What Foods and Drinks To Eat and Avoid When You Have Diarrhea

Bland foods, such as applesauce, bananas, crackers, and toast, are good to eat when you have diarrhea. It's also important to stay hydrated with water or tea to replenish lost fluids. Diarrhea is a common digestive condition that causes loose or watery stools. You may also have symptoms like a fever or abdominal cramps.

It's important to choose foods that are easy on your digestive tract and help replace fluids and nutrients lost through loose stools. Foods low in fiber, fat, added sugar, and other ingredients can worsen diarrhea.

Making temporary changes to your diet, such as removing certain foods and prioritizing others, could help improve your symptoms. Here's what to eat and drink when you have diarrhea and when to see a healthcare provider.

Foods To Eat When You Have Diarrhea

You may opt for bland, easy-to-digest foods when you have diarrhea. The BRAT diet, bland foods, salty foods, and probiotics help absorb water from stool and bulk it up.

BRAT Diet

The BRAT diet is a type of low-fiber diet that can treat short-term diarrhea. BRAT stands for:

• Bananas: Unripe bananas are high in resistant starch, which helps draw moisture out of stools and reduce diarrhea symptoms. 
• Rice: White rice is low in fiber and easier to digest than high-fiber grains like brown rice and other whole grains.
• Applesauce: Unlike whole, raw apples, applesauce is broken down into an easy-to-digest form. This can be a good choice for people with diarrhea.
• Toast: White toast that's low in fiber is easy for people with diarrhea to tolerate. 

If you're experiencing diarrhea, you don't necessarily have to limit yourself to the BRAT diet. Other foods, like plain crackers and low-fat protein sources, are well-tolerated. 

Bland Foods 

Consider trying the following bland foods if you have diarrhea: 

• Baked potatoes: Potatoes without the skin are easy on the stomach and contain potassium, an electrolyte lost through diarrhea.
• Broths and soups: Low-fat and low-fiber soups and broths are hydrating and high in nutrients lost through watery stools, such as sodium.
• Plain crackers: Plain crackers made with white or gluten-free low-fiber flour are easy to digest and can soothe your stomach.
• Low-fiber breakfast cereals: Opt for cornflakes and farina over higher-fiber options.
• Plain, low-fat sources of protein: Egg whites, chicken breast, lean beef, and lean fish are usually well-tolerated when you have diarrhea.

Healthcare providers often recommend these foods, but they're not the only foods you can eat when you have diarrhea. It's generally important to stick to bland foods low in fat and fiber. You can try to incorporate other foods into your diet as long as you're able to tolerate them. Make sure what you eat doesn't make your diarrhea or other symptoms, like stomach pain, worse.  

Salty Foods

Pretzels and other salty snack foods like tortilla chips are low in fiber and provide sodium. This electrolyte is lost through loose, watery stools. Chicken noodle soup is also a source of sodium and can prevent dehydration.

Probiotics

Probiotics are healthy gut bacteria that support digestion. You can typically find probiotics in foods like kefir and yogurt, but dairy products can irritate the stomach if you have diarrhea. Other sources include fermented soy milk, fruits, and vegetables.

What To Drink

Diarrhea causes you to lose larger amounts of water and electrolytes through your stool. This increases your risk of dehydration. Dehydration can make you feel weak and dizzy and can become dangerous if you're not able to rehydrate.

It's important to replace lost fluids when you're experiencing diarrhea. Water needs vary, especially when you have diarrhea. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Some experts also recommend drinking at least one cup of water every time you have a loose bowel movement.

Beverages like sports drinks and tea also help you stay hydrated and replace some nutrients lost through diarrhea. Other drinks that can hydrate you without worsening diarrhea include:

• Broth, such as chicken or vegetable broth
• Certain decaffeinated teas like chamomile and ginger
• Sports drinks like Gatorade

Small amounts of diluted fruit juice are usually well-tolerated. However, drinking large amounts of sugary beverages or drinks sweetened with sugar alcohols can worsen diarrhea, as these drinks draw water into the intestines.

Foods To Avoid 

Certain foods can help you recover quicker and firm up your stools, but others can worsen diarrhea. It's generally important to avoid foods high in fat and fiber when you're experiencing diarrhea.

The worst foods for diarrhea include:

• Fried and greasy products, such as french fries and bacon
• Gas-promoting vegetables, including broccoli and cabbage 
• High-fat dairy products like whole milk and ice cream 
• High-fiber foods like beans, dried fruit, and whole grains

What Not To Drink 

Drinks that may worsen diarrhea include:

• Alcohol 
• Caffeinated beverages, including coffee, tea, and soda
• Sports drinks that have a lot of added sugars or artificial sweeteners
  

Treatment and Remedies

There are a few other ways to feel better when you have diarrhea, in addition to dietary changes. Home remedies include:

• Avoiding strenuous activity and rest if you're able, especially if you have a fever or are feeling weak or dizzy
• Eating smaller, more frequent meals
• Staying hydrated by sipping water and other beverages like broth and sports drinks throughout the day

Taking an over-the-counter (OTC) medication like Pepto-Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) or Imodium (loperamide) may treat some types of diarrhea. However, don't use these medications if you have bloody diarrhea or a fever, which may signal an infection.

When To Contact a Healthcare Provider 

There are several different types of diarrhea, each with different causes. Diarrhea can be caused by an infection, an underlying condition, certain medications, and treatments like chemotherapy. Dietary changes can help reduce diarrhea symptoms, but it's not an appropriate way to treat all types of diarrhea. 

It's important to contact a healthcare provider if you have a condition that causes diarrhea, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Let a healthcare provider know if you're experiencing diarrhea or other symptoms that indicate a flare of the disease.

Seek medical attention right away if you're experiencing diarrhea that:

• Accompanies a fever that doesn't go away or other symptoms like nausea and vomiting 
• Has an unusual smell or color 
• Is bloody or has mucus
• Lasts more than five days in adults or longer than two days in infants and children 
• Occurs with severe stomach pain

A Quick Review

What you choose to eat can either improve or worsen your symptoms when you have diarrhea. Some foods, such as salty low-fiber crackers, white rice, broth, and applesauce, may firm up your stool and replace lost nutrients. Other foods, such as high-fat or fried foods, can make your diarrhea worse. 

Treatment for diarrhea depends on the cause, so it's always best to visit a healthcare provider if you have diarrhea that isn't getting better. Talk to a healthcare provider if you have an underlying condition that could be causing diarrhea.