Dietary tips for managing acute diarrhea in adults

Thought this might come in handy... especially since it's summer, and gut bugs seem to love traveling more when the weather heats up. This is the diet they’re pushing in the latest medical journals out there.

PHASE I (Day 1)
Stay hydrated... lots of fluids: water, rosehip tea with two big spoonfuls of sugar per liter (if you aren't diabetic), iced tea, or those electrolyte solutions you get at CVS like Pedialyte.
Fat-free bouillon
Carrot soup
Rice cooked in salted water
Fresh cottage cheese (skip the heavy cream stuff)
Yogurt
Hard-boiled eggs
Dry crackers, pretzels, toast

PHASE II (Days 2 & 3)
Everything from Phase I
Clear broth with noodles or maybe some small pasta shapes
Tomato soup or tomato sauce
Boiled chicken, veal, or white fish
Chicken or veal stock
Sautéed rice, couscous, or sautéed carrots
Carrot and boiled beet salad
Cooked pasta (noodles, macaroni, etc)
Cheese dumplings or savory cheese pastries
Biscuits, rice pudding, or bread pudding
Cheese pancakes or savory cheese turnovers
Bananas, baked apples, fruit compote

PHASE III (Days 4 & 5)
Everything from Phase II
White coffee or cocoa
Sautéed chicken and veal
Chicken or veal risotto
Cottage cheese with a little sour cream
Processed cheese, buttermilk
Bread rolls or salty mashed potatoes
Steamed veggies (spinach, cauliflower)

What's the deal with those BlackRock tablets? Are they actually any good for stopping diarrhea?

Sometimes they help, sometimes they don't. Honestly, if you ask me, they're about as useful as a screen door on a submarine... 😬

Is it actually okay to eat feta cheese when you're dealing with a stomach bug and constant vomiting? I know it’s pretty salty—would that even be a good idea right now? I know the standard stuff like dry toast or plain white rice is usually the move, and maybe some chocolate might help settle things... or would corn just make it worse? What should I actually be eating? I am seriously feeling totally dehydrated here.

I’ve got a question regarding the PDF health guide, but since you're here... honestly, skip the feta or any heavy cheese when you're dealing with those first few days of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. The golden rule is bland foods that won't trigger gas or more runs—think boiled potatoes, rice, cooked carrots, or some plain toast. Avoid anything fatty or dairy-heavy. You can have a bit of boiled lean meat if needed. If the diarrhea gets pretty bad, make sure to replenish your salt by sipping on fat-free broth. Every time you hit the restroom, you need to replace those fluids with broth or peppermint tea. It’s also a good idea to grab a banana or some boiled potato to get your potassium back up. If you're craving dairy, sticking to plain, unsweetened yogurt or kefir is fine because of the probiotics.

Stay hydrated—that’s the number one rule. Based on what I've seen lately from the latest CDC guidelines 😁, they don't really stick to that strict diet of plain rice, steamed veggies, boiled meat, and toast anymore. For my kid, I just cut out the sweets and dairy. Everything else is fair game, provided he can actually stomach it at the time, along with plenty of fluids, yogurt, and probiotics.

Alright, thanks! I’d also suggest just grabbing some basic bouillon—it's loaded with salt and you really need those fluids back in your system. Oh, and I totally blanked on mentioning the bananas.

Jose Brown57 said:Alright, thanks! I’d also suggest just grabbing some basic bouillon—it's loaded with salt and you really need those fluids back in your system. Oh, and I totally blanked on mentioning the bananas.

I have no idea who suggested instant soup packets, but handing someone industrial concentrate when they’re already dealing with nausea and vomiting doesn't strike me as a brilliant move.

And she calls herself a nurse... seriously? I mean, there's really nothing to it—though, given how much salt is being pumped in, she’s probably just trying to balance out all that potassium loss.

Jose Brown57 said:And she calls herself a nurse... seriously? I mean, there's really nothing to it—though, given how much salt is being pumped in, she’s probably just trying to balance out all that potassium loss.

I have to wonder where this nurse went to school if she thinks replacing potassium with table salt is a good idea.

So, she actually made it all the way to retirement with that kind of knowledge base... 😁
Anyway, things are looking up—can I grab a coffee? Just black, no frills. Honestly, I think that’s the move.
p.s. We usually pick up those fancy professional packets at the pharmacy—you know, that powdered stuff you just stir into water or tea and drink—but we decided to skip that route this time around.

Jose Brown57 said:So, she actually made it all the way to retirement with that kind of knowledge base... 😁
Anyway, things are looking up—can I grab a coffee? Just black, no frills. Honestly, I think that’s the move.
p.s. We usually pick up those fancy professional packets at the pharmacy—you know, that powdered stuff you just stir into water or tea and drink—but we decided to skip that route this time around.

For most people, that's actually the perfect morning laxative. 😁