Diarrhea has many causes that include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, infections, or certain medications. Bouts of diarrhea can be brief or persist for long periods of time. Diarrhea occurs when foods and liquids pass through your body too quickly. This prevents the proper absorption of enough nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and water. It is important to manage diarrhea to prevent dehydration and malnutrition. Follow these tips to manage diarrhea:

Contact your healthcare team for advice managing diarrhea.

  • Take medications or supplements only if they are recommended by your healthcare team.
  • Always ask your healthcare team first before taking anti-diarrhea medications.
  • Always talk to your healthcare team or a dietitian before taking any supplements.
  • Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following symptoms:
    • Loose bowel movements for more than two days
    • Blood in your stool
    • Moderate to severe pain or cramping
    • Fever of 100.4°F
    • Inability to control bowel movements
    • Symptoms of dehydration (dark urine, peeing less than usual, dizziness, dry mouth, dry skin or irregular heartbeat)

Stay hydrated to replace fluid losses.

  • Be sure to drink plenty of clear liquids (water, ginger ale, sports drinks, or electrolyte replacement drinks) for 12 to 24 hours after a sudden bout of diarrhea. Drink at least 8-10 cups per day and at least one additional cup after each loose bowel movement.
  • Make a homemade electrolyte replacement drink by mixing the following ingredients: ¼ teaspoons salt, 8 teaspoons sugar, 3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, and 4 cups water.
  • Let carbonated drinks lose their fizz before you drink them.
  • Drinking clear liquids helps the bowels rest and replaces lost fluids.
  • Healthy people need a minimum of 8 cups of liquid per day. You may require more to replace fluids lost with diarrhea.

Eat 5 or 6 small meals per day instead of 3 larger meals.

  • Eating smaller meals may put less stress on your bowels and will make it easier for your body to digest food.

Choose foods and drinks carefully.

  • Very cold foods and very hot foods can make diarrhea worse.
  • If your diarrhea gets worse after eating a certain food, stop eating that food until you recover.
  • Avoid foods and drinks that can make your diarrhea worse. High- fiber foods, raw fruits and vegetables, full-fat dairy products, foods and drinks that contain caffeine, and spicy or high-fat foods can make diarrhea worse.
  • Choose foods that help manage diarrhea, like white rice, puffed rice cereal or other low-fiber grains, soft fruits like bananas and applesauce, cooked soft vegetables, and low-fat meats and dairy products.

Avoid foods and drinks that can make your diarrhea worse. Choose foods that help manage diarrhea.

Use this chart to know which foods to choose and avoid.

Food Group

Avoid

Choose

Grains High fiber, whole grain foods (bran, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasts, whole grain cereals, whole grain crackers, and brown rice) Enriched grains that contain less than 2 grams of fiber per serving (white rice, cream of wheat, puffed rice cereal or corn flakes, white bread or toast, white pastas, and white crackers)
Fruits Raw fruits with skins

Dried fruit

Juices with pulp, prune juice, apple juice

Canned fruit in heavy syrup

Soft fruits without skins (ripe bananas, melons, applesauce)Pulp-free 100% fruit juice

Soft canned fruit it its own juice

Vegetables Raw vegetables

Vegetables with skins and seeds

Gas-forming vegetables (corn, dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, and peas)

Well-cooked, soft vegetables without seeds or skins Mashed potatoes without skin

Strained vegetable juice

Lettuce

Dairy Full-fat dairy products (whole milk, cream, sour cream, ice cream, and cheese) Low fat and/or lactose-free dairy products (buttermilk, skim and low- fat milk, lactose-free milk, soy milk, yogurt with live active cultures, and low fat (2%) aged cheese)
Proteins Spicy and high fat meats (fried meats or fried fish, bologna, salami, bacon, and hot dogs)Nuts, seeds, and chunky nut butters Low-fat meats

Cooked tender meats

Fish

Eggs

Soy foods

Smooth peanut butter

Beverages Caffeinated or sugary drinks (coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, alcohol, and drinks that contain sugar alcohols like xylitol or sorbitol) Caffeine-free drinks (water, decaf coffee, decaf tea, sports drinks, and electrolyte replacement drinks)
Other Fried, greasy foods

Sweets and desserts

Spicy foods (pepper, strong spices, hot sauce)

Foods and drinks made with sugar alcohols (Sugar alcohols include xylitol and sorbitol and are found in many sugar-free products like candies, gums, and snack bars. Read ingredient lists to look for sugar alcohols.)

Take care of your skin.

Frequent watery bowel movements can damage the skin around the anus. After a bowel movement, wash with warm water or use bathroom wipes to clean the area. Gently dry the area. On clean, dry skin, apply an ointment, such as one that contains petroleum jelly, to help prevent skin irritation.

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