Diarrhea

  • Avoid raw vegetables and fruits. Select cooked or canned vegetables and fruits and reduce the total quantity of fruit and vegetables eaten. Select more ripe bananas and applesauce during the week.
  • When eating grains and cereals, select refined products such as white bread, white rice, pasta, pretzels, or crackers. Avoid high fiber cereals and whole wheat bread or breads and rolls having seeds. Increase intake of oat cereals, seedless rye bread, barley cereal such as Post Grape Nuts Flakes.
  • Also avoid chocolate, high-fat desserts, spicy foods and fried foods. • Be sure to replace the fluid which you lose in diarrhea by consuming adequate fluids throughout the day.
  • You may need to increase intake of potassium and sodium. Ask to see a dietitian who will show you how these minerals can be increased in your diet, and not worsen the diarrhea.
  • Milk contains lactose, a sugar in milk. It may be a factor in aggravating the diarrhea. Lactose-free milk is widely available today and you may need to use lactose-free milk or increase intake of yogurt, with active cultures, until the diarrhea significantly decreases.
  • Be sure to take your prescribed medications per your doctor.