Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFood CausesMedicationsConditionsWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Food Causes
Medications
Conditions
When to See a Provider
Loose stool can be distressing if it happens suddenly and you don’t know what caused it. The first thing you might assume is that it was something you ate. While certain foods can definitely causediarrhea, abdominal cramping, bloating, and gas, these symptoms could also be due to medications you are taking or an undiagnosed medical condition.
This article takes a look at some of the more common causes of loose stools as well as simple fixes to help avoid future bouts.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
Food and Drink That Can Cause Loose Stool
Certain food and drinks can cause loose stools. Some can also ferment in the intestines and produce excessive gas, leading to stomach cramps, bloating, and flatulence (“wind”).
Fructose
Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar. If you consume large amounts of fructose or your body doesn’t process fructose well, it can cause loose stools, diarrhea, gas, or abdominal pain. This is calledfructose intolerance.
If you have fructose intolerance, you will want to limit certain foods like:
Sugar Alcohols
Sugar alcohols, also known aspolyols, occur naturally in fruits but are also used as sweeteners and bulking agents. While they have half to one-third fewer calories than table sugar, sugar alcohols are not well-absorbed and have alaxative effectif consumed in excess.
These include:
Sugar alcohols are often used in sugar-free candy and diet drinks, Some are also found naturally in food like berries, peaches, apples, apricots, pears, plums, cherries, and prunes.
To fix the problem, limit your intake of artificial sweeteners and avoid overeating fruits or fruit juices that are high in polyols.
Coffee
Caffeine can increase the normal wave-like contractions of the intestines, calledperistalsis. If you drink too much caffeine-containing liquid, these contractions can increase, giving the body less time to absorb water as stools pass through the digestive tract. The result is a looser, more watery stool.
Some coffee drinkers are more vulnerable to this and may develop diarrhea after just a couple of cups. Caffeine in tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and energy drinks can have the same effect.
If you have diarrhea after drinking coffee, try darker roasts (like French roasts) that have less caffeine than lighter roasts. You should also skip the milk, cream, excess sugar, and artificial sweeteners that also cause loose stools.
Brewing Coffee That Is Gentler on the Stomach
Greasy Foods
Diarrhea is a common feature of a high-fat diet, but even a single large helping of fried or greasy food can trigger loose stools in some people.
Fried or fatty foods are not well-absorbed. As they move through the intestines, they are broken down into fatty acids, which cause the intestines to secrete excess fluids, leading to diarrhea. The fatty acids also irritate the intestines, causing stools to move faster through the system than normal.
To prevent this, avoid fatty or greasy food like fries, burgers, fried chicken, potato chips, pizzas, onion rings, doughnuts, and even fatty cuts of red meat.
Does Protein Make You Poop?
Spicy Foods
Hot and spicy foods can irritate the intestinal lining and cause loose stools. That’s because some compounds in spicy food aren’t absorbed and can irritate the lining of the intestines, triggering thegastrocolic reflex. This is the body’s response to food that signals when and how fast the intestines need to move.
Not everyone who eats spicy food has loose stools. If it happens to you, limit your intake of spicy food. Eating yogurt, rice, or bread may help offset some of the intestinal irritation.
Why Spicy Foods Cause Diarrhea
Alcohol
Ethanol in alcohol speeds up peristalsis, moving stools through your body faster. With less time to absorb water, stools will become looser and more watery. Certain alcoholic beverages are also more irritating to the intestines, including fermented beverages like beers.
If you notice that drinking causes loose stools, try drinking beverages that are lower in alcohol (like wine or hard cider). Cutting back on your overall intake will almost certainly help.
Food Poisoning
To avoid food poisoning:
What Medications Cause Loose Stool?
Others affect the normal bacterial flora of the intestines. With antibiotics especially, the elimination of helpful bacteria can lead to the rise of harmful ones likeClostridioides difficile.C. difficile(orC. diff) is a common cause of watery and sometimes explosive diarrhea along with gas, bloating, and cramping.
Medications or supplements that can cause diarrhea include:
If a medication or supplement you’re taking is causing loose stools, talk to your healthcare provider. A different drug or formulation might be better for you.
Some research suggestsprobioticscan help prevent or manageantibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD). A 2016 review of studies published inNutrition in Clinical Practicefound that probiotics containingLactobacillus rhamnosuswere especially useful in reducing the risk of AAD.
Medical Conditions That Can Cause Loose Stool
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a natural sugar found in dairy products like milk and cheese. Many adults have a low level of lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose. If your body doesn’t digest lactose well, eating or drinking dairy products may give you diarrhea. This is calledlactose intolerance.
There are also lactase tablets you can take before eating or drinking milk products.
How to Relieve Lactose Intolerance Pain
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) is a poorly understood disorder that causes abdominal pain, gas, bloating diarrhea, and constipation. Symptoms vary from person to person. Some have loose stools or diarrhea, while others have constipation or both.
IBS is diagnosed when no other causes of your symptoms can be found.
Different foods can trigger IBS symptoms in different people. Because of this, you may need to work with a healthcare provider or nutritionist to pinpoint your individual triggers. IBS attacks can often be prevented with a high-fiber diet and the avoidance of fermentable foods calledFODMAPs.
Celiac Disease
Celiac disease(CD) is anautoimmune disorderin which the immune system responds abnormally to food containinggluten, attacking the cells of the intestine as if they were intruders. Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, bloating, and cramping.
If left untreated, CD can severely damage the intestines and lead to extreme weight loss.
Dumping Syndrome
People who have had abdominal surgery can sometimes developdumping syndrome. This is when food moves out of the stomach too quickly, causing diarrhea, cramping, nausea, lightheadedness, and a rapid heartbeat.
Dumping syndrome can occur with surgeries involving the intestines, gallbladder, appendix, pancreas, stomach, and liver as well as bariatric (weight-loss) surgery.
Dumping syndrome is treated with changes in eating habits, such as:
What Is Dumping Syndrome?
Other Chronic Health Conditions
Loose stools go hand in hand with these conditions:
If you have diarrhea that doesn’t go away, see a healthcare provider. Many of these conditions can be treated or managed.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Irrespective of the cause, it’s important to seek treatment for persistent or severe diarrhea. If left untreated, severe diarrhea can lead to extreme dehydration, a steep drop in blood pressure, andshock.
When to Seek Medical TreatmentSeek immediate medical care if you have:Diarrhea that persists for more than two days without improvementBlood in the stoolLightheadedness, dizziness, or faintingDry mouth, extreme thirst, and sunken eyesLittle or no urineRapid or irregular heart rate
When to Seek Medical Treatment
Seek immediate medical care if you have:Diarrhea that persists for more than two days without improvementBlood in the stoolLightheadedness, dizziness, or faintingDry mouth, extreme thirst, and sunken eyesLittle or no urineRapid or irregular heart rate
Seek immediate medical care if you have:
Summary
A loose stool is one that’s softer or more like liquid than normal. Having three or more loose stools in a day means you have diarrhea.
If your symptoms don’t get better in a few days, check with a healthcare provider to find the exact cause. Some of the conditions that cause loose stools can be serious, but many can be treated successfully.
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.Dinicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC.Is fructose malabsorption a cause of irritable bowel syndrome?Med Hypotheses. 2015;85(3):295-7. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.05.019Mäkinen 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;2016:5967907. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Common causes of chronic diarrhea.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of food poisoning.MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About C. diff.Jafarnejad S, Shab-Bidar S, Speakman JR, Parastui K, Daneshi-Maskooni M, Djafarian K.Probiotics reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults (18-64 years) but not the elderly (>65 years): a meta-analysis.Nutr Clin Pract. 2016;31(4):502-13. doi:10.1177/0884533616639399.Szilagyi A, Ishayek N.Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options.Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1994. doi:10.3390/nu10121994National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.Van Furth AM, de Heide LJM, Emous M, et al.Dumping syndrome and postbariatric hypoglycemia: supporting evidence for a common etiology.Surg Obes Relat Dis.2021;17(11):1912-8. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2021.05.020Additional ReadingSu G, Ko C, Bercik, P, ET al.AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders.Gastroenterology. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.059
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.Dinicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC.Is fructose malabsorption a cause of irritable bowel syndrome?Med Hypotheses. 2015;85(3):295-7. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.05.019Mäkinen 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;2016:5967907. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Common causes of chronic diarrhea.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of food poisoning.MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About C. diff.Jafarnejad S, Shab-Bidar S, Speakman JR, Parastui K, Daneshi-Maskooni M, Djafarian K.Probiotics reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults (18-64 years) but not the elderly (>65 years): a meta-analysis.Nutr Clin Pract. 2016;31(4):502-13. doi:10.1177/0884533616639399.Szilagyi A, Ishayek N.Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options.Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1994. doi:10.3390/nu10121994National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.Van Furth AM, de Heide LJM, Emous M, et al.Dumping syndrome and postbariatric hypoglycemia: supporting evidence for a common etiology.Surg Obes Relat Dis.2021;17(11):1912-8. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2021.05.020Additional ReadingSu G, Ko C, Bercik, P, ET al.AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders.Gastroenterology. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.059
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.
Dinicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC.Is fructose malabsorption a cause of irritable bowel syndrome?Med Hypotheses. 2015;85(3):295-7. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.05.019Mäkinen 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;2016:5967907. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Common causes of chronic diarrhea.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of food poisoning.MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About C. diff.Jafarnejad S, Shab-Bidar S, Speakman JR, Parastui K, Daneshi-Maskooni M, Djafarian K.Probiotics reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults (18-64 years) but not the elderly (>65 years): a meta-analysis.Nutr Clin Pract. 2016;31(4):502-13. doi:10.1177/0884533616639399.Szilagyi A, Ishayek N.Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options.Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1994. doi:10.3390/nu10121994National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.Van Furth AM, de Heide LJM, Emous M, et al.Dumping syndrome and postbariatric hypoglycemia: supporting evidence for a common etiology.Surg Obes Relat Dis.2021;17(11):1912-8. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2021.05.020
Dinicolantonio JJ, Lucan SC.Is fructose malabsorption a cause of irritable bowel syndrome?Med Hypotheses. 2015;85(3):295-7. doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2015.05.019
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;2016:5967907. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907
International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders.Common causes of chronic diarrhea.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of diarrhea.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of food poisoning.
MedlinePlus.Drug-induced diarrhea.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About C. diff.
Jafarnejad S, Shab-Bidar S, Speakman JR, Parastui K, Daneshi-Maskooni M, Djafarian K.Probiotics reduce the risk of antibiotic-associated diarrhea in adults (18-64 years) but not the elderly (>65 years): a meta-analysis.Nutr Clin Pract. 2016;31(4):502-13. doi:10.1177/0884533616639399.
Szilagyi A, Ishayek N.Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options.Nutrients. 2018;10(12):1994. doi:10.3390/nu10121994
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of irritable bowel syndrome.
Van Furth AM, de Heide LJM, Emous M, et al.Dumping syndrome and postbariatric hypoglycemia: supporting evidence for a common etiology.Surg Obes Relat Dis.2021;17(11):1912-8. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2021.05.020
Su G, Ko C, Bercik, P, ET al.AGA Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Role of Probiotics in the Management of Gastrointestinal Disorders.Gastroenterology. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.05.059
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