Getting more fiber is a treatment for chronic diarrhea or soft stools. If you’re having acute diarrhea, like from a stomach bug, then cutting out some fiber until the diarrhea stops is a better option. It’s possible to have too much fiber. Eating more than about 38 g per day could cause gas, bloating, and cramps. Keep track of your fiber intake so you don’t have too much.
Fried, greasy, and oily foods are high in fat too, so avoid these items. Also watch out for creamy sauces and condiments. These can add a lot of fat to your meal without you realizing it.
Get into the habit of checking nutrition labels to see how much sugar is in the food you eat. You might be surprised about how much sugar you’re actually eating every day. If you’re having a bad bout of diarrhea, then a bit of sugar might actually be helpful. Sugar can help you absorb salt and prevent dehydration. Just cut back once your diarrhea clears up. [5] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Prunes and prune juice, beans, figs, bran, licorice, and berries are all known as natural laxatives. Spicy foods can also trigger loose stools. Try to reduce the amount of spice you use in your cooking. [9] X Trustworthy Source Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School’s Educational Site for the Public Go to source You might not have to avoid these foods forever. Once your stool gets firmer, try slowly reintroducing these foods to see what you can tolerate.
Water is a great choice, but you can also have soup or broth, weakly brewed tea, electrolyte replacement drinks, and fruit juices (except prune). If you’ve had a bad bout of diarrhea, then an electrolyte replacement drink like Pedialyte is a good choice as well. This can help you avoid dehydration. [11] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source
Remember that other drinks besides coffee have caffeine in them. Tea, soda, and energy drinks could have high doses too.
If you’ve taken a lot of laxatives in this past, it could trigger prolonged diarrhea. Stop using laxatives and speak to your doctor about this. Never stop taking medications without asking your doctor first, especially if they’re prescribed.
Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the two most common probiotics that come in supplements. Try getting one of these varieties. [15] X Trustworthy Source Cleveland Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source You can also get more probiotics from your regular diet. Try eating more fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, tempeh, kimchi, pickles, and yogurt.
If you regularly have diarrhea after drinking, then you might want to quit altogether. Some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others.
Continue avoiding foods that work as natural laxatives like prunes and prune juice, beans, figs, bran, licorice, and berries. Go back to a normal daily serving of fiber as soon as your diarrhea clears up. Otherwise, you could end up constipated.
Also drink regular liquids like water and juice. You can also eat soup, chicken broth, or bone broth for extra fluids. Avoid very sugary drinks like soda. This can make diarrhea worse.
Always check with your doctor before taking antidiarrheal medications. If you have a virus or parasitic infection, then the diarrhea is actually helping flush it out of your body. Your doctor might want to let the infection run its course instead of trapping it inside you with anti-diarrheal medications.
You should also see your doctor right away if you have a fever, bloody stool, or dehydration. These could be serious issues that need medical attention.
