After Diarrhea, When Can You Resume Your Regular Diet?

The BRAT diet, a home remedy for diarrhea, may not be suitable for all people, especially children, as it may not provide enough nutrients. It is recommended to limit your diet to a more regular diet, including fruits and vegetables, within 24 to 48 hours after vomiting or experiencing diarrhea. The body loses a significant amount of water and nutrients during diarrhea, so healthcare providers recommend starting with the BRAT diet, consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Hold off eating food until the diarrhea slows down to two bowel movements a day. On day 2, you should be able to eat plain toast or saltine.

For the first day, bland foods can be eaten, but return to your normal diet as soon as possible. If diarrhea develops, get plenty of rest and introduce BRAT foods after a few hours. Rehydrate to replenish the body. After two days of diarrhea, start a liquid diet and add low-fiber foods as tolerated. Doctors recommend giving your stomach a rest for the first six hours after vomiting or diarrhea. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, including an additional cup after every loose bowel movement.

How do I start eating normally after diarrhea?

Deciding what to eat after you have diarrhea can be tricky. It typically starts with knowing which foods to eat and which to avoid. The goal is to ensure you get enough nutrients without aggravating your digestive tract.

To treat diarrhea directly, many healthcare providers recommend starting with the BRAT diet consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. As you start to feel better, you will want to eat a bland diet that is easy on the stomach and gradually add fiber and other nutrients that help normalize digestive function, including probiotics.

To guide your diet during recovery from a bout of diarrhea, the number one rule is to keep foods simple. Because diarrhea diminishes the absorption of water and nutrients, you need to replenish them with nutritious foods that are both gently binding and gentle on the stomach.

The BRAT Diet. The BRAT diet is one of the most common dietary routines used for the treatment and recovery of diarrhea. It is a short-term measure that can help ease diarrhea by limiting your intake to four main foods:

When can I start eating regular food after a stomach virus?

After 2 to 3 days, if you continue to improve, you may add more foods. Do not rush back to a full, regular diet. Avoid the following for several days: milk products, raw fruits and vegetables, spicy foods or fatty foods, alcohol, caffeine, nicotine.

Gastroenteritis (nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea) is usually caused by a virus and resolves in 2-5 days. It often starts suddenly. During this time the stomach and intestine may not be able to digest and process food properly. Your digestive tract needs to rest and this is best accomplished by sipping on liquids and small quantities foods with sugars and starches. As symptoms of the illness subside, gradually advance the diet toward a normal diet as tolerated.

Infection control is extremely important as gastrointestinal viruses can spread rapidly in communal settings such as college campuses. If experiencing symptoms of gastroenteritis you should follow these recommendations from the CDC for at least 2 days after symptoms resolve:

• Do not prepare or handle food for others
• Do not care for others
• Wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• Clean and disinfect common areas and high touch surfaces using a bleach solution
• Wash laundry or other soiled fabrics using detergent and high heat

How long after diarrhea can you handle food?

In most cases of infection, bacteria and viruses can still be found in someone’s faeces after symptoms stop. It is therefore important that managers continue to exclude food handlers for a period of time after this. 48 hours is the recommended length of time.

How do I reset my stomach after diarrhea?

Bland, starchy, low-fiber foods like those included in the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) are binding, which can bulk stool and help you get rid of diarrhea fast. You can also try probiotics, glutamine supplements, or home remedies like herbal teas and rice water.

Diarrhea can often be stopped by using over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications such as Imodium.

Bland, starchy, low-fiber foods like those included in the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) are binding, which can bulk stool and help get rid of diarrhea. Probiotics, glutamine supplements, or home remedies like herbal teas and rice water may also offer relief.

Remember, though, that diarrhea caused by a virus or bacteria will typically run its course in two to three days without treatment.

Is it OK to eat normally with diarrhea?

Plain foods. It’s advisable to eat small, light meals if you have diarrhoea. Eat as soon as you can, but don’t stop hydrating. When you do feel like eating, avoid heavy, spicy foods. Instead, opt for plain foods like rice and wholemeal bread. You can also try having simple meals containing pasta, peeled potatoes, bananas, plain chicken, and scrambled eggs.

Fibre. Foods rich in fibre can help manage your diarrhoea symptoms, but it depends on the kind of fibre you eat. Soluble fibre found in cooked vegetables, peeled fruits, oat bran, peas, and beans make stool firmer by absorbing water into the intestines. However, insoluble fibres such as wheat bran, whole grains, and the skins of raw fruits and vegetables may trigger stools to pass through the intestines much quicker.

When it comes to managing your diarrhoea, some foods may not be ideal because they can worsen your symptoms. Some foods you may wish to avoid include:

Do you still digest food with diarrhea?

Diarrhea reduces food’s time in the small intestine, interfering with nutrient absorption. Losing nutrients, essential salts, and fluids from the foods you eat can result in digestive problems.

Is your stomach clean after diarrhea?

The Reason For Diarrhea. Studies at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have determined that diarrhea plays a crucial role in clearing the bacteria that is found in the intestines at the beginning of an infection. When a virus like E. coli strikes, two molecules in the intestine work together to enable pathogen clearance before the infection causes too much damage. While you may be inconvenienced by diarrhea, it may actually be the best thing for your body. Diarrhea could limit the severity and longevity of the infection.

The Danger Of Diarrhea. The biggest danger of diarrhea is dehydration, which can be a serious issue if not addressed- especially in young children or seniors. Signs to watch for in dehydration include:

• Constant and excessive thirst
• Your mouth or skin feels dry
• Dark urine and/or very little occurrence of urination
• Weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness or fatigue.

How long does it take to get back to normal after diarrhea?

Summary. Acute (short-term) diarrhea, caused by an infection or food intolerance, generally lasts for a couple of days but may continue for up to 2 weeks. Chronic (long-term) diarrhea, caused by a health condition, gallbladder removal, or parasitic infection, may last for at least 4 weeks.

How long you experience symptoms of diarrhea will depend on its severity and what’s causing it. Acute diarrhea typically lasts between 1-2 days, while chronic diarrhea lasts at least 4 weeks.

In addition to watery bowel movements, symptoms of diarrhea may include:

• Urgency to defecate
• frequently passing stools (at least three times a day)
• cramping in the abdomen
• abdominal pain
• poor control of bowel movements
• nausea

When can I start eating normally after being sick?

• Things to consider. At first, stick to sips of clear liquids. If you have been vomiting or have diarrhea, try drinking a beverage with electrolytes (a mix of important nutrients) to keep your body hydrated.
• Solid foods like those in the BRAT diet aren’t recommended for adults and children who are actively vomiting. Once you stop vomiting, slowly try foods to see if you can eat without vomiting.
• Follow your doctor’s instructions on the types of foods to eat when dealing with an upset stomach or diarrhea.
• As you feel better, return to a normal, healthy diet. The BRAT diet doesn’t provide all the nutrients of a healthy diet. You should be able to start eating a more regular diet, including fruits and vegetables, within about 24 to 48 hours after vomiting or having diarrhea.

• Questions for your doctor. What if the foods in the BRAT diet make me nauseated?
• Can you become constipated by staying on the BRAT diet for too long?
• Is rice better than potatoes?

This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.

How do I get my gut back to normal after diarrhea?

Probiotics. Eating food with probiotics can help your gut recover from a diarrheal infection. The live bacteria in probiotics help restore the beneficial intestinal bacteria needed to maintain a healthy gut microbiome.

Yogurt or kefir, a fermented milk drink, would be good choices despite being dairy products, which are typically a no-no with diarrhea, says Dr. Kirby. (Just make sure the yogurt or kefir are low in sugar.)

Food to avoid when you have diarrhea. As important as it is to eat the right foods when you have diarrhea, it’s equally important to stay away from food that might trigger more gastric distress and worsen the situation.

How long does it take for the stomach to go back to normal after a stomach bug?

It typically clears up within 2–8 days, depending on the virus that causes it.

There are no formal treatments, but rest, fluids, and easy-to-digest foods can help ease the symptoms.

After a person’s symptoms go away, the virus might still be contagious for several days.

People can reduce their risk of getting sick by avoiding close contact with those who have the illness. If someone in their household has the stomach flu, they should clean all surfaces thoroughly and wash any towels, bedding, and other materials that the person uses.