. These are cabbage, legumes (lentils, beans) and all carbonated beverages. Caffeine affects the motility of the intestines, which necessitates the temporary cessation of consumption of coffee and caffeinated beverages.

It is forbidden to consume dairy products, with the exception of yogurt, which is a type of natural probiotic that supplies the body with the so-called "beneficial bacteria", because during diarrhea the balance of the intestinal flora can be disturbed. Other natural sources of probiotics are kefir, sauerkraut, olives, pickles and others. Of the fruits, the consumption of bananas is recommended, as they contain easily digestible carbohydrates and at the same time are rich in potassium.

In diarrhea, in addition to water loss with frequent bowel movements, a significant amount of salt is lost. The most serious are the losses of sodium and potassium. Spinach, dried apricots, some types of fish (salmon), legumes and others are rich in potassium .

Within 10 days to two weeks after the symptoms subside, it is recommended that the diet be sparing , as the functionality of the mucosa is restored faster than the structural changes due to the inflammatory process. 3784

Dietary Recommendations For Diarrhea

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