Irritable bowel syndrome is a gastrointestinal condition that causes stomach cramping, gas, diarrhea and bloating. According to MayoClinic.com, stress, hormones and some foods can trigger irritable bowel syndrome symptoms. When symptoms begin, eating a bland food diet, such as the BRAT diet, can help to quell the symptoms and give your intestines time to heal.
Components
The BRAT diet consists of foods that are easy on the intestines. Bananas, rice, apples, applesauce and toast are the primary components of the BRAT diet. You can also add other bland foods, such as crackers and cooked cereals, to the BRAT diet.
Purpose
The BRAT diet is a low-fiber diet, which helps to firm up the stool. This is especially helpful if one of the symptoms of your IBS is diarrhea. The American Academy of Family Physicians notes that bananas are an important part of this diet, because bananas help to replace potassium that is lost when you have diarrhea or vomit.
Considerations
In some cases, such as if you have a severe case of IBS, you may have to start out on a clear liquid diet to give your stomach a chance to heal. If you start on the BRAT diet and notice that your symptoms worsen or don't get better at all, try drinking sips of water, electrolyte replacement solution or clear broth, or eating gelatin before trying to eat the BRAT diet again.
Time Frame
Because the BRAT diet doesn't provide significant nutrition, you must follow this diet for only a short period of time. Central Connecticut State University recommends that you start trying to add regular, soft foods, such as scrambled eggs or white meat chicken, back into your diet by the third day you are on the BRAT diet. It is important that you add regular foods into your diet slowly. If you find that you can't tolerate these foods, contact your doctor for guidance.
Warning
Until your body can tolerate a regular diet, you should avoid all possible trigger foods. Foods such as fried foods, spicy foods, dairy products, citrus fruits, sugary foods and caffeinated foods may make IBS symptoms worse. You should also avoid foods that are difficult to digest, such as pork and raw vegetables.
