Making dietary adjustments may help control diarrhea. Some foods can actually cause diarrhea – or make it worse – while others can help to relieve it. Here are some specific suggestions:
No matter what the underlying cause of the diarrhea, the BRATT diet – consisting of Bananas, Rice (white), Apple juice or sauce, and Toast and Tea (herbal) – may help to control it.
Foods that are high in starch – such as white rice, mashed potatoes, and white bread – are a good bet, along with oatmeal and tofu.
Clear juices, such as apple, peach, or pear – all of which contain much needed sugar to fuel the body – are much less harsh on the gut than other types of juices that are high in acid content (e.g., orange or grapefruit juice).
Another good tip: Eat small amounts of food five to six times throughout the day, instead of three large meals.
Add nutmeg to foods in order to slow down the movement of material through the intestines. This works!
Foods to avoid: Food that can make diarrhea worse include coffee and other caffeinated beverages (cola, certain soft drinks, tea, etc.), alcohol, chocolate, fried and fatty foods, spicy foods, food high in insoluble fiber such as raw vegetables, potato peels, beans, and brown rice, fat substitutes (Olean or Olestra) and highly processed foods with little nutritional value such as Twinkies, cookies, cakes, donuts, etc. Dairy products – such as milk and cheese – can also make diarrhea worse.
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Managing Diarrhea