Let’s begin with a question what is the brat diet? A phrase, BRAT is a nod for bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast (or tea), the staples of the diet. The brat diet was first discovered in 1926. The brat diet is a diet that has been commended for people with vomiting or diarrhea.
The main aim of this diet is to provide a period of rest to the stomach and bowel movement of the gut during times of excess feces excretion and stool passage.
It is mentioned that all people, regardless of age, drink plenty of fluids to counteract dehydration, along with oral rehydration solutions to replace the depleted electrolytes to avoid salt imbalance. Severe, and unsorted salt imbalance can result in “extreme weakness, confusion, coma, or death. Now we think that we have cleared the query what is the brat diet?
How does the Brat diet work?
The most common use for the BRAT diet is when a person is anguish from diarrhea.
solidified stools. these foods are starchy and low in fiber, which may encourage the binding of loose and runny stools.
Affable on the stomach. Because the foods are lesser in fat and protein, they are unlikely to annoy the stomach and put stress on the digestive system.
No nausea. Due to the bland flavor and truancy of heavy smells, BRAT foods do not tend to cause nausea or vomiting.
What to eat on brat diet?
You can eat more than just bananas, applesauce, rice, and toast on the BRAT diet. The key is to eat bland foods that are affable on the stomach. These foods are also considered binding foods, meaning they are lesser in fiber and may stop diarrhea by firming up your stools.
What else can you eat on the brat diet?
The food that you can eat other than this diet includes:
- Crackers
- Cooked cereals, like oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Weak tea
- Apple juice or flat soda
- Broth
- Boiled potatoes
Pictures of the BRAT diet
Foods to avoid in a BRAT diet
Just a BRAT diet is beneficial as an immediate treatment for the case of nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, there are some foods products and items that should be strictly avoided.
1. Sugar
Food products that are high in sugar content have been known to worsen the symptoms of nausea and diarrhea.
In a BRAT diet for diarrhea, the food provided is low is naturally low in sugar and extra sugar materials are avoided.
2. Alcohol
Alcohol is a type of diuretic that has been known to cause dehydration. Also, the consumption of alcohol causes annoyance and irritation to the stomach and gut.
This aggravates the pre-existing irritation and dehydration caused by vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Fried foods:
Fried foods are rich and spicy in nature and are very difficult to digest. In a pre-weakened state of excessive diarrhea, the consumption of such food only makes matter worse.
4. Caffeine:
Caffeinated drinks like coffee and a soft drink can act as mild diuretics which is preferred to be avoided when the following bratts diet.
5. Heavy proteins:
Protein is very difficult to digest and cause added stress on the functioning of the stomach and digestive system. It causes even more discomfort especially if the meat has a high-fat content.
Also read: Pros and cons of eating meat
6. Milk and dairy products:
Milk and dairy products like cheese, ice cream, and even normal cream can cause arduousness indigestion.
Just as having the right food is effective for a proper BRAT diet, avoiding the food items that are harmful to you in your weekend state is crucial for a quick recovery.
Brat diet for diarrhea
Diarrhea is one of the miserable feelings that one can feel. If diarrhea is left untreated it could lead to dehydration and electrolytes dysbalance. So it is important to furnish your body with nutritional food. Here is a piece of great advice from an expert for treating diarrhea-brat diet for diarrhea. The brat diet is also recommended for treating stomach flu, diarrhea, and other stomach discomforts.
Additional Health Guidelines
- Drink plenty of water or liquids to avoid dehydration from fluid losses due to your illness
- Rest and avoid exertion to give your body a chance to recover.
- Consult your health care provider about taking medication.
- Nausea and vomiting may be caused by viruses, food poisoning, medications, alcohol, anxiety, and pregnancy. In addition, nausea may be a sign of an upper respiratory illness with a post-nasal drip.
- Diarrhea may be “acute”, beginning suddenly and resolving over a few days with dietary discretion, or of a “chronic” ongoing process. Causes of these symptoms are similar to the ones listed for nausea and vomiting.
Visit the doctor if you are not getting better despite compliance after 24 hours, if you have a problem with chronic diarrhea or if you have additional symptoms of fever, weight loss, lightheadedness, rectal bleeding, or abdominal pain.
Summary
Finally, we came to know about “what is the brat diet”? The brat diet is also useful for diarrhea, constipation, and nausea. While these foods are great for people with an upset stomach, recent studies show that eating the BRAT diet alone actually delays recovery from illness because it lacks adequate protein, calories, and vitamins.
