4 Tips for fasting when you have diarrhea

You are usually too excited about the early days of fasting so you don't pay attention to your diet anymore. Therefore, indigestion is one of the problems that is often encountered in the first week of fasting. Digestive disorders that are most often complained of is diarrhea. If you are experiencing this, how can you do your fasting smoothly? Don't worry, here are tips on fasting during diarrhea for those of you who are still enthusiastic about worship.

What causes diarrhea when fasting?

Maintaining health in the month of Ramadan is an important thing to do. Personal hygiene and food are also the main factors that need to be considered in order to keep the body in top condition. If the body condition is not healthy, then your fasting activity will be disrupted.

Health problems that often occur during the fasting month are diarrhea and abdominal pain due to the wrong diet. In addition to carrying out unhealthy habits, in the early weeks of fasting a person usually begins to feel discomfort due to changes in the degree of acidity (pH) in the body due to changes in diet and the body is still trying to adapt.

Diarrhea usually occurs because you eat the wrong meal at dawn or breaking the fast. During fasting, you will usually tend to eat foods that break fast, such as foods that are too spicy or too much so that at night or in the morning you feel diarrhea.

How is it safe to fast when you have diarrhea?

If you experience diarrhea while fasting, you can follow the following tips, so that your fast can run smoothly.

1. Consume more fluids at dawn and breaking the fast

Diarrhea can cause you to lack fluids, especially after more than 12 hours, you will not get fluid intake. This will worsen the condition of your body. To overcome this, try to consume lots of fluids at dawn, such as water.

The use of ORS is highly recommended if a person is at risk of dehydration. ORS consists of a mixture of water with sugar and salt. This fluid serves to replace carbohydrates, electrolytes / ions, and other important minerals that are lost in the body so that dehydration does not occur. ORS can be purchased at pharmacies without using a prescription.

From the time of breaking the fast to the time of suction, always try to stay well hydrated. Water can prevent a person from becoming dehydrated or lack of body fluids which can cause weakness and pain.

2. Consumption of yogurt after breaking the fast

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, eating yogurt regularly can increase immunity, especially those related to digestion. A study shows that yogurt can overcome digestive infection problems.

The probiotic bacteria found in yogurt fight bad bacteria in the digestive system and help the food "travel" down the digestive tract. Yogurt should be consumed at night before going to bed.

Choose yogurt that does not contain artificial sweeteners, because those containing artificial sweeteners will actually worsen your diarrhea. If you have frequent diarrhea or the diarrhea is worse when you drink milk or eat dairy products, you may have lactose intolerance.

3. Avoid fatty and greasy foods

Fasting during diarrhea should make you choose foods to break your fast or suhoor. Foods high in fat can make diarrhea and stomach ache worse, so as much as possible, avoid these foods as part of your iftar or suhoor meal. If you are not 100% cured, avoid red meat, butter, margarine, dairy products, fried foods, fast food, ready-to-eat packaged foods, and processed foods. Limit consumption of fat to less than 15 grams per day.

4. Overcoming diarrhea with drugs

There are several types of anti-diarrheal drugs, and generally anti-diarrheal drugs can reduce symptoms and shorten the length of diarrhea by one day. The antidiarrheal drug most commonly used is loperamide. This drug has been shown to be effective and has few side effects. Loperamide is able to make your stool denser and reduce the frequency of your bowel movements.

A number of anti-diarrheal drugs can be purchased at pharmacies without using a prescription from a doctor. You are advised to read the instructions on the package to know the correct dosage and to know if the drug is suitable for you. Anti-diarrheal drugs are not really needed, unless you are urged by an important activity. Diarrhea sufferers are advised not to take antibiotics if the cause is unknown.

Fasting when diarrhea may be a challenge for you. Make sure you get plenty of rest, this will help you fight any infections that might cause diarrhea and relieve physical stress from being sick. If your diarrhea gets worse, it is better to consult a doctor immediately.