Diarrhea

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