What Foods Are Good For Stopping Diarrhea? The Complete List

Discover which foods are ideal for relieving diarrhea, recovering faster and improving your gastrointestinal well-being.

Diarrhea is a common occurrence that most people experience. These episodes usually go away within a day or two and occur at least once or twice a year. Numerous foods can help reduce the symptoms of diarrhea and speed up recovery.

It is important to know what foods to eat, which to avoid, and what home remedies can be effective in relieving symptoms. Understanding how to effectively manage these episodes can improve your gastrointestinal health and well-being.

What can’t I eat if I have diarrhea?

Episodes of diarrhea may cause a loss of appetite for a short period. Generally, when appetite returns, a normal diet can be resumed. 

Experts do not recommend fasting or following a restricted diet when you have diarrhea, but some foods can worsen symptoms and should be avoided, such as:

  • High-fat and fried foods
  • Alcoholic, carbonated or caffeinated beverages
  • Sugar and sweeteners
  • Legumes
  • Olive oils and oils
  • All kinds of spicy food
  • Whole wheat and/or seeded bread
  • Spices like paprika
  • Sweets and candies
  • Sausages
  • Walnuts
  • Fruit with skin
  • Peppers, broccoli, green leafy vegetables
  • Avocado
  • Whole wheat flour
  • Seeds
  • Fatty and mature cheeses
  • Barley and rye
  • Ultra-processed refined foods 
  • Foods with a laxative effect
  • Juices should be avoided as they have a high level of fructose, which accelerates intestinal transit.
  • Dairy products

What home remedy is good for stopping diarrhea?

Diarrhea is a digestive disorder that can last from a few hours to several days. Although it usually resolves on its own, there are home remedies that can relieve symptoms and speed up recovery.

Proper hydration is critical to recovering from diarrhea, as this condition leads to fluid loss, including water and electrolytes such as sodium and chloride. Restoring these fluids is crucial to preventing dehydration.

An effective home remedy is hydration serum. Simply mix all the ingredients and drink small sips throughout the day. This homemade serum is beneficial for adults and children as it helps replenish lost water and minerals.

It can be prepared with the following ingredients :

  • 1 liter of filtered, boiled, or bottled mineral water
  • 1 heaping tablespoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt 
What foods are good for stopping diarrhea?

What foods are good for hardening stools?

To harden stools, it is recommended to bake or grill meats such as beef, pork, chicken, fish o,r turkey.  Boiled eggs are also a recommended option. White rice ,bananas a,nd unpeeled apples are also a good option.

Including cooked vegetables such as carrots, green beans, mushrooms, beets, potatoes, asparagus a,nd zucchini is important, although it is suggested that the seeds and skins be removed.  To facilitate digestion, it is advisable to eat small meals throughout the day instead of three larger meals.

The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) is a recommended option for managing bouts of diarrhea. This diet consists of soft, low-fiber, starchy foods, which can help produce firmer stools.

In addition, it provides useful nutrients such as potassium and pectin.

It is important to note that the BRAT diet does not provide balanced nutrition in the long term. It is recommended to follow this diet only until symptoms improve, usually for a  more than 2 days.