It is better to avoid foods rich in fibre, fat and spices when you are suffering from bouts of diarrhoea. Given below is a list of foods to avoid for diarrhoea if you want to heal quickly.
1. Dairy Products
Diarrhoea can cause minimal production of lactase enzymes in your intestines. This can lead to indigestion of milk or dairy products, which would worsen your diarrhoea.
Therefore, doctors recommend that patients suffering from diarrhoea avoid consuming dairy products until their bowel movements become normal.
However, plain yoghurt is an exception as it is a probiotic which feeds good bacteria and improves your digestive system. You can add plain yoghurt, devoid of sugar, to your foods for diarrhoea.
2. Spicy Foods
Hot and spicy foods may be your favourite food items. However, you must avoid them when you have digestive disorders. This is because spicy foods contain a chemical called capsaicin, which triggers a reaction in your digestive tract's pain receptors.
Capsaicin irritates your digestive system so much that your body starts a defence mechanism against the chemical. To protect itself from irritation, the digestive tract will hastily push every undigested food out of your guts. Unfortunately, this defence mechanism of your body causes diarrhoea.
Consuming spicy food items during diarrhoea will worsen your situation. You will also need more time than usual to recover. Therefore, avoid eating highly spicy foods if you are prone to stomach upset and diarrhoea.
3. Diet Soda
It is natural to have sweet cravings after a bout of diarrhoea. However, it would be best if you stop giving in to these cravings with foods like candies, gum and diet sodas.
These food items are rich in preservatives, artificial flavours and artificial sugars, which are harmful to your digestive system at such weak moments. Diet sodas can also contain caffeine and alcohol, increasing your visits to the loo.
4. Fruits and Vegetables Rich in Insoluble Fibres
Fruits and vegetables that are rich in fibres ensure regular bowel movement. Foods rich in insoluble fibres increase bulk in stool and work as a laxative. That is why a diet for diarrhoea patients must avoid such food items.
Fruits and vegetables like apples, beans, green peas, broccoli, cucumber and Brussels sprouts can increase your bowel movement, making your conditions worse.
You can replace these with a low-fibre diet to help your bowel regain its shape and consistency. This would decrease your bowel frequency.