The best foods to eat when you have diarrhea

A short spell of diarrhea is bad, but a couple of days of it is worse. Though you probably won't have the best appetite when you are sick with diarrhea you can still get pretty hungry, and eating the wrong food can make things worse.

Here I have compiled a list of foods that are tolerable and even helpful in aiding with the symptoms of diarrhea. This list is in no way a substitute for professional medical advice, and anyone with diarrhea lasting for more than a couple of days should see a doctor.

First, remember that the most important thing you can do to help your body when you have diarrhea is to stay hydrated. The body is losing lots of fluid and you need to maintain a good fluid intake. Plain water is the best, as excess sugar, caffeine, and dairy can further irritate the stomach.

The most common set of foods prescribed to someone suffering from diarrhea is the BRATTY diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Later physicians added another T and a Y to the end, which stands for tea and yogurt. Together these foods can help firm up bowel movements while supplying you with important vitamins, minerals, and easy to absorb carbohydrates, which provide the body with energy.

The foods should be served with the minimum of spices and sugar, which can prolong diarrhea. You should not begin to eat the yogurt until the stomach has begin to calm, as taking in dairy too early can worsen diarrhea. However, the yogurt is very important as it contains live cultures that help the stomach to replace good bacteria that has been lost during the illness.

bananas

rice

cereal

apple sauce

apples

tea 

toast and jelly

yogurt

noodles (easy on the seasoning) 

boiled potatoes

hard candy

dairy early on

fried and greasy foods

sugary drinks like sodas

SPICY FOOD

cream soups

raw fruits and vegetables

caffiene

alcohol  

also, avoid over-the-counter anti diarrhea medicines for the first 24 hours, as diarrhea is usually the body purging an infection-the bad stuff needs to get out.

Follow these recommendations and get plenty of rest and you should be "regular" within a few days. Avoid the urge to start back eating normally too soon, you could relapse and the results are not fun. Once again, if you have symptoms for more than a few days be sure to go see a doctor.