In case of diarrhoea the body loses a lot of fluid and many minerals. It is therefore important during this time to compensate for these deficits as much as possible.

Drinking a lot: still water or unsweetened tea
Eating rich in vitamins and minerals
Only eating easily digestible food

Causes of diarrhoea

An infection with pathogens such as bacteria or viruses attacks the intestinal flora – diarrhoea can be the result. Diarrhoea may also be a side effect of medication or food intolerance. Diarrhoea is a common symptom of irritable bowel or chronic inflammatory diseases (such as Crohn’s disease).

What helps against diarrhoea? These home remedies will help you

Grated apple

The skin of an apple contains pectins which swell in the intestine and absorb the excess water. In order for this household remedy to help you, it is essential that you grate the unpeeled apple with a grater, leave the pulp to stand for a quarter of an hour and then eat it slowly. A maximum of two to three apples a day – it’s best to try out how well you tolerate them or how many you can tolerate.

Crushed banana

With a banana you can counteract the loss of minerals. Bananas also contain the dietary fibre pectins and are also rich in magnesium and potassium, which has a relaxing effect.

Carrots

Carrot soup recipes there are many. However, morose soup has to be cooked for a long time because it produces sugar molecules (oligosaccharides) that resemble intestinal receptors. As a result, the pathogens no longer attach themselves to the intestinal wall but to these sugar molecules and are excreted from the body more quickly. Carrot soup goes back to the physician Ernst Moro, who used it to treat diarrhoea in children as early as the beginning of the 20th century. It is not only effective in adults and children, but also in dogs. You need:

500 g carrots
1 litre of water
1 tsp salt

How to prepare the soup: wash the carrots, cut them into small pieces and cook in water for 90 minutes on a low heat. Then puree finely and add boiled water to one litre. Now add the salt.

Oatmeal

Tender oat flakes soothe the stomach, are easily digestible and rich in fibre and vitamins. Boiled they are even more digestible and thus better for diarrhoea:

2 tablespoons oat flakes
250 ml water
Salt

It’s that easy: Bring all the ingredients to the boil and simmer over a low heat until thickened.

Blueberries

Blueberries contain tanning agents and thus have a calming effect on the intestines, at the same time they inhibit inflammation. You can chew them, but blueberries are even better prepared as tea: For this you need dried blueberries (e.g. from the health food store). Pour a quarter of a litre of hot water over one or two teaspoons of the berries and let the tea steep for about ten minutes.

Camomile tea

Camomile is antispasmodic, pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory and is therefore recommended for diarrhoea.

Vegetable broth

The broth is not only an excellent liquid supplier, but also provides you with minerals just as well.

Healing earth

Healing clay can bind toxins, absorb fluids and help to solidify the stool. Mix one to two teaspoons of healing earth powder with half a glass of water and drink it slowly.

What else can I eat for diarrhoea?

In general, easily digestible foods are the better choice so that the intestine is not put under additional strain. For example, you can also eat this:

Rusk
Rice cooked in broth
Potatoes

What helps with diarrhoea – and what doesn’t? You should avoid these drugs!

Cola and salt sticks

The many sugars in cola bind water, the caffeine stimulates fluid loss – and that is anything but helpful in the case of diarrhoea. Even the salt in the salt sticks is not enough to compensate for the body’s salt loss, as potassium and citrates are also missing.

Coffee, milk and alcohol

The absorption of lactose is disturbed by diarrhoea. This can result in the milk not being digested, fermenting in the intestine and ultimately worsening the diarrhoea. Coffee and alcohol increase the frequency and volume of bowel movements and should therefore be avoided.

Spicy food

Spicy meals only irritate the intestine additionally and have no place on the menu in case of gastrointestinal complaints. Just like other hard to digest foods such as fast food, crusted roast, etc.

Travelers’ diarrhea: You can do that

Diarrhoea is never convenient – but on holiday it is even worse, because there you usually don’t have any household remedies at hand. But here, too, the main thing is to compensate for the body’s loss of fluids: Drink plenty of water or unsweetened tea. Since tap water could be contaminated, it is important to boil it beforehand. If possible, get an electrolyte solution from the pharmacy and drink it dissolved in water. Alternatively, you can prepare the solution yourself if you have diarrhoea while travelling. The World Health Organization, abbreviated WHO for World Health Organization, recommends the following composition:

4 teaspoons of sugar
about 3/4 teaspoon salt
eat 1 cup of orange juice or alternatively 2 bananas
1 litre mineral water or industrially processed water

There you go: Mix all the ingredients together and drink the solution. The amount you should drink each day is based on your body weight. The rule of thumb is 40 ml per kilogram of body weight.

Prevention of Travelers’ Diarrhea

An important rule is: Peel it, boil it or forget it. So eat only cooked food, peel fruit and keep your hands off raw fish or meat dishes. Just like food, drinking water (so be careful with ice cubes!) can be contaminated. Make sure you eat the right food on holiday and also observe the usual hygiene rules, such as washing your hands regularly.

When is medication useful for diarrhoea?

Diarrhoea usually lasts two to three days. In this way, the body tries to excrete the pathogens of an infection. Drugs often contain the active ingredients racecadotril or loperamide, which stop the diarrhoea. But: they also stop the excretion of the pathogens and should therefore only be taken in an emergency and for a maximum of two days. Before administering medication to children, seek medical advice beforehand!

When to see a doctor?

If the symptoms persist for more than two to three days or if you suffer from fever (here you will find tips on taking a temperature), abdominal cramps and dizziness, you should definitely see a doctor. This also applies to recurrent diarrhoea. This is because they may be symptoms of another disease. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will arrange for a therapy.