Diarrhea Treatment: Hydration, Nutrition, and Lifestyle

Along with knowing what to eat and drink when you’re dealing with gastrointestinal woes, it’s also important to be mindful of other everyday habits to help you deal with diarrhea. Certain lifestyle measures may also offer some relief. “Simple daily habits can go a long way in preventing diarrhea and improving your overall health,” says Andrew Moore, MD, gastroenterologist at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago.

Do

Wash your hands. Diarrhea can sometimes be transmitted by person-to-person contact or from contaminated surfaces, says Catherine Ngo, MD, a gastroenterologist at Hoag, a health system in Aliso Viejo, California. “For this reason, it’s important to wash your hands after using the restroom, before sitting down to a meal, or after touching any common surfaces that may have been contaminated by an ill person,” she says.

• Wet your hands
• Apply soap
• Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds, making sure to include the backs of your hands, between your fingers, and under your nails
• Rinse with clean, running water
• Dry thoroughly

Although you can get prebiotic and probiotic supplements, Shah says it’s best to get them from food. If you’re interested in a supplement, talk to your doctor first.

• Garlic
• Onions
• Bananas
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Soybeans

• Pickles
• Kimchi
• Kombucha
• Sauerkraut
• Yogurt

Don’t

Use antidiarrheals without talking to a doctor. Although loperamide (Imodium), another OTC antidiarrheal medication, is sometimes recommended, Ganjhu advises against it. This is an antimotility, meaning that it stops your gastrointestinal tract from moving. Although it can slow down diarrhea, it’s better for it to come out,” she says. “It’s your body’s way of ridding itself of any toxins.”

• Constipation
• Bloating
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Allergic reaction
• Stomach pain
• Difficulty urinating

These medications may be appropriate, however, if diarrhea causes significant dehydration, Ngo says. Ask your doctor before trying them.