You have diarrhea if your stools are more watery and frequent than normal, and you may have other uncomfortable symptoms, such as bloating or stomach pain. Canned pumpkin can be part of a diet to prevent or treat diarrhea, but the effects may vary among individuals. Consult your doctor if you have diarrhea, because it can be an indication of a serious medical condition.
Dietary Fiber
Each cup of canned pumpkin provides 7 g of dietary fiber and only 83 calories, and you should get at least 14 g fiber for each 1,000 calories that you eat, according to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Fiber in your diet can relieve diarrhea because it makes your stools harder and less loose, according to the University of Maryland. Other potential benefits of fiber such as from canned pumpkin include lower cholesterol and better blood sugar regulation.
Potassium
Canned pumpkin provides 505 mg potassium per cup, compared to the daily recommendation of at least 4,700 mg per day for healthy adults. Diarrhea can cause excessive losses of potassium from your body, resulting in a condition called hypokalemia, or dangerously low levels of potassium in your blood, according to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center. Hypokalemia can lead to fatigue, cramping, weakness and even death. Other high-potassium foods besides pumpkin include fruits, nuts, acorn squash and beans.
Sodium
Canned pumpkin is a good source of potassium, but each cup only provides 12 mg sodium, or less than 1 percent of the daily value. Potassium and sodium are electrolytes, or minerals that help to maintain water balance in your body, and you need to be sure to replace your sodium and your potassium, according to the Mayo Clinic. You can get sodium by adding salt to your canned pumpkin, or making a pumpkin soup using a salty broth.
Other Information
During diarrhea, you need to increase your fluid intake to prevent dehydration or to become rehydrated, according to the Mayo Clinic. Another benefit of canned pumpkin soup is that it can help you increase your fluid intake if you get tired of just drinking water. Avoid eating canned pumpkin if you have fructose intolerance, a condition in which your body has trouble digesting fructose. Fructose is a natural sugar in fruit, and it can lead to diarrhea, gas and bloating when you eat fruit. In many cases, your diarrhea will not lead to damaging consequences, but you should consult a doctor if symptoms last longer than three days or if you suspect a more serious condition.
References
- Mayo Clinic; Diarrhea; June 2010
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: Vegetables and Vegetable Products
- Mayo Clinic; Fructose Intolerance: What Foods Should I Avoid?; Katherine Zeratsky; March 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Fiber
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010; January 2010
- Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center; Potassium; Jane Higdon; February 2004
