How to Get Rid of Diarrhea

It can be difficult to get some solid (please excuse the unfortunate pun) advice on how to get rid of diarrhea because it is not what you might call a dinner-time subject. As unpleasant as the thought of it is, being on the receiving end of our body's panic button is infinitely worse.

This article will concisely and simply outline proven home remedies and widespread over-the-counter solutions to curb just about any bout of diarrhea, and how best to regain your strength and stay fit if it persists. This article is not an attempt to substitute professional medical advice! If symptoms worsen or persist, it may be time to visit a doctor -- just in case!

Before I get around to listing some solutions, a little information of what is going on can also help directly address the root causes of your malady, rather than just the symptoms. If you're pounding your fist on the table and are looking for relief -- now --- then feel free to skip the following section.

Most bouts of diarrhea last between one and ten days and are commonly the result of viral and bacterial infections. Other causes may include:

• Prescribed Antibiotics can upset the bacterial balance in your stomach.
• Depression, stress and anxiety.
• Poor dietary habits.
• Ingesting too much alcohol or caffeine.
• Parasites -- lovely.

If your current predicament has lasted more than a few weeks, or is chronic, then a doctor may diagnose the following conditions:

• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Diabetes.
• Ulcerative colitis or an inflammation of the pancreas.
• Celiac or Crohn's disease.

Our battle-plan involves correcting the natural state of balance that was torn asunder. This will involve rehydrating correctly and avoiding foods that can further irritate the stomach. Let's start with fluids:

• Drink copious amounts of water (this will need to be supplemented with foods or drinks that contain valuable minerals, or you risk worsening the situation as water will flush out necessary electrolytes).
• Drink vitamin and mineral rich sports drinks, particularly if your appetite is a problem.
• Broths and soups are a palatable and re-energizing solution for those with a wobbly stomach.

Eating is necessary to efficiently re-hydrate and as a source of strength, which is doubly important when combating a viral or bacterial infection. Here are a few pointers:

• Bananas are often thought of as heavy and a poor choice for diarrhea. Nothing could be further from the truth! Bananas are both easy to digest and contain exorbitant levels of potassium, fiber (which will directly help your bout of diarrhea by helping stool moving along) and healthy pre-biotics.
• Steamed/baked Chicken. Remember to remove the skin and fat first! The white meat will provide you with easily digested source of protein.

• White rice is an easily digested source of carbohydrates (a nice energy boost). Unfortunately you'll have to eat them without butter!
• Toast helps soak up excess amounts of stomach acid, thereby directly helping with your situation.
• Applesauce contains pectin which will help stabilize food and the volume of the stool. This doesn't mean that apple juice is a good alternative, as it will have the opposite effect!

As a general rule of thumb, eating soft, bland foods is your safest bet. When in doubt, trust your gut instinct (unless you're me, but I've been told this works).

As you can imagine, the don'ts definitely outweigh the do's. Given your current precarious sense of appetite, this warning may come as a given anyway.

• Greasy high-fat foods.
• Dairy products with the exception of yogurt.
• Foods high in artificial sugar (skip sweet stuff as a rule).
• Gas producing veggies such as broccoli, onions and peas.
• Foods high in fiber.
• Intestinal irritants such as alcohol, caffeine and sodas.

In addition, if you feel that the root cause of your diarrhea is due to unwashed or unsafe food (parasites are another cause). Throw the whole lot out!

Getting rid of Diarrhea in children is a little more touch and go than it is with their adult counterparts. Lack of communication can make seemingly trivial symptoms of dehydration and nausea worsen. If you have a toddler, it is always better to have your doctor diagnose the root cause of the diarrhea because symptoms may not be initially evident. In general, if you notice any of these symptoms it is time to lay the home remedies aside and seek help:

• A far lower energy level and drive than is usual.
• Diarrhea keeps coming back, or is particularly severe and repeated.
• Diarrhea contains visible traces of blood or pus.
• Evident signs of dehydration.

I hate closing on a bit of a downer, but it would be remiss of me not to mention these guidelines. I hope you found the article of use, and I wish you the best and a speedy recovery. As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or criticisms please use the comment section below!