What to Eat (And Avoid) When You Have Diarrhea

Key takeaways:

• If you are experiencing diarrhea, dietary choices should focus on easily digestible foods that do not require your bowels to work too hard.
• Resting your bowels does not mean refraining from eating at all. When experiencing diarrhea it is important to maintain good hydration and nutritional status without consuming foods and drinks that can exacerbate symptoms.
• If dietary changes do not help alleviate the symptoms within 48 hours, you should consult with your healthcare provider.

Diarrhea is a common symptom that can be caused by various factors including gastrointestinal infections, dietary choices, and underlying health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease.

If you are experiencing diarrhea it is essential to know what to eat to alleviate these symptoms and what foods to avoid to help prevent further problems. This article will explore foods and drinks that are beneficial, as well as those that are harmful when experiencing diarrhea.

Food and drinks you should consume when you have diarrhea

There is a lot of confusing information out there about what you should and should not eat when you have diarrhea.

However, there are some food choices that can help stop or at least significantly reduce diarrhea. Dietary changes are most helpful when you are experiencing diarrhea as a result of food poisoning or a gastrointestinal infection and may not work as well for chronic conditions linked to diarrhea.

BRAT diet

The BRAT diet consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. In addition to easing diarrhea by promoting more formed and solid stools, the BRAT diet can also help with associated symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

While the BRAT diet is useful as a temporary solution, it does lack vital nutrients and vitamins. If you are still experiencing significant diarrhea after consuming a BRAT diet for 48 hours, you should consider speaking with your healthcare provider.

Bland diet

A bland diet should not be confused with the BRAT diet. A bland diet is more extensive and consists of foods that are easily digestible and gentle on the gastrointestinal tract.

Low-fat dairy products should be considered in individuals experiencing diarrhea who do not have a pre-existing food intolerance to dairy products. Low-fat yogurt is not only easy to digest but contains probiotics which can help restore gut health. This recommendation does not apply to anyone who has a pre-existing diagnosis of lactose intolerance as they should avoid dairy altogether so as not to worsen the symptom of diarrhea.

Other foods grouped into a bland diet include eggs, tofu, lean meats such as fish or skinless chicken, bland vegetables, potatoes, and soft foods that are easy to digest.

Clear broths

Clear broths such as chicken or vegetable broth are great choices when experiencing diarrhea, especially at the initial onset of symptoms.

As with foods in the bland diet, broth is easy on the gastrointestinal tract and allows your bowels to rest while still providing hydration and nutrition. Clear broths such as chicken and vegetable broth should only be consumed for 1-2 days and then you should attempt to advance the diet to make sure you are getting proper nutrients and vitamins.

Low fiber foods

Avoiding foods that are high in fiber can help solidify stools. Some examples of low-fiber foods include eggs, potatoes, white rice, poultry, and refined grains. As with other dietary choices to help reduce diarrhea, a low-fiber diet plan is lacking in important nutrients and vitamins and should only be followed as a solution to temporary diarrhea symptoms.

If you are consuming a low-fiber diet and do not notice an improvement in symptoms within 48 hours, you should speak with your healthcare provider.

Food and drinks you should avoid consuming when you have diarrhea

Just as there are foods that can help slow down and improve symptoms of diarrhea, there are foods that can exacerbate symptoms putting you at a greater risk for complications such as dehydration.

Fried and spicy foods

High-fat and greasy foods can be difficult for the body to digest and can cause diarrhea or worsen existing symptoms of diarrhea.

Fatty foods can be particularly problematic in individuals who have irritable bowel syndrome because there is a link between lipid intake and the occurrence of diarrhea. Spicy foods often contain capsaicin which can irritate the bowels and lead to symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.

Sugar

Sugar is known to cause loose stool and even diarrhea due to its ability to stimulate excess water and electrolyte movement into the bowels.

One type of sugar known as fructose is the most common offender when it comes to diarrhea. Fructose is found naturally in fruits such as peaches, pears, and apples and may also be added to food and drinks such as soda and juice. In fact, fructose is so powerful at stimulating the bowels and causing loose stools that it is often used as a natural remedy when someone is experiencing constipation. Artificial sweeteners are also known to cause diarrhea.

Gluten

Gluten is not known to cause diarrhea in everyone, but in individuals with underlying conditions such as celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome, gluten can be a major trigger for diarrhea.

Gluten can also cause diarrhea and bloating in individuals with gluten intolerances or gluten sensitivities. Examples of foods that contain gluten are those made up of wheat, barley, and rye.

Raw foods

It is important to make sure that all of your food, particularly poultry, beef, and fish, are fully cooked. If you plan on eating sushi, make sure it is coming from a reputable establishment. The consumption of raw or undercooked foods is linked to contamination and infectious causes of diarrhea.

Read our guides on different types of diarrhea and common causes of diarrhea for more.

When you should see a doctor about diarrhea

While many cases of diarrhea are mild and resolve on their own, it is important to recognize when to see a healthcare provider.

You should see a doctor if:

• Diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours in pediatric patients, or more than 48 hours in adult patients with no signs of improvement.
• You experience associated abdominal or rectal pain.
• You notice signs of mild dehydration, such as excessive thirst, dry mouth, or decreased urine output.

You should go to the emergency room if:

• You experience severe diarrhea defined as more than 10 bowel movements a day
• You have an associated fever
• You notice dark or tarry black stools or a significant amount of blood in the stool
• You are pregnant and experiencing persistent diarrhea or unable to tolerate fluids beyond 24 hours.

Questions to ask a doctor about diarrhea

• What do you think is causing my diarrhea?
• Am I considered contagious? And if so, for how long?
• Is there a specific diet plan I should follow to help reduce my symptoms?
• How long do I need to follow a specific diet plan before resuming eating as normal?
• Are there any red flags that I should look for that would indicate the need to be seen for a re-evaluation?

Read our full guide on treating diarrhea for more.

Frequently asked questions: eating and drinking with diarrhea

Despite being a fairly common symptom that most people will experience at least once in their life, there are a lot of questions that surround the topic of diarrhea. Here are some of the most common questions about this less-than-pleasant symptom.

Should older adults avoid consuming specific foods and drinks when they have diarrhea?

Older adults should be especially cautious about their dietary choices when experiencing diarrhea as they are more prone to dehydration.

As a general rule, it is best to consume a clear liquid diet (water, drinks with electrolytes, and chicken or vegetable broth) for the first 24 hours to allow for complete bowel rest. After that, you can advance to the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) as tolerated. Avoid spicy, fatty, and acidic foods as well as alcoholic or caffeinated beverages until symptoms resolve.

Should you consume or avoid consuming anything in particular if you’re pregnant and have diarrhea?

Dietary recommendations for pregnant women experiencing diarrhea are largely the same as recommendations for individuals who are not pregnant.

Because dehydration can have more of a harmful impact on pregnant women and their unborn babies, they should pay particular attention to staying hydrated and should be quicker to seek medication attention if they are unable to tolerate any fluids.

What foods and drinks should you consider consuming if you’re vomiting and have diarrhea?

If you are vomiting in addition to having diarrhea, you are at an even greater risk of becoming dehydrated. Increasing hydration with water and fluids containing electrolytes is the most important step, particularly in the first 24-48 hours.

Oral rehydration solutions are a great choice and can be found over-the-counter in many pharmacies or grocery stores. You can also try drinking ginger and chamomile teas which will not only provide hydration but are known to help with nausea. If you can tolerate an increase in fluid intake, you can begin to advance the diet as tolerated.

Managing your diet when you have diarrhea

Understanding what to eat and what to avoid when experiencing diarrhea can significantly impact your recovery. Opting for bland foods and prioritizing hydration while steering clear of caffeine, fatty foods, and spicy or acidic foods will allow for bowel rest while your gastrointestinal tract recovers.

Recognizing when diet changes alone are not enough and when to seek medical attention is critical when it comes to avoiding secondary complications such as dehydration when experiencing diarrhea.

General Medicine follows a strict editorial process, including using real experts to write our articles, vetted primary sources, fact-checking, a secondary medical review, and updates as necessary. This article was medically reviewed and fact checked by Dr. Lane Thaut, DO.

Sources

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“Is Something in Your Diet Causing Diarrhea?” Harvard Health, 12 July 2016, www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-something-in-your-diet-causing-diarrhea. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Nemeth, Valerie. and Nicholas Pfleghaar. “Diarrhea.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 21 November 2022. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28846339/

Sorathia, Aqsa Z. and Sufian J. Sorathia. “Low Residue Diet.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 24 April 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32491625/

Weir, Sara-Bethany S. and Hossein Akhondi. “Bland Diet.” StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, 25 July 2023. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30844169/