Diarrhea is an uncomfortable and potentially embarrassing condition. Drug companies sell various diarrhea-fighting medications, but you can treat the problem naturally by eating certain foods. Bran contains fiber, which acts as a natural diarrhea deterrent because of the way it's handled by your body. Eating bran and similar foods regularly may help prevent future diarrhea as well as helping stop current attacks.
Definition
Diarrhea is the technical term for loose, watery stools as opposed to normal solid waste. People with diarrhea pass loose stools at least three times per day, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. The urge to use the toilet is sometimes overwhelming, and it may be hard to hold the stool in until an appropriate time. Acute diarrhea resolves itself within a couple of days, but chronic cases hang on for many weeks and are often symptoms of an underlying illness.
Dangers
The main danger from severe diarrhea comes from the loss of fluids and electrolytes. Your body gets depleted of water and essential chemicals like potassium, chloride and sodium when you pass large quantities of liquid during bowel movements. Severe diarrhea bouts may require a trip to the hospital to replenish the lost fluid.
Wheat Bran Effects
Wheat bran is an insoluble fiber source that helps stop and prevent diarrhea. Insoluble fibers do not get fermented in your digestive system, nor do they dissolve in water, according to Dr. Frank Jackson of Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Bran retains water, helping you produce solid, bulky but soft stool which the body can pass normally. Eating wheat bran when you have diarrhea helps absorb some of the water and normalize your stool. Maintaining your insoluble fiber intake even when you are not having problems wards off future cases of diarrhea.
Oat Bran Effects
Oat bran is a soluble fiber, meaning it is a water absorber that turns into a gel in your digestive tract. This water absorption aids with solidifying stool to stop diarrhea, and the gel helps the whole digestive process. You get the best effects by using both oat and wheat bran to treat and prevent diarrhea because you get the benefits of both healthy fiber types.
Considerations
Bran is not the only readily available form of insoluble and soluble fiber to use against diarrhea. Other insoluble sources are whole grains and vegetables, while soluble fiber comes in beans, peas, nuts, and certain fruit and vegetable varieties. All food-based forms of fiber have the same helpful effects. A high fiber diet helps control symptoms of a condition called irritable bowel syndrome, which include diarrhea, gas. bloating and stomach cramps, as well as helping with diarrhea from other causes.
