6 Foods to Stop Diarrhea in Adults

Diarrhea or Diarrhoea is something we have all experienced at one time or another. The target during home treatment of diarrhea should be:

to ensure an adequate supply of fluids and nutrients
to decrease the frequency of loose motion/diarrhea to below 3 times in 24 hours

If you are not being able to take fluids orally or have a severe bout of diarrhea and vomiting due to which you are not being able to retain fluids, you should immediately call a doctor or go to the closest emergency room for IV fluids. Once the initial bout has settled, the treatment can be continued at home with oral rehydration.

Here are 6 home remedies for diarrhea you can start immediately.

Rehydration

Diarrhea results in a loss of minerals from the body and can easily result in dehydration if not treated properly. You must ensure proper hydration during this time. Or in severe dehydration, you should take over-the-counter electrolytes. If an electrolyte solution is not readily available you can make one at home.

Preparing an Oral Rehydration Solution at home

Fill a jug with 5 glasses of clean drinking water
Add 6 teaspoons of sugar
Half a teaspoon of salt and mix

You can drink this multiple times a day to ensure your body maintains the required salt and sugar.

Alcohol, milk, soda, and other carbonated or caffeinated drinks should not be used during diarrhea, as they can worsen your symptoms.

The next step is taking fiber and probiotics to support your digestive system.

Yogurt

Yogurt is a probiotic that helps your gut heal. It is one of the best ways to treat diarrhea at home. Make sure you are eating plenty of it.

A study has shown both the commercially available probiotic and regular yogurt to be equally effective for treating diarrhea. So you do not need to worry about which yogurt you are having, as long as you are having it.

Psyllium Husk

Psyllium husk is a soluble fiber that is very effective in treating diarrhea. It absorbs the extra water in your gut slowing down your diarrhea and easing your loose motion.

Multiple studies have found Psyllium Husk to be one of the most effective foods to stop diarrhea in adults.

It is one of the essentials at my home as well and the first line of action against diarrhea. I just add 1-2 two tablespoons of psyllium husk to water, stir it and drink it quickly.

It bulks up really quickly in water and becomes difficult to drink if you let it stay. So make sure you drink it immediately after putting it in water.

If you don’t like the texture of water and husk, you can try having it with a bowl of yogurt.

Bananas

Bananas are the quickest home remedy for diarrhea as they supply an instant boost of nutrients to your body. At the same time, they also slow down the bowel making you feel better. It is best to eat green bananas as studies have shown they are a rich source of potassium, starch, and pectin, and are more nutritious as compared to their yellow counterparts.

But that does not mean you cannot have the regular yellow bananas. Both are great for treating diarrhea, so if you find the green variety, that’s good, but the yellow one will also work.

Just eat a couple of bananas after your next visit to the toilet and you’ll feel better.

Applesauce

Applesauce is great for diarrhea as it contains nutrients needed by your body as well as pectin which slows down the bowel. It is best to make it at home as most of the ones available at stores have other ingredients that are not healthy.

Remember to stay away from processed foods.

Rice

Rice is one of the oldest home remedies for diarrhea. Multiple studies have shown rice and rice-based diets to be highly effective in the treatment of persistent diarrhea.

Studies have also shown rice water to be highly effective in rehydration. It is an easy, fast, and effective home remedy for diarrhea. Here is how you can make rice water: