Digestive Health Center

Nutrition Services

Nutrition Tips for Diarrhea

Diarrhea (loose stools) could be a common side effect to a variety of medical conditions,
medications, and medical treatment. Work with your doctor to help you find the cause and
resolve your diarrhea. Try these general nutrition tips as well; however, nutritional
treatment of diarrhea may change depending on the cause of the diarrhea.

Replenish Fluids and Electrolytes (stay hydrated)

Sip on clear, non-carbonated liquids (fruit juices without added sugar, gatorade, etc)
throughout the day. Include at least one cup of liquid after each loose bowel
movement
Drink most of your liquids between meals as drinking liquids with meals may
increase passage of food through the body
Include high potassium foods and liquids: diluted fruit juices and nectars, sports
drinks, potatoes (without the skin), bananas, etc
Include high sodium foods and liquids: broths, soups, sports drinks, salted crackers
and pretzels, etc

Eat Foods High in Soluble Fiber Daily (to thicken stool)

Foods high in soluble fiber: applesauce, bananas, beets, potatoes without skin, rice,
oatmeal
Include other foods that may thicken stool: bread, creamy peanut butter, pasta,
marshmallows, tapioca, white rice and yogurt

Limit Foods That May Exacerbate Diarrhea (see food table)

Foods that are creamy, greasy, fried and sugary
Dairy with high amounts of lactose (the milk sugar in dairy)
Foods that cause gas: broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, beans,
lentils, etc
Sweetened and caffeinated beverages: smoothies, sugary fruit juices, sodas, etc
Foods sweetened with isomalt, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol (artificial sweeteners)

Add a Probiotic
Talk to your doctor about adding probiotic capsules or tablets (live bacteria that may
promote intestinal health when consumed in sufficient amounts). This may help.

Call your doctor if the diarrhea continues or increases or if your stools develops an
unusual odor or color
 Foods To Eat Foods to Limit
Meats, Fish, baked, broiled, grilled or steamed fried meats/poultry/fish/eggs
Poultry, Eggs meats/poultry/fish, deli slices, eggs
Dairy lactose free dairy (any) high lactose dairy (large amounts):
low lactose dairy: cream cheese, half buttermilk, chocolate, creamy/cheesy
and half, hard cheeses (cheddar, colby, sauces, custard, ice cream, milk
parmesan, swiss, etc), soft cheeses (cow's, goat's, sheep's, condensed,
(feta, mozzarella, etc), yogurt (greek) evaporated), soft cheeses (cottage,
ricotta, etc), sour cream
Meat, Dairy milk alternatives (almond, coconut, rice, beans, black eyed peas, lentils, nuts,
Alternatives soy), creamy nut butters, tofu crunchy nut butters, fried tofu,
soybeans, split peas, soy/bean patties
Grains made with refined wheat, made with made with whole wheat or made with
foods allowed: bagels, biscuits, breads foods to limit, barley, bran, breads
(french, italian, pita, white, sourdough), (multi grain), bulgur, corn tortilla,
cereals (cream of wheat, cream of rice, croissants, high fiber cereals (Kashi,
oatmeal, cornflakes, Cheerios, Chex, Fiber One, etc), granola, popcorn,
Rice Krispies, etc), chips, crackers quinoa, rice (brown, wild), rye, sugary
(graham, saltine, soda, etc), English cereals (Fruit Loops, etc), sweet rolls
muffins, flour tortillas, noodles,
pancakes, pastas, pretzels, tapioca,
waffles, white rice
Fruits applesauce, avocado, banana, canned dried fruits, fruit seeds/skins, fried
fruits (drain the syrup), lemon, lime, fruits, berries, cherries, dates, figs,
melons, peeled: apple, apricot, peach, grapes, grapefruit, guava, kiwi, mango,
pear, peach, plum, etc, fruit papaya, persimmon, pineapple,
puree/sauces (any, no pulp, no skins) pomegranate, prunes, orange
Vegetables cooked (no pulp, no skins): beets, raw vegetables, fried vegetables,
carrots, green beans, potatoes, vegetable seeds/skins, artichokes,
pumpkin, spinach, squash, wax beans, asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts,
yams, zucchini, etc, vegetable/tomato cabbage, cauliflower, celery, corn,
puree/sauces (any, no pulp, no skins) cucumbers, eggplant, green peas,
lettuce, mushrooms, okra, tomatoes
Beverages decaf coffee, fruit and vegetable caffeinated coffee, lattes, sodas, prune
juices/smoothies (any, small amounts, juice
no pulp or skins), sport drinks, tea
Desserts angel food cake, chocolate (small fried desserts, brownies, cakes,
amounts), marshmallows, sugar free caramel, candy, cookies, donuts,
desserts (puddings, popsicles, etc) pastries, pies, sherbet, sorbet
Seasonings, broth, butter, cooking oils, all spices and coconut, maple syrup, olives, pickles,
Condiments herbs, gravy, honey, jam/jelly, ketchup, sugar (large amounts), jam/jelly with
margarine, mayonnaise, mustard, seeds, all seeds (flax, sunflower, etc),
pepper, salad dressings, sauces (BBQ, artificial sweeteners (isomalt, mannitol,
soy, etc), salt, vinegar sorbitol, xylitol)
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Direct inquiries to Digestive Health Center at Stanford Hospital and Clinics NS 1/2014