The 5 Worst Foods You Can Eat When You Have Diarrhea

plate with the worst foods for diarrhea

If your stools are a bit loose, that is, you are experiencing a bout of diarrhea, you should know that it is actually a fairly common problem. While that camaraderie may not make you feel better at the moment, the good news is that there are simple changes you can make to your diet to help improve symptoms.

Everyone at some point in life will experience diarrhea. Sometimes you may have it due to a stomach virus and other times it may be due to dietary changes. A good rule of thumb when it comes to bowel movements is that you don't want to go more than three days without a bowel movement and you shouldn't. You don't want to poop more than three times a day.

If you are one of those who go to the toilet more than three times a day and your stools are loose or watery, don't worry. By limiting some foods in your diet and eating more of others, you may be able to find some relief.

5 worst foods for diarrhea

Café

Coffee has a way of getting things going in the morning. Caffeine, the reason many of us drink coffee in the first place, is a stimulant, which affects our central nervous system, making us more alert. Caffeine can also "stimulate" our gut, acting as a laxative.

Coffee poop is one thing and if you have diarrhea, drinking coffee can make it worse. Caffeine can be hard on the gut when you have this stomach problem.

In that case it is better to try a caffeine-free tea. Although, like decaffeinated coffee, tea may still contain a trace amount of caffeine.

bowl of hot chili peppers

Spicy foods

They may taste great going in, but the second half of the digestion process is where spicy foods can cause us problems.

Think twice before adding that chili or sauce when you have diarrhea. Spicy foods are more likely to aggravate your gut even if you don't have intestinal problems.

In general, spicy foods are healthy, but if you have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or dyspepsia, you should be careful with spicy foods, according to the University of Chicago Medicine. Hot peppers and seasonings can trigger symptoms.

Fatty and fried foods

Fried foods have no positive qualities when it comes to your health. In fact, in some cases, they can wreak havoc.

It is best to stay away from fatty foods while you are experiencing symptoms like cramps and loose stools. This is because high-fat foods, especially fried foods, can be hard on your gut even if you don't have diarrhea.

Our bodies can have a hard time digesting a large dose of fat like you might find in fried chicken wings or greasy pizza. If fats are not absorbed properly, they continue through our bowels to the colon, where they are broken down into fatty acids. This causes our colon to secrete fluid, which can trigger or exacerbate diarrhea.

pizza with soft drinks

Cruciferous vegetables and other gas-producing foods

Foods that are known to give people gas can make diarrhea worse and/or make them feel bloated and uncomfortable. Foods that can cause gas are cruciferous foods such as cabbage or broccoli, the vegetables such as beans and foods with a higher content of FODMAPs.

Cruciferous vegetables contain a complex carbohydrate called raffinose. This is what actually ferments in our gut as part of normal digestion, causing gas to build up.
La fiber in some foods it can cause gas and foods high in FODMAPs, a short-chain carbohydrate, can also cause digestion problems for some people.

sugar free sweeteners

There is no shortage of artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols in our food supply. These types of sweeteners can be found in candy, gum, and sugar-free diet sodas. Having too many of these sweeteners can draw water into the intestine and cause diarrhea or make it worse.

Other common or sensitive food intolerances include gluten, la casein, that sulphites (found in red wine and beer) and certain food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG).

What can you eat when you have diarrhea? the best foods

soft foods

La low fat milk, la applesauce, the potatoes, that eggs, the desserts of gelatin and pasta are excellent examples of bland foods. These foods are low in fat and are quite soft on their own, that is, a minimum of spices are used.

Sticking with bland foods can help settle your stomach. This does not necessarily mean following a BRAT diet (banana, rice, apple and toast), since the reality is that sometimes it does not help much.

eggs and pasta for diarrhea

Soups

Simple soups or broth can be great when you have diarrhea because they are easier on your gut to digest and help keep you hydrated.

You'll want to avoid soups like Butter de broccoli or the soup clams because they are high in fat, which can increase complications. Some good soup options include this simple vegetable soup or chicken soup.

Gut friendly foods

Here's the tricky (and annoying) part: What works for one person may not work for another.

There really isn't a specific set of foods your gut likes. Everyone's gut is unique, therefore everyone's gut-friendly foods are unique. However, the foods rich in probiotics, like yogurt and sauerkraut, are some of the best to help nourish the gut.

Probiotics often help with digestion. Many people have a lot of bad bacteria in their gut, and probiotics can help restore the good bacteria. Figuring out what are gut-healthy foods, especially if you have digestive issues like IBS, can be very powerful. A food journal will be your number one tool to help uncover food sensitivities.


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