Diarrhea And Diet
The frequent passage of loose, watery stools is known as diarrhea. This condition also results in a loss of body fluids and electrolytes. This condition is also defined as passing more than three watery bowel movements a day. Diarrhea with a colostomy or ileostomy refers to the passage of more than one liter of stoma output. Diarrhea occurs as a result of the rapid movement of contents inside the GI tract. This condition results in less absorption of fluids and nutrients in the body.
Reasons for diarrhea
Diarrhea can be classified into four categories: secretory, osmotic, exudative, and rapid intestinal transit.
Osmotic diarrhea occurs due to an osmotic effect that results in the poor absorption of solutes present in the GI tract. This effect refers to the movement of water from low solute to high solute concentration. The most common reasons for this type of diarrhea include fat malabsorption, lactose intolerance, or dumping syndrome after gastric surgery.
Secretory diarrhea occurs due to the over-secretion of water and salts in the intestine. This condition is caused by bacteria toxins.
Exudative diarrhea occurs due to damage to the intestinal mucosa. This condition results in inflammation or injury, which can lead to the excretion of blood, mucus, and plasma proteins along with frequent, watery stools.
Rapid intestinal transit diarrhea results from the increase of propulsive activity in the colon. This condition occurs as a result of intense contraction of the colon, resulting in the waste contents to pass out more quickly. This quick passage doesn’t allow fluids and electrolytes to absorb properly in the colon.
Osmotic diarrhea occurs due to an osmotic effect that results in the poor absorption of solutes present in the GI tract. This effect refers to the movement of water from low solute to high solute concentration. The most common reasons for this type of diarrhea include fat malabsorption, lactose intolerance, or dumping syndrome after gastric surgery.
Secretory diarrhea occurs due to the over-secretion of water and salts in the intestine. This condition is caused by bacteria toxins.
Exudative diarrhea occurs due to damage to the intestinal mucosa. This condition results in inflammation or injury, which can lead to the excretion of blood, mucus, and plasma proteins along with frequent, watery stools.
Rapid intestinal transit diarrhea results from the increase of propulsive activity in the colon. This condition occurs as a result of intense contraction of the colon, resulting in the waste contents to pass out more quickly. This quick passage doesn’t allow fluids and electrolytes to absorb properly in the colon.
Preventing diarrhea
You are going to have to treat the underlying reason to treat diarrhea. You may speak to your doctor if you think that you have diarrhea due to a specific medicine. If it turns out to be true, your doctor will suggest you another medicine to help you prevent diarrhea. It becomes necessary to call your doctor if you have chronic diarrhea, and the use of a particular medicine is making it worse.
Some people may experience diarrhea for the first few days when they start eating foods after being on bowel rest. Being malnourished is another reason for diarrhea. Diarrhea subsides in these conditions within a few days after starting a regular diet.
You are going to have to treat the underlying reason to treat diarrhea. You may speak to your doctor if you think that you have diarrhea due to a specific medicine. If it turns out to be true, your doctor will suggest you another medicine to help you prevent diarrhea. It becomes necessary to call your doctor if you have chronic diarrhea, and the use of a particular medicine is making it worse.
Some people may experience diarrhea for the first few days when they start eating foods after being on bowel rest. Being malnourished is another reason for diarrhea. Diarrhea subsides in these conditions within a few days after starting a regular diet.
Dietary recommendation
If you have diarrhea, you may want to stick to a more restricted or specific diet plan until your condition improves. Here are a few tips that you may want to consider in this regard.
- Make sure to drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day. You can also consider having electrolyte replacement drinks.
- Instead of eating quickly and having a few larger meals a day, consider eating several smaller meals. Make sure to chew your foods well.
- To firm up your stool, try eating foods rich in soluble fiber.
- Fried and fatty foods can worsen diarrhea, so you may want to avoid these foods.
- Check your body response to the consumption of some high-fiber foods. Such foods can also cause diarrhea.
- If you have developed lactose intolerance, you may want to avoid dairy foods for some time.