When youre dealing with diarrhea, its understandable to want to make things better ASAP. After all, being chained to the toilet isnt exactly a fun way to spend your day. But it also raises a lot of questions, including what, exactly, youre supposed to eat that wont make the situation even worse.
Thats when many people turn to the BRAT diet. Unlike many other popular diets, its not designed to make you healthier or to help you lose weight. Instead, itll (hopefully) stop the, er, flow. Not familiar with this eating plan? It has a very specific purposeand a limited menu. Heres what you need to know about the BRAT diet, plus when to go on it.
BRAT is actually an acronym that stands for "Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast," explains Jessica Cording, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., a dietitian and health coach, and author of The Little Book of Game-Changers. Its a very bland diet thats designed to be gentle on your stomach, she says.
People often reach for the BRAT diet when they have diarrhea, but its hard to say if its actually effective, says David Cutler, M.D., a family medicine physician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. The BRAT diet generates a lot of interest due to its simplicity, low cost, safety, and apparent effectiveness for a common conditiondiarrhea caused by an intestinal virus, he says. But the value of a BRAT diet is unproven, and most likely minimal. This is because almost all cases of diarrhea due to intestinal viruses will resolve in a few days regardless of the diet used.
He also notes that the most important initial treatment for diarrhea is fluid replacement, not diet.
Still, Dr. Cohen says, that doesnt mean a BRAT diet wont help. When you are ill and your ability to digest food may be limited, a BRAT diet or other easy to digest foods may help resolve diarrhea or other intestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain, he says.
In general, the BRAT diet focuses on four main ingredients:
But you can branch out slightly from that, says Sonya Angelone, R.D., a spokeswoman for the US Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Simple crackers and broth can be included, she says. Youd also probably be OK having other bland foods like cream of wheat and oatmeal, Cording says.
Its also not uncommon to include cooked eggs since they are easy to digest, says Keri Gans, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., author of The Small Change Diet.
Generally speaking, these are all pretty easy to digest foods, says Scott Keatley, R.D., of Keatley Medical Nutrition Therapy. They tend to have low amounts of fiber and will not add to the amount of material that remains in your GI tract making the diarrhea worse.
You can start it when you develop diarrhea, Cording says.
Dr. Cohen just recommends looking out for symptoms like blood in your poop, severe stomach pain, a high fever, and constant vomitingyoull want to reach out to your doctor if you have those since they could be a sign of a more serious health condition than run-of-the-mill diarrhea.
But, if you dont have those symptoms and youre able to hydrate well, then it is generally prudent to proceed with a BRAT or similar easily digestible diet, Dr. Cohen says.
In general, the BRAT diet is pretty easy to use and has minimal side effects, Angelone saysyou just dont want to be on it for an extended period of time.
The BRAT diet is very limited in nutrients, fiber, and calories so shouldnt be followed for very long, Angelone says. It can contribute to constipation and nutrient deficiencies, including protein.
Keatley agrees. This diet does not have much calcium, B12, protein, or fiber, he says. In the long-term it could be bad for hair, skin, nails, teeth, and bones and keep you ill for a longer period of time.
It depends on how youre feeling. After two days of BRAT, if diarrhea has improved, then it is safe to advance to a more balanced diet, Dr. Cohen says. But, he says, youll still want to avoid harder-to-digest foods (think: nuts and seeds and spicy things) and avoid foods that contain lactose (milk, cheese, yogurt), since they can be tough on your still-sensitive stomach.
But, if you're still struggling with No.3 after a week, Dr. Cohen recommends reaching out to your doctor about next steps.
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Original post:
The BRAT Diet - Efficacy, Foods Included, and When to Follow - Prevention Magazine
