Tips on a brat diet to treat diarrhea & bull; hello healthy

When you are experiencing digestive tract disorders such as diarrhea, the intestine will experience a decrease in its function in absorption of nutrients and in the formation of stool. Therefore, it is necessary for the type of food to be consumed temporarily to help treat diarrhea. One of them is by adopting the BRAT diet.

What is the BRAT diet?

BRAT stands for banana (banana) , rice (rice) , applesauce (applesauce, which is apples that are mashed but not juiced) and toast (toast bread). The BRAT diet is one type of diet that limits consumption of foods that have dense fiber but are easy to mash, so they are good for the digestive organs even though they are experiencing inflammation.

Various digestive disorders can cause symptoms such as nausea, pain, or diarrhea. This will limit the body's ability to digest and consume food. The types of food consumed in the BRAT diet tend to be easily digested and solidify the stool to prevent continuous diarrhea and the onset of symptoms of dehydration.

The main source of calories in the BRAT diet comes from bread and rice which are simple carbohydrates, so they are easy to digest and help generate energy. While apples and bananas are useful for overcoming digestive problems. Bananas are chosen because they are rich in potassium, minerals and structures that help absorb water in the stool, and apples contain lots of water and pectin which can relieve diarrhea.

The consumption of the BRAT diet is also not limited to bananas, rice, apples and bread, but can use other foods that are easy to digest. Avoid high consumption of sugar, dairy and oil as they can worsen indigestion. Consumption of alcohol and caffeine is also not recommended during digestive system disorders. The BRAT diet can also be applied to adults and children who experience symptoms of abdominal pain or diarrhea.

The right time to live the BRAT diet

The BRAT diet can be started when symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders appear, but is limited to about 24 hours or for one day only, then followed by a normal diet, especially with the consumption of protein and fat. Symptoms of acute diarrhea in the absence of infection and serious illness can improve with fluid fulfillment and adopting the BRAT diet. However, immediately consult a doctor if indigestion does not go away on the second day or gets worse as marked by dehydration, fever or the presence of blood in the stool.

Lack of the BRAT diet

The BRAT diet may be easy to implement when a person has indigestion, but it cannot replace the nutrients lost through vomiting and diarrhea. This is why the BRAT diet is not used in the long term, and should only be done for about one day. The types of foods that are easy to digest on the BRAT diet are generally low in protein and fat, thus insufficient daily calorie needs and slow recovery in the event of an infection.

An alternative way to apply the BRAT diet

Lack of nutrients and variations in food types from the BRAT diet can be minimized by applying the following methods:

1. Choosing alternative foods

Replacement calorie sources can come from cereals and pasta. In addition, the consumption of fruit without skin, and vegetables cooked in the form of soup can still be consumed. Avoid eating raw vegetables, dried foods, spicy, acidic and high-sugar foods or foods that are fried to dry.

2. Additional food sources of protein

Tofu and eggs can be good sources of protein as long as you experience indigestion because they are easy to digest, but avoid or minimize the use of oil when cooking. Avoid protein sources from nuts because they have fiber which is difficult to digest.

3. Drink anti-diarrhea drinks

This can be done by consuming black tea and yogurt. Black tea is rich in tannins which can relieve diarrhea. Although yogurt is made from milk, it is easier to digest and contains good bacteria which can reduce diarrhea symptoms such as Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii .

4. Prevent dehydration

Dehydration conditions are most common in individuals with diarrhea and this can be treated with oral hydration or consumption of electrolytes from isotonic drinks and coconut water.

x