What is Diarrhea?
Diarrhea is a gastrointestinal infection or upset that causes frequent passage of watery stools.
Symptoms:
- Watery stools
- Stomach pains
- Stomach bloating
- Loss of appetite
What causes Diarrhea?
- Bacterial infection
- Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO): An imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the small intestine
- Food allergies, e.g., lactose intolerance. Lactose is a type of sugar found in milk and dairy products.
- Drinking contaminated water
- Food poisoning
- Dehydration
- Eating too much oily food that is not easy to digest.
- Emotional stress and anxiety.
Foods to eat when you have Diarrhea:
Doctors recommend the BRAT diet for people suffering from diarrhea. This diet comprises:
- Banana
- Rice (white rice)
- Apple
- Toast
Apart from the BRAT diet, one may consume the following foods:
- Potatoes
- Sweet Potatoes
- Peanut butter
- Skinless chicken
- Yoghurt
Foods to avoid when you have Diarrhea:
- Spicy foods
- Oily foods
- Cabbage
- Beans
- Raw fruits and vegetables
- Caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee, etc.)
- Alcohol
- Carbonated beverages
- Milk
- Peppers
- Prunes
- Chickpeas
- Berries
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Corn
- Peas
