Dietary Tips for Diarrhoea
At some point in our lives, we all have experienced bouts of diarrhoea, it is the frequent passage of loose, watery and soft tools. The symptoms being, flatulence, cramps, abdominal pain, bloating etc.
Acute diarrhoea may occur due to viral infection, bacterial infection, food poisoning, antibiotic use or contaminated water consumption.
1. Proper Hydration is Required
Oral Rehydration therapy or ORS hydration formula recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) contains electrolytes such as sodium, chloride, potassium, glucose and a base of citrate tribasic or bicarbonate.
Rice powder and other cereals contain amino acids or carbohydrates (in the form of glucose chains), each of which helps promote sodium transport.
Other hydrating drinks like coconut water, lemon salt and sugar water, watermelon juice, cucumber -ghia juice with some rock salt and sugar are other advantageous drinks that need to be taken after removing fibre.
2. Foods To Be Included
Follow BRAT foods – Banana, Rice, Applesauce, Toast.
Potassium-containing foods e.g., citrus juices like orange juices and bananas are useful adjuncts to oral rehydration.
Include boiled or baked potatoes, Chicken soup
Toast with hung curd
3. Probiotics
They are sources of good bacteria and necessary for the normal functioning of the gastrointestinal tract. Eg curd and yoghurt may help ward off unwanted pathogens and ensure proper absorption of nutrients.
4. Foods to Avoid
Basically foods with high fibre content, greasy, fatty and fried foods.
Beans, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower.
Dairy-based milk, ice creams
Coffees, tea as they have caffeine whip acts as a stimulant
legumes like chickpeas, rajma, cowpeas
High fibre dry fruits like prunes, figs, raisins
All kinds of spicy and processed foods
To summarise, it is important to maintain your diet, hydration levels, get ample rest and the inclusion of BRAT foods that are easy on the stomach can help you recover faster.
REFERENCES
Nutritional Management of Acute Diarrhea in Infants and Children. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219096/
World Health Organization (WHO). Persistent diarrhoea in children in developing countries. Memorandum of a WHO meeting. Bull World Health Organ 1988;66:709–717.