Besides water, drink electrolyte solutions (like ORS, Pedialyte), clear broths, diluted fruit juices (not apple), or ginger/weak tea to replace lost fluids and salts; probiotics (kefir, yogurt) and coconut water can also help, while avoiding sugary drinks, caffeine, and alcohol.
Water is best. Drink at least 1 cup (240 milliliters) of liquid every time you have a loose bowel movement. Eat small meals throughout the day, instead of 3 larger meals. Eat some salty foods, such as pretzels, soup, and sports drinks.
If you have diarrhea during pregnancy, focus on rehydration with water, broth, and electrolyte drinks, rest, and eat bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast (BRAT diet) while avoiding dairy, sugary drinks, and fatty/spicy foods; contact your doctor if it's severe, lasts more than a couple of days, or includes fever, blood in stool, dizziness, or signs of preterm labor. Always check with your healthcare provider before taking any anti-diarrheal medication.
To stop diarrhea fast, focus on rehydration with electrolyte drinks, eating bland foods like bananas, rice, and toast (BRAT diet), using over-the-counter (OTC) meds like Imodium or Pepto-Bismol (if no fever/blood), avoiding triggers (spicy, fatty, caffeine), resting, and consider probiotics or herbal teas (chamomile) for relief, but see a doctor for severe symptoms or if it persists.
For kids' diarrhea, the main goal is preventing dehydration with frequent small sips of oral rehydration solutions (ORS), breast milk, or formula, avoiding sugary drinks and plain water; continue a normal diet if tolerated, offer bland foods, and never give anti-diarrheal medicines without a doctor's advice, as they can be harmful. See a doctor for signs of severe dehydration or if the child is very young.
To stop diarrhea, focus on bland, binding foods like the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast), lean proteins (chicken), boiled potatoes, crackers, and probiotic yogurt, while avoiding high-fiber, greasy, spicy, or dairy-heavy foods, and staying hydrated with water or broth to help bind stools and restore electrolytes.
The most common causes of acute diarrhea are viral gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and medicine side effects.
If you have diarrhea, you can use at-home remedies to help get rid of it. Drink plenty of fluids, such as water, drinks with electrolytes, tea, and even nonfat chicken broth. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these can dehydrate you more. Eat the BRAT diet, which includes bananas, (white) rice, applesauce and toast.
It's important to note that if diarrhea is caused by bacteria, your body needs to get rid of the bacteria first by letting diarrhea run its course. If they're taken too soon, anti-diarrheal medication can make symptoms worse and keep you from clearing the infection.
Gastrointestinal bugs can be hard to differentiate from the symptoms of morning sickness, especially in the early weeks of a pregnancy. If your nausea and vomiting are accompanied by stomach cramps, diarrhea and a general crummy feeling, you are likely dealing with a routine, viral stomach bug.
Five key warning signs during pregnancy needing immediate medical attention include vaginal bleeding, severe headaches with vision changes, decreased baby movement, severe abdominal pain/cramping, and signs of preterm labor like regular contractions or fluid leakage, as these can signal serious issues like miscarriage, preeclampsia, placental problems, or infection. Always contact your healthcare provider or seek emergency care for these symptoms.
The only pregnancy-safe medication for diarrhea during pregnancy is loperamide (Imodium®). But note that it shouldn't be taken after the first trimester and shouldn't be taken for more than 24 hours.
Real ginger has properties that may help with diarrhea by calming the stomach. Ginger ale, especially commercial brands, often lacks sufficient ginger content to be effective. It's best to use real ginger or ginger supplements if looking for relief from diarrhea symptoms.
To harden stool, focus on bland, low-fiber foods like the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), white pasta, potatoes, and cheese, as these help bind stool by being easily digestible and low in residue, with options like crackers, oatmeal, and smooth peanut butter also working well.
Drink plenty of liquids, including water, broths and juices. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Add semisolid and low-fiber foods gradually as your stool returns to what's typical for you. Try soda crackers, toast, eggs, rice or chicken.
Although you may not feel like eating it is important that you do continue to eat and drink to keep yourself nourished and hydrated. Your body will lose a lot of water and salts if you have diarrhoea and you may be at risk of becoming dehydrated. It can help to include drinks other than water to replace the salts.
Knowing what to say when you're sick with diarrhea can be tricky. Neither you nor your boss want to discuss the details of your bowel movements. A good way to phrase this is: “I have a GI bug, and I won't be able to come to work.” If the diarrhea is related to a known food poisoning, you can bring this up, too.
Broth-based soups, such as chicken noodle, vegetable soup, or miso soup, are excellent options for replenishing fluids and electrolytes when recovering from gastroenteritis. Avoid creamy, high-fat and spicy soups, which can further irritate the stomach and hinder healing from gastroenteritis.
There are some who welcome diarrhea because they believe that it can “clean out” your digestive system. While diarrhea does seem to at least sometimes be part of a normal immune response to pathogens in the digestive tract, the truth is that it's not something you would ever want to happen to you.
Some of the most common infections that cause watery diarrhea include: Adenovirus: A group of viruses that are linked to the common cold but that can also cause diarrhea2. Escherichia coli(E. coli): Bacteria that commonly cause travelers' diarrhea 3.
Diarrhea is a common problem. It may last 1 or 2 days and goes away on its own. If diarrhea lasts more than 2 days it may mean you have a more serious problem.
Foods you should eat when you have diarrhea
Eat bland foods that are easy to digest like chicken, fish, eggs, puddings, mashed potatoes, noodles, rice, yogurt, cottage cheese, cream of wheat, farina, smooth peanut butter, white bread, bananas, applesauce, canned fruit, and well-cooked vegetables.
Organ failure, primarily kidney failure (renal failure), is a major cause of diarrhea, stemming from toxin buildup and inflammation in the gut, but liver or intestinal issues (like inflammatory bowel disease or infections, often secondary to weakened immunity in kidney failure) can also cause it, with severe diarrhea worsening kidney function due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.