Chronic diarrhea is defined as having loose stools for four weeks or more. Besides loose stools, it can be accompanied by abdominal cramps and pain, fever, bleeding and weakness or lightheadedness from dehydration. There are several causes and treatments of chronic diarrhea, but by eating the right things you can help relieve the symptoms and prevent dehydration and malnourishment.
Causes
Chronic diarrhea can be caused by a chronic irritable illness, such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease; by an infection or a food-borne illness; and by a food allergy or sensitivity to a certain food. In addition, some medications have been known to cause chronic diarrhea as a side effect. Thus, it is important to go to a physician to get a stool test so that he can diagnose the underlying cause and treat it accordingly.
Treatment
Treatment for chronic diarrhea depends on the cause. If the symptoms are caused by an infection, your physician might prescribe antibiotics. If they are caused by a food sensitivity, your physician will try to determine what it is that is causing an allergic reaction and recommend that you eliminate it from your diet, or change medications if it is determined that a certain drug is causing your diarrhea. For diseases like ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome, there are treatments for symptom relief but no cure. Patients with these types of diseases can help relieve their symptoms by eating the right foods.
What to Eat
Certain foods will help relieve all symptoms of diarrhea. Usually, these foods have less fiber, fat, lactose and sugars, which are substances that can exacerbate your symptoms because they have an osmotic effect in your intestines, meaning that they draw more fluid into them, making your stools even more watery. If you are experiencing chronic diarrhea, you should choose the low-fat or fat-free version of all dairy products. You should also choose cereals, breads and rolls with white or refined flour, which contains far less fiber than whole wheat or whole grains. As for fruits, according to the American Dietetic Association, bananas and melons are usually well-tolerated by people with diarrhea. According to the ADA, other foods or beverages like fruit juice (with no pulp), rice, potatoes with no skin and well-cooked, tender vegetables also will be well-tolerated.
What to Avoid
According to the American Dietetic Association, if you are experiencing diarrhea, you should avoid foods that are high in fat, sugars, lactose, fiber and fructose. This means any whole dairy and cream or other foods that are very high in fat. You also should avoid most fruits, except bananas or melons, as these are very high in fiber and can cause your symptoms to get worse. Dried fruits or canned fruits with syrup also should be avoided, as these are high in sugar. You also should avoid raw vegetables, whole wheat and whole grain breads or rolls, and fatty cuts of meat or poultry.
Other Guidelines
The American Dietetic Association recommends that you try to eat a small snack every three to four hours. Another helpful tip is to avoid foods that are spicy or have concentrated spices and flavors, as these can irritate your already sensitive bowels. Besides keeping yourself well-nourished, keep yourself well-hydrated. One way to do this is to drink 2 tbsp. of liquid every hour, preferably a fluid that is rich in electrolytes.
