Table of contents:
- Food choices to restore the body when you have diarrhea
- 1. Soup food
- 2. White rice and porridge
- 3. Bland food, such as plain bread
- 4. Fruits
- 5. Carrots, green beans, and beets
- 6. Foods high in probiotics
- 7. Steamed meat
When you have diarrhea, you will feel heartburn followed by a strong urge to have more bowel movements than usual. Of course you want to get well soon, right? Now, apart from taking diarrhea medicine that you buy at a pharmacy, it's also important to eat healthy foods when the symptoms are still present. Check below for a list of the best foods to restore the body's condition during diarrhea.
Food choices to restore the body when you have diarrhea
Diarrhea is generally caused by an infection in the digestive system due to food contamination that is not guaranteed cleanliness. The infected intestine cannot work optimally to absorb nutrients and fluids from food so that they can be used by the body. As a result, the remaining food that must be removed (feces) will have a liquid texture.
That's why when diarrhea still ravages the stomach, you have to be wiser in choosing foods. It is important to do a variety of treating diarrhea at home. However, you also have to be careful with your daily food intake as long as your stomach is still sore.
The following is a compilation of the best foods to consume during diarrhea for a quick recovery:
1. Soup food
Diarrhea is prone to make the body lose a lot of fluids because you will continue to waste water. If you don't replace lost body fluids immediately, you run the risk of becoming dehydrated. Dehydration from diarrhea can be life threatening if allowed to persist.
So to avoid this risk, you must drink more water. Replacing lost body fluids is best with water at least 8 glasses per day. Don't forget to immediately drink a glass of water every time you finish defecating.
But if you are bored, you can alternate drinking water with other types of fluids such as ORS, isotonic drinks, water-rich fruit, to chicken soup or clear spinach soup. Soup is classified as a good food to consume during diarrhea because it is easier for the stomach to digest than solid food.
Best of all, eating soup also helps fill your stomach and replenishes your body's energy while replenishing your body's fluid needs. Various clear soup fillings, ranging from sliced carrots, potatoes, chicken meat, will also increase the body's need for carbohydrates, fiber, protein, minerals, and vitamins.
2. White rice and porridge
Fiber intake is needed to facilitate digestion. However, when you have diarrhea, you should avoid foods that are high in fiber to soothe a troubled intestine.
Foods high in fiber will make it more difficult for the infected intestine to work, which can worsen the symptoms of diarrhea. Fiber will produce gas when processed by bacteria that live in the intestine. The buildup of gas in the stomach can trigger bloating and waste gas (farting).
So for the time being, choose foods that are high in carbohydrates but low in fiber such as white rice. White rice is easy to digest, so the intestines don't have to work extra hard to process it into glucose (blood sugar). Thus, your body will get back to its strength faster.
If you are tired of eating white rice, get around your daily meal menu by processing it into boiled rice or porridge.
3. Bland food, such as plain bread
When you have diarrhea, don't eat spicy or strong spices just yet to prevent the symptoms from getting worse. Spices like chilies, garlic, or pepper and flavor-enhancing spices like salt, lemon, coconut milk and vinegar can further irritate a troubled stomach.
Well, the types of food that are recommended for people who have diarrhea are those that taste bland or tasteless. Apart from white rice, the best option for you is plain white bread. You can spread a thin layer of unsalted butter on the bread and toast it as an alternative.
The bargain will not trigger nausea when eaten. This food for diarrhea is also smooth in texture and digests quickly so it is good for digestion that is experiencing inflammation.
4. Fruits
Indeed, when you have diarrhea, you should not eat a lot of foods that are high in fiber. However, there are some fruits that are good for helping your healing.
Some of the fruits that you can consume include bananas and apples. These fruits are also included in the BRAT diet which is made for diarrhea patients.
Both bananas and apples contain pectin, a type of water-soluble fiber that helps solidify stool. Pectin works by helping to absorb excess fluid in the intestines.
The combination of carbohydrates and sugar in bananas and apples will increase stamina. Given that diarrhea can cause symptoms that make sufferers urinate more frequently, this fruit can certainly be a good solution to replenish wasted energy.
What's more, bananas contain potassium which can help replace the body's electrolyte fluids lost due to wasting water.
To make it easier for the stomach to digest, eat an apple or banana in a dish that has been mashed or mashed puree.
5. Carrots, green beans, and beets
Source: Medical News Today
Vegetables are useful for replenishing important nutrients lost when you have diarrhea. Some examples of vegetables that are safe and good for consumption during diarrhea are carrots, green beans, and beets.
You can first boil the vegetables until soft, then make rice porridge and mix it with the chopped variations of the vegetables.
You can also process green beans into sweet porridge as a snack in the afternoon. However, don't serve it with coconut milk. Serve the green bean puree in small bowls and eat ¼ - ½ servings every hour.
Remember, not all vegetables are good for people who have diarrhea. You should avoid vegetables that are difficult to digest and cause a gassy stomach, such as broccoli, cauliflower, bell peppers, peas, green leafy vegetables, and corn.
This type of vegetable is classified as high in fiber which actually makes the digestive system work harder. As a result, the diarrhea symptoms last longer.
6. Foods high in probiotics
Good food sources of probiotics to help treat diarrhea symptoms. Probiotics are good bacteria that are healthy for your digestive system.
These bacteria can quickly replace the good bacteria that have been flushed out with feces, and help restore normal intestinal function. Examples of probiotic foods that are good for diarrhea are yogurt, tempeh, or pickled cabbage.
However, if you want to eat yogurt you must carefully choose the product. Choose yogurt that is low in sugar without any added flavors. According to Everyday Health, artificial sweeteners have a laxative-like effect that can cause you to go back and forth more frequently. As a result, diarrhea can get worse.
7. Steamed meat
Meat is a food source of protein that helps treat diarrhea. Meat options that you can eat when you have diarrhea are boiled or steamed beef, chicken, or fish.
Do not process meat by frying, grilling, or braising with coconut milk and strong spices while diarrhea is still present. Fried foods and coconut milk are known to contain lots of fat and oil, which can make diarrhea worse.
Not only that, fatty and greasy foods also slow down gastric emptying which makes you feel bloated. These foods also interfere with the absorption of diarrhea drugs by the body.
In addition, avoid adding pepper, pepper, or chili in your food because these seasonings are not good for a stomach that has problems with diarrhea. As a substitute, you can use broth, tomato juice, or cheese to add flavor.
Remember, eating inappropriate foods during diarrhea risks aggravating the work of a weak intestine and even more irritating it. Eating carelessly, especially those where hygiene is not guaranteed, can worsen diarrhea symptoms and slow down the body's recovery process.
Therefore, if you still have questions about foods that are good for consumption during diarrhea, consult your doctor or nutritionist. A professional may provide you with recommendations for daily meals.
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