Clostridium difficile, or C. diff, is a bacterium that can cause symptoms ranging from mild diarrhea to life-threatening inflammation of the colon. The bacterium is in soil, air, water, and animal and human feces. Chronic use of antibiotics destroys the healthy bacteria in the intestines and may cause the C. diff to grow out of control. With any illness, certain foods can alleviate or exacerbate the symptoms. Restrict these foods until symptoms subside.
Beverages
Avoid carbonated beverages, including sodas, due to their high acid and sugar content. These combined with an inflamed colon can make diarrhea worse. Don't drink beverages with caffeine, such as coffee, tea and colas, due to the diuretic properties of caffeine. As a diuretic, caffeine may lead to dehydration, which can also make diarrhea worse. In addition, caffeine absorbs quickly into the bloodstream and speeds up the passage of food through the colon, worsening your diarrhea.
Alcohol
Alcohol suppresses the release of antidiuretic hormone, ADH, which is responsible for the reabsorption of water and electrolytes. This results in dehydration and fluid electrolyte imbalance that can make diarrhea worse. It is also considered an acidic food that can further irritate the colon. Do not drink alcohol while you have symptoms of the C. diff infection.
Fruits and Dairy
When the colon is inflamed it becomes sensitive to certain foods. Fruit is high in sugar that can lead to dehydration. Bananas and applesauce seem to be the exception as they are high in potassium, which is beneficial for restoring the fluid electrolyte balance. Dairy is considered an acidic food that can further irritate an inflamed colon, so avoid it if you have C. diff. Yogurt is an exception, if your intestines can handle it, because it contains live cells of healthy bacteria that the colon needs to restore balance.
Diet Recommendations
Drink plenty of fluids to replace the water lost during diarrhea. Plain water and soup broths are the best options, recommends Krames Patient Education. Starchy foods such as oatmeal, rice, potatoes, noodles, wheat, saltine crackers and boiled vegetables may help alleviate diarrhea. MayoClinic.com warns that you might have temporary difficulty digesting dairy products once the diarrhea subsides. C. diff is generally treated with antibiotics. Adding a probiotic supplement helps restore healthy bacteria in the intestine. According to MayoClinic.com, taking the probiotic yeast Saccharomyeces boulardii in conjunction with antibiotics may help prevent recurrent C. diff outbreaks.
