For people whose main symptom is diarrhea, fiber supplements often are the first treatment recommended. Fiber can add form to stool and make it less loose or watery. Anti-diarrheal products, such as loperamide, also work to decrease diarrhea.
Contents. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common condition that affects the digestive system. It causes symptoms like stomach cramps, bloating, diarrhoea and constipation. These tend to come and go over time, and can last for days, weeks or months at a time.
Loose stools are a common IBS symptom. Some people with IBS find that cutting out caffeine, being mindful of their fruit intake, avoiding OTC products that contain magnesium, eating probiotic-rich foods, and trying out fiber supplements can help with loose stools.
Refined sugar, fructose and the sugar substitute sorbitol are all common triggers. Chocolate is also a common trigger. Besides avoiding these foods, you should also avoid overeating, drink plenty of water and try eating lots of soluble fiber.
Water intake might be associated with improvement of IBS through affecting GI function. Water intake might improve constipation among IBS-C patients. In addition, drinking water is a common suggestion for IBS-D patients to prevent diarrhea-induced dehydration.
As noted above, chronic diarrhea can be a symptom of chronic illnesses like IBS and IBD.
People with IBS may go back and forth between having constipation and diarrhea or have or mostly have one or the other. If you have IBS with diarrhea, you will have frequent, loose, watery stools. You may have an urgent need to have a bowel movement, which may be hard to control.
One tried-and-true diet for diarrhea is the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Low in fiber, bland, and starchy, these foods can help replace lost nutrients and firm up your stools.
Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea From IBS. The BRAT diet is often recommended to help bind loose or watery stools. 6 BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Include plenty of probiotic-rich foods like kimchi, kombucha, miso, or sauerkraut. Sometimes, you can also eat yogurt if you are not allergic to dairy. Try unsweetened sheep or goat yogurt. These are all foods that help your gut flora get and stay healthy.
Even though dairy products are the major culprits of discomfort for some IBS sufferers, yogurt proves to be an exception. The live cultures in the yogurt break down the lactose, so it's less likely to cause gassy symptoms.
If you have diarrhea
For some people, avoiding high-FODMAP foods can improve the condition. “Egg is on the list of foods you're allowed to have on the low-FODMAP diet. Eggs help because they're rich in proteins and nutrients and very low in fermentable carbohydrates.
What to eat instead: Eat fruits that are lower in fructose, such as banana, blueberry, boysenberry, cantaloupe, cranberry, grape, orange, lemon, lime, kiwi and strawberry.
To try out the BRAT diet when you're experiencing symptoms, start small with a snack rather than a full meal as to not overload your already-distressed digestive system. This is why we have deemed our Peanut-Butter Banana Cinnamon Toast the best snack to eat when you have diarrhea.
Against diarrhoea and upset stomachs
Toast adds bulk to your stool, making it more likely you will have a normal bowel movement. It is the 'T' in the anti-diarrhoea diet BRAT, which comprises bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast.
Food that firm stool also include: banana, white rice, peeled apple, apple sauce, cheese, white pasta, white bread, tapioca, smooth peanut butter, potato, pumpkin, yogurt, pretzels, and marshmallows.
Increase the amount of fibre in your diet, for example: cereals, e.g. All Bran®, Bran Flakes®, Weetabix®, muesli, fruit and vegetables and brown bread. You must however drink plenty of water: 1-1½ litres a day. Eat your meals slowly and chew food thoroughly.