Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat to EatWhat to DrinkBenefitsKids and Diarrhea DietsDiet ModificationsSide EffectsOther Diets
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What to Eat
What to Drink
Benefits
Kids and Diarrhea Diets
Diet Modifications
Side Effects
Other Diets
While there aren’t foods that will make diarrhea go away or immediately firm your stools back up, there are foods you can eat to help settle an upset stomach. For many cases of diarrhea, a short-term diet of bland, “binding” foods, such as potatoes, rice, and bananas, can ease diarrhea symptoms.
One of the most familiar anti-diarrhea strategies is theBRAT diet(which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). But other foods are just as useful, including soft-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt, clear broths, plain pasta, and saltine crackers.
It is also essential to understand how to remain hydrated during diarrhea and when to seek medical care if symptoms become serious or your diarrhea persists.
Grace Cary / Getty Images
What Foods Help Diarrhea Go Away?
Unlike some diets, a diarrhea diet can be easier to follow because some foods help with diarrhea and others don’t, and the effects are seen quickly. Additionally, the diet is intended for short-term use.
To increase the effectiveness of the diet, eat smaller, snack-sized meals several times a day rather than three large meals. Larger meals can place extra stress on the digestive tract.
Foods to EatWhite bread or toastClear brothCoconut waterPlain pastaWhite potato (peeled)BananasWhite riceCanned pearsFarina (milled wheat)ApplesauceEggs (soft-cooked)Low-fat yogurtChicken breast (skinless)Saltine crackersDecaffeinated tea (weakly brewed)PretzelsFoods to AvoidDairy (except yogurt)Fried, fatty, or spicy foodWhole grainsNuts and seedsBeans and legumesRaw vegetablesCornOnion and garlicPotato chipsSugar-free candyCabbage and broccoliDried fruitNut buttersCarbonated drinksCoffeeCitrus fruit and juiceAlcohol
Foods to EatWhite bread or toastClear brothCoconut waterPlain pastaWhite potato (peeled)BananasWhite riceCanned pearsFarina (milled wheat)ApplesauceEggs (soft-cooked)Low-fat yogurtChicken breast (skinless)Saltine crackersDecaffeinated tea (weakly brewed)Pretzels
White bread or toast
Clear broth
Coconut water
Plain pasta
White potato (peeled)
Bananas
White rice
Canned pears
Farina (milled wheat)
Applesauce
Eggs (soft-cooked)
Low-fat yogurt
Chicken breast (skinless)
Saltine crackers
Decaffeinated tea (weakly brewed)
Pretzels
Foods to AvoidDairy (except yogurt)Fried, fatty, or spicy foodWhole grainsNuts and seedsBeans and legumesRaw vegetablesCornOnion and garlicPotato chipsSugar-free candyCabbage and broccoliDried fruitNut buttersCarbonated drinksCoffeeCitrus fruit and juiceAlcohol
Dairy (except yogurt)
Fried, fatty, or spicy food
Whole grains
Nuts and seeds
Beans and legumes
Raw vegetables
Corn
Onion and garlic
Potato chips
Sugar-free candy
Cabbage and broccoli
Dried fruit
Nut butters
Carbonated drinks
Coffee
Citrus fruit and juice
Alcohol
Bananas and Applesauce:Bananas and applesauce are good fruits to consider when you have diarrhea.Bananas are bland and easily digested, making them a good choice for settling diarrhea. They are also a good source ofpotassium, an important electrolyte that can be lost with diarrhea.
Applesauce is a better choice than raw apples, as the fruit’s skin contains insoluble fiber, which can worsen diarrhea. Applesauce also has pectin, which can help bind stools.
Peeled and boiled potatoes, carrots, and squash are good vegetables to consider. Avoid cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, as theycause gas and bloating.
Grains:Hot cereals like farina (milled wheat) are easy to digest and often vitamin-fortified. Oats are also a rich source of soluble fiber and can help firm stools.
Refined wheat in white bread, regular pasta, saltines, and pretzels can help bind stools. Avoid whole grains, nuts, and seeds, as these can worsen diarrhea.
Yogurt and Kefir:While most dairy should be avoided during diarrhea, yogurt can be good for diarrhea. Yogurt contains probiotics that can help restore the healthy balance of microorganisms in the gut that aid in normal digestion. Kefir is another dairy-based probiotic option you can try.
Avoid dairy products other than yogurt and kefir until your diarrhea improves.Lactose(the sugar found in dairy products) can be difficult to digest and aggravate diarrhea.
Lean Meats:Plain, white-meat chicken is one of the best meats for people with diarrhea. Lean, fat-free cuts of turkey, beef, pork, and fish are also fine. Avoid sauces, gravy, mayonnaise, butter, or heavy spices.
Also, avoid fatty red meat, particularly ground beef or processed meats like sausage, bacon, and salami, which are high insaturated fat.
Ice Pops and Popsicles:Ice pops can prevent dehydration, especially in small children. Brands like Pedialyte make freezer pops that are low in sugar and offer added nutrition. Avoid ice cream, baked goods, pudding, and whipped topping.
Avoid frozen treats made withartificial sweetenerslike sorbitol,xylitol, orerythritol, which have a mild laxative effect.
What Drinks Help Diarrhea?
Replacing fluids and electrolytes lost to diarrhea is essential. Plain water is a good option, butcoconut water, electrolyte-rich sports drinks, and other beverages may be used as long as they are low in sugar.
Good options to consider include:
Avoid the following beverages until your diarrhea symptoms have resolved:
These drinks all have the possibility of stimulating bowel movements or causing gas and bloating.
Benefits of a Diarrhea Diet
If you have diarrhea, a temporary, restrictive diet can bind watery stools and give your bowels a chance to rest. It can also help restore lost fluids and balanceelectrolytes(electrically charged minerals like sodium and calcium) in your body.
The purpose of a diarrhea diet is to eat foods that firm up stools (poop) and to limit foods that can make stools watery.
The foods that help are generally high insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber, found in potatoes, bananas, and refined wheat, absorbs fluid in the gut, slowing digestion down.
On the flip side, the other type of fiber isinsoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is found in bran, several types of fruits, and whole grains. This type of fiber doesn’t absorb fluid and can speed up digestion. So, you generally want to avoid insoluble fiber until your stools have a firmer consistency.
The diarrhea diet is intended for the short-term treatment of occasional diarrhea. It can also help ease sudden, severe bouts of diarrhea in people with chronic (persistent) conditions likeirritable bowel syndrome (IBS),inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and celiac disease.
If you have an infant or young child, it is essential to watch for dehydration. Kids become dehydrated more quickly than adults. If your little one has additional symptoms such asfever and vomiting, diarrhea that lasts for several days, or is an infant, reach out to a healthcare provider for advice.
Often, the advice for kids who have mild diarrhea is to continue their diet as usual but potentially cut out dairy milk. For kids who are also vomiting or having more significant diarrhea, consider having the child sip on an electrolyte solution. Nursing babies or babies who are solely drinking formula should usually continue with this diet.
Additionally, babies under 3 months old who have developed a fever should be assessed. Call your healthcare provider or seek emergency medical care if your provider is unavailable.
Expert RecommendationsThe American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends the BRAT diet for children with diarrhea due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies. The AAP also adds that “there is not sufficient evidence that following this restrictive diet is necessary or warranted (in children).”
Expert Recommendations
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no longer recommends the BRAT diet for children with diarrhea due to the risk of nutritional deficiencies. The AAP also adds that “there is not sufficient evidence that following this restrictive diet is necessary or warranted (in children).”
Modifications to the Diarrhea Diet
Modifications may also be made for the following medical conditions:
Possible Side Effects
Generally speaking, a diarrhea diet in older children and adults poses few risks. However, if the diet is used for too long, it can lead to signs and symptoms of nutritional deficiency, including:
A diarrhea diet is not intended for long-term use. If the diet doesn’t significantly improve symptoms within a couple of days, you may need other treatments, including anti-diarrhea drugs likeImodium A-D (loperamide).
Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe for you to try anti-diarrheal medications. They could be dangerous in certain conditions, such as some bacterial infections and colitis.
Other Bowel Diets
The diet recommendations for recovering from a brief bout of diarrhea overlap with those of other diets that can be used to treat chronic bowel conditions or help people before and after surgery.
Low-Fiber Diet
For adults eating 2,000 calories a day, the daily recommended intake for fiber is at least 28 grams, or about an ounce.On a low-fiber diet, you restrict your intake to around 10 to 15 grams of fiber per day.
If you limit your fiber intake to manage diarrhea, carefully consider whichsources of fiberyou choose to include in your diet.
Low-Residue Diet
Alow-residue dietis similar to a diarrhea diet but with additional limitations. It’s usually prescribed temporarily when you are preparing for or recovering from a procedure such as acolonoscopy.
One of the main concerns for people on a low-residue diet is the limit on dairy products. You’ll have to restrict your intake to 2 cups of dairy per day. Dairy products like milk, cheese, and yogurt don’t add fiber, but they do leave undigested material behind in the colon.
You may find dairy makes digestive symptoms worse and choose to avoid these foods while following the diarrhea diet too.
Low-FODMAP Diet
FODMAPis an acronym for fermentableoligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.These short carbohydrate chains are present in many foods, but especially grains, beans, and legumes.
The small intestine doesn’t absorb short-chain carbohydrates very well.If you’re lactose intolerant, you’re already familiar with related symptoms. Some people find that foods high in FODMAPs tend to trigger or worsen digestive symptoms such as abdominal pain, gas, and bloating.
A low-FODMAP diet is similar to other low-fiber diets, such as the BRAT diet and a low-residue diet, but isn’t as limited. High-fiber foods are avoided on a low-FODMAP diet, but unless you are lactose intolerant, you won’t have to restrict dairy products.
You may find low-FODMAP foods appealing as you transition from the diarrhea diet back to your normal diet.
Summary
Your child’s healthcare provider should oversee dietary changes in babies and toddlers with diarrhea. Restrictive diets of any sort may be harmful to small children.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mengstu A, Bachheti A, Abate L, Bachheti RK, Husen A.Health-promoting benefits, value-added products, and other uses of banana. In: Husen A, Bachheti RK, Bachheti A, eds. Non-Timber Forest Products. Springer International Publishing; 2021:339-364. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73077-2_15Mäkinen KK.Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: Scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals.Int J Dent. 2016;5967907:16. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW, Luque L, Mitchell KM, Vidyasagar S.Are oral rehydration solutions optimized for treating diarrhea?Nutr Health. 2021;27(4):461-465. doi:10.1177/0260106021991641American Academy of Pediatrics.Diarrhea in children: what parents need to know.Nemours Children’s Health.Fever (high temperature) in kids.Hartman S, Brown E, Loomis E, Russell H.Gastroenteritis in children.American Family Physician. 2019;99(3):159-165.Cai J, Zhao C, Du Y, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Systematic review with network meta-analysis.United Eur Gastroenterol J.2018 Mar;6(2):169-80. doi:10.1177/2050640617736987Kiani AK, Dhuli K, Donato K, et al.Main nutritional deficiencies.J Prev Med Hyg.2022 Jun;63(2 Suppl 3):E93–E101.Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services.Appendix 1. Nutritional Goals for Age-Sex Groups, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition.Goyal O, Batta S, Nohria S, et al.Low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol diet in patients with diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, randomized trial. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2021;36(8):2107-2115. doi:10.1111/jgh.15410Singh P, Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, et al.Demographic and dietary associations of chronic diarrhea in a representative sample of adults in the United States. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2018;113(4):593-600. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.24Additional ReadingNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Diarrhea.Staudacher HM, Ralph FSE, Irving PM, Whelan K, Lomer MCE.Nutrient intake, diet quality, and diet diversity in irritable bowel syndrome and the impact of the low FODMAP diet. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;120(4):535-547. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2019.01.017
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mengstu A, Bachheti A, Abate L, Bachheti RK, Husen A.Health-promoting benefits, value-added products, and other uses of banana. In: Husen A, Bachheti RK, Bachheti A, eds. Non-Timber Forest Products. Springer International Publishing; 2021:339-364. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73077-2_15Mäkinen KK.Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: Scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals.Int J Dent. 2016;5967907:16. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW, Luque L, Mitchell KM, Vidyasagar S.Are oral rehydration solutions optimized for treating diarrhea?Nutr Health. 2021;27(4):461-465. doi:10.1177/0260106021991641American Academy of Pediatrics.Diarrhea in children: what parents need to know.Nemours Children’s Health.Fever (high temperature) in kids.Hartman S, Brown E, Loomis E, Russell H.Gastroenteritis in children.American Family Physician. 2019;99(3):159-165.Cai J, Zhao C, Du Y, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Systematic review with network meta-analysis.United Eur Gastroenterol J.2018 Mar;6(2):169-80. doi:10.1177/2050640617736987Kiani AK, Dhuli K, Donato K, et al.Main nutritional deficiencies.J Prev Med Hyg.2022 Jun;63(2 Suppl 3):E93–E101.Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services.Appendix 1. Nutritional Goals for Age-Sex Groups, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition.Goyal O, Batta S, Nohria S, et al.Low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol diet in patients with diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, randomized trial. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2021;36(8):2107-2115. doi:10.1111/jgh.15410Singh P, Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, et al.Demographic and dietary associations of chronic diarrhea in a representative sample of adults in the United States. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2018;113(4):593-600. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.24Additional ReadingNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Diarrhea.Staudacher HM, Ralph FSE, Irving PM, Whelan K, Lomer MCE.Nutrient intake, diet quality, and diet diversity in irritable bowel syndrome and the impact of the low FODMAP diet. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;120(4):535-547. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2019.01.017
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mengstu A, Bachheti A, Abate L, Bachheti RK, Husen A.Health-promoting benefits, value-added products, and other uses of banana. In: Husen A, Bachheti RK, Bachheti A, eds. Non-Timber Forest Products. Springer International Publishing; 2021:339-364. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73077-2_15Mäkinen KK.Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: Scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals.Int J Dent. 2016;5967907:16. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW, Luque L, Mitchell KM, Vidyasagar S.Are oral rehydration solutions optimized for treating diarrhea?Nutr Health. 2021;27(4):461-465. doi:10.1177/0260106021991641American Academy of Pediatrics.Diarrhea in children: what parents need to know.Nemours Children’s Health.Fever (high temperature) in kids.Hartman S, Brown E, Loomis E, Russell H.Gastroenteritis in children.American Family Physician. 2019;99(3):159-165.Cai J, Zhao C, Du Y, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Systematic review with network meta-analysis.United Eur Gastroenterol J.2018 Mar;6(2):169-80. doi:10.1177/2050640617736987Kiani AK, Dhuli K, Donato K, et al.Main nutritional deficiencies.J Prev Med Hyg.2022 Jun;63(2 Suppl 3):E93–E101.Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services.Appendix 1. Nutritional Goals for Age-Sex Groups, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition.Goyal O, Batta S, Nohria S, et al.Low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol diet in patients with diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, randomized trial. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2021;36(8):2107-2115. doi:10.1111/jgh.15410Singh P, Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, et al.Demographic and dietary associations of chronic diarrhea in a representative sample of adults in the United States. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2018;113(4):593-600. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.24
Mengstu A, Bachheti A, Abate L, Bachheti RK, Husen A.Health-promoting benefits, value-added products, and other uses of banana. In: Husen A, Bachheti RK, Bachheti A, eds. Non-Timber Forest Products. Springer International Publishing; 2021:339-364. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73077-2_15
Mäkinen KK.Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: Scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals.Int J Dent. 2016;5967907:16. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907
Cheuvront SN, Kenefick RW, Luque L, Mitchell KM, Vidyasagar S.Are oral rehydration solutions optimized for treating diarrhea?Nutr Health. 2021;27(4):461-465. doi:10.1177/0260106021991641
American Academy of Pediatrics.Diarrhea in children: what parents need to know.
Nemours Children’s Health.Fever (high temperature) in kids.
Hartman S, Brown E, Loomis E, Russell H.Gastroenteritis in children.American Family Physician. 2019;99(3):159-165.
Cai J, Zhao C, Du Y, et al.Comparative efficacy and tolerability of probiotics for antibiotic-associated diarrhea: Systematic review with network meta-analysis.United Eur Gastroenterol J.2018 Mar;6(2):169-80. doi:10.1177/2050640617736987
Kiani AK, Dhuli K, Donato K, et al.Main nutritional deficiencies.J Prev Med Hyg.2022 Jun;63(2 Suppl 3):E93–E101.
Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services.Appendix 1. Nutritional Goals for Age-Sex Groups, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition.
Goyal O, Batta S, Nohria S, et al.Low fermentable oligosaccharide, disaccharide, monosaccharide, and polyol diet in patients with diarrhea‐predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A prospective, randomized trial. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2021;36(8):2107-2115. doi:10.1111/jgh.15410
Singh P, Mitsuhashi S, Ballou S, et al.Demographic and dietary associations of chronic diarrhea in a representative sample of adults in the United States. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2018;113(4):593-600. doi:10.1038/ajg.2018.24
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Diarrhea.Staudacher HM, Ralph FSE, Irving PM, Whelan K, Lomer MCE.Nutrient intake, diet quality, and diet diversity in irritable bowel syndrome and the impact of the low FODMAP diet. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;120(4):535-547. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2019.01.017
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, Diet, & Nutrition for Diarrhea.
Staudacher HM, Ralph FSE, Irving PM, Whelan K, Lomer MCE.Nutrient intake, diet quality, and diet diversity in irritable bowel syndrome and the impact of the low FODMAP diet. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2020;120(4):535-547. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2019.01.017
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