Myths and Facts about Diarrhea

Fiber is the most essential nutrient that you must take for speedy recovery from diarrhea. This is because soluble fiber facilitates water absorption in the intestines, aiding in firming up of stool considerably. Insoluble fibers, however, especially those found in raw vegetable and fruit skins, may have a reverse effect, leading to the speeding up of stool discharge in the intestines. Suggested foods include beans, oat bran and peas, which are rich in soluble fibers.

The caffeine found in coffee, tea and other soft drinks actually speed up bowel regulation, making it work faster. This is because it acts as a stimulant to the intestines and accelerates bowel emptying considerably. Even decaffeinated coffee should be avoided, as it does contain trace amounts of caffeine that may be enough for bowel stimulation

When you are experiencing diarrheic symptoms, you may often turn to sodas or other sugary drinks to provide replenishment for lost fluids in the system. This is actually not a good idea, as sugar will worsen the symptoms of diarrhea. This is because sugar dilutes stool when they are being absorbed by the intestines.

The common conception is that, if you have diarrhea, fatty foods should be avoided completely, as they are harder to digest. However, this is not entirely true. Consuming a little bit of fat actually helps in easing your diarrhea. This is because the slower digestion rate of fats may slow your diarrhea symptoms as well.