The BRAT (bananas, rice, apples, toast) diet is often recommended for patients suffering from diarrhea or the stomach flu.
"The BRAT diet should never be followed for weight loss as its extremely low in protein, fiber, healthy fats, vitamin and minerals," urges Kristen Smith, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and registered dietitian at Piedmont Health.
If you have very severe diarrhea, you may need to stop eating or drinking dairy products for a few days. Eat bread products made from refined, white flour. Pasta, white rice, and cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes are OK.
“The BRAT diet acronym stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast,” says Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, a Piedmont therapeutic dietitian. “Historically, it was used in pediatrics when kids got sick and couldn't tolerate anything. But this diet is helpful for anyone who has nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.”
Alternatives to the BRAT Diet
8 Natural yogurt, kefir, miso soup, and fermented vegetables (e.g., sauerkraut) are great options. While recovering from stomach symptoms and re-introducing solid foods into your diet, it is essential to keep yourself well-hydrated.
Low-fiber starches: white bread/toast, white rice, saltine crackers, cream of wheat, instant oatmeal, noodles. Proteins: unseasoned skinless chicken/turkey, scrambled eggs, yogurt. Liquids: clear broth soups (chicken or vegetable), apple juice, water, Gatorade/Powerade, gelatin, weak and decaffeinated tea.
When you have viral gastroenteritis, you should drink plenty of liquids to replace lost fluids and electrolytes. You may vomit after you eat or lose your appetite for a short time. When your appetite returns, you can most often go back to eating your normal diet, even if you still have diarrhea.
While bread does not cause weight loss it does assist one who tries to lose weight and permits the dieter to exercise freedom in selecting foods. The feeling of fullness created by eating bread and intensified with bread containing cellulose helps a dieter control food intake.
Certain foods can make diarrhea worse. These foods include dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and ice cream. Yes, in most individuals with diarrhea, eggs help slow down bowel movements and help the patient recover faster from diarrhea.
Lean Protein. Skinless chicken breast is an excellent choice when you have diarrhea, but you also can eat lean, fat-free cuts of turkey, beef, pork, and fish.
So yes, peanut butter is okay to eat when you have diarrhea—just start with a small amount of it. Here's why we recommend Peanut-Butter Banana Cinnamon Toast.
There's often no specific medical treatment for viral gastroenteritis. Antibiotics aren't effective against viruses. Treatment first involves self-care measures, such as staying hydrated.
With diarrhea, it is advisable to eat bland foods such as toast. If people wish to, they can add bananas, peanut butter, or applesauce on toast.
The term “BRAT” stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. This diet is often recommended to those experiencing diarrhea because these foods are gentle on the stomach and the low fiber content can help by firming stool.
Chicken soup is a staple for upset stomachs for a reason. It provides vitamins, protein and other nutrients, and it can help keep you hydrated. You don't need to use a lot of different ingredients to get the benefits either.
Both children and adults need to drink plenty of fluids while they're sick to prevent dehydration. Water is good, but adding broth, a sports drink, or a rehydration solution such as Pedialyte can help replace lost electrolytes. Broth or broth-based soups (chicken noodle, vegetable, etc.)
Brown, wholemeal, wholegrain, granary, multigrain, seeded breads and rolls. Oatcakes, wholegrain rice cakes, Ryvita®, crisp breads, wholegrain crackers, digestive biscuits, popcorn, Hob Nobs, flapjacks, fruit cake, malt loaf.
Salad. Salad is a recipe for disaster when you're dealing with diarrhea because raw vegetables have a lot of insoluble fiber and may irritate the lining of the digestive tract, says Gagnon. Stick to soft, *cooked* vegetables instead, such as carrots, green beans, and spinach. Your stomach will thank you.
As far as foods, one recommendation is to follow the "BRAT" diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. These foods are low in fiber, easily digestible and gentle on the stomach.
You may remember a parent or older relative telling you to drink flat sodas — like ginger ale — for upset stomachs and diarrhea. But researchers found that they don't help. Sodas have too much sugar and not enough electrolytes to help with fluid loss. Plus, beverages that are high in sugar can actually worsen diarrhea.