What is the BRAT diet and why is it unsafe? (2024)

FAQs

What is the BRAT diet and why? ›

“The BRAT diet acronym stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast,” says Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, a Piedmont therapeutic dietitian. “Historically, it was used in pediatrics when kids got sick and couldn't tolerate anything. But this diet is helpful for anyone who has nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.”

The banana, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet may help treat diarrhea, stomach flu, and other stomach complaints. However, many health professionals no longer recommend it due to the risk of nutrient and calorie deficiencies.

The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) was once a staple of most pediatricians' recommendations for children with an upset stomach. The idea was that it gave the gut a chance to rest and reduced the amount of stool produced. Experts now say the BRAT diet may not be the best option for children who are ill.

This bland diet involved eating bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, which is where the name comes from. Although this diet was the gold standard for many years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and our Plano pediatricians no longer recommend this diet exclusively.

Clear Liquid/ Bland Diet

Both children and adults need to drink plenty of fluids while they're sick to prevent dehydration. Water is good, but adding broth, a sports drink, or a rehydration solution such as Pedialyte can help replace lost electrolytes. Broth or broth-based soups (chicken noodle, vegetable, etc.)

How to Use the BRAT Diet. To try out the BRAT diet when you've got diarrhea, start with a small snack rather than a full meal, so as to not overload your already-distressed digestive system. We recommend our Peanut-Butter Banana Cinnamon Toast as one of the best snacks to eat when you have a bout of diarrhea.

Peanut butter could be added to the BRAT diet in small amounts. It's easily digested. But a lot of it might cause belly discomfort because it's high in fat.

One of the most familiar anti-diarrhea strategies is the BRAT diet (which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast). But there are other foods that are just as useful, including soft-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt, clear broths, plain pasta, and saline crackers.

Applesauce: Unlike whole, raw apples, applesauce is broken down into an easy-to-digest form, which is a good choice for people with diarrhea.

Try to stick with simple cereals like Original Cheerios or Corn Chex; avoid sugary cereals (no more than 10 grams of total sugar and 5 grams of added sugar per serving) because sugar can also complicate the issue. Oatmeal is also a good option.

Is jello good for diarrhea? ›

For Nausea, Vomiting and Diarrhea:

Start with small amounts of clear liquids, such as water, ice, popsicles, sports drinks, clear broth or Jell-O for the first 24 hours. Avoid alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and fruit juice.

Cheerios are made of whole grain oats, which are very difficult to digest. When they pass through your digestive system, they may not be completely broken down. This is why you may sometimes see undigested oats in your stool.

Progress to a “regular” diet by adding such things as soft cooked eggs, sherbert, stewed fruits, cooked vegetables, white meat of chicken or turkey. Avoid milk and dairy products for three days. Avoid fried, fatty, greasy and spicy foods. Avoid pork, veal, salmon and sardines.

Bland, starchy, low-fiber foods like those included in the BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast) are binding, which can bulk stool and help you get rid of diarrhea fast. You can also try probiotics, glutamine supplements, or home remedies like herbal teas and rice water.

Try a clear liquid diet— water, weak tea, apple juice, clear broth, frozen pops, or plain gelatin — as soon as diarrhea starts or you feel it's going to start. Clear liquids keep the bowels from working too hard and help prevent irritation. Eat small, frequent meals. Your body may find smaller amounts easier to digest.

Recent research. The use of cereals, rice and milk as a stop-gap eating plan for stomach upset has been validated as a more effective remedy to manage diarrhea than the BRAT diet by recent research in hospitals in South America and Asia.

Beverages should be clear liquids ( Sprite, 7-Up, Tea, Ginger Ale ). NO DAIRY PRODUCTS. Follow this diet until diarrhea subsides for 24 hours. You may then gradually add soft, bland foods ( Scrambled eggs, noodles, mashed potatoes ) as tolerated.

Diarrhea after eating can stem from various causes, including foodborne illnesses, food intolerances, allergies, as well as underlying conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis.