How to Stop Diarrhea: From IBS to Food Sensitives

If there’s a gastrointestinal symptom that all age groups will experience multiple times in their lives, it’s diarrhea. Unfortunately, cases of loose stools pop up at some of the most inconvenient times. Experiencing diarrhea symptoms can have a negative impact on your life. Let’s take a look at how to stop diarrhea.

What Causes Diarrhea?

Controlling diarrhea requires knowing what caused it. In some individuals specific foods can trigger diarrhea or make diarrhea worse, so each case can be unique. They may overlap with other causes of diarrhea that are more chronic, such as Crohn's Disease or Celiac Disease.

Common causes of diarrhea include:

• Viral or bacterial infection
• Parasites
• Alcohol abuse
• Medication side effects
• Digestive disorders
• Diabetes
• Too many laxatives
• Food sensitivities or allergies
• Stress
• Microbiota imbalances

Each situation might require specific attention. For instance, if you are traveling and get a severe case of diarrhea, go to a doctor for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. There’s a risk you may have contracted a bacterial infection or a parasite.

Cases of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)could benefit from microbiota and lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise alterations. Meanwhile, a food sensitivity, like lactose intolerance, might just require an enzyme supplement alongside a targeted probiotic. Whatever the case may be, here are some hacks to stop diarrhea.

How to Stop Diarrhea Life Hacks

Diarrhea can be a symptom of a much larger issue. Listen to your body. Discuss your concerns with your doctor. If you suffer from diarrhea, a few of these hacks might work. In the case of someone with food allergies, some tips might cure your frequent diarrhea problems. Some of these tips might even help you diagnose a bacterial infection. Let’s take a look!

Drink Lots of Fluids

When you have diarrhea, your intestines don’t hold many fluids. Water just passes through in one way and out the other end. This is an issue because your large intestine relies on water to push out toxins and help the body absorb nutrients.

It’s easy to get dehydrated when you have diarrhea 1. Dehydration can lead to even more complicated medical issues. So, be sure to drink your fluids on your journey to stop diarrhea.

Eat Electrolytes

When we have diarrhea, we miss out on many of these minerals. Many will turn to Pedialyte and sports drinks. These are full of artificial sweeteners that may feed harmful bacteria that could cause diarrhea in some people. Eat electrolytes instead.

Electrolyte-rich foods are the best foods to eat while suffering from diarrhea:

• Kale
• Poultry
• Strawberries
• Spinach
• Flounder
• Bananas
• Watermelon
• Avocados
• Broccoli

There are hundreds of food choices out there that are rich in electrolytes. Unfortunately, some of them might be allergens. For instance, some people are sensitive to lectins in legumes. However, kidney beans are an abundant source of electrolytes. This can be a conundrum, which we’ll get into next.

Cut Out Allergens

Many of us eat food that causes diarrhea every day. Unfortunately, it’s hard for us to know which foods are causing the allergies. To stop diarrhea for the long haul, you might need to temporarily try an Elimination Diet.

You may have to cut out some of your faves, like sugar, dairy products, fried foods, and gluten. Additionally, you’ll drop some healthy foods that can be typical gut irritants, such as nightshade vegetables. Once you determine if these may be the inducers of your diarrhea, slowly integrate these foods back in to see what’s triggering the response.

Many people also try the Brat Diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast). Opt for more bland foods instead of spicy foods.

Consume More Soluble Fiber

When you have diarrhea, you lose a lot of water. So, you need to clog the leak. The most effective way to stop diarrhea naturally is to add bulk to your stool.

Dietary soluble fiber soaks up water. Therefore, trips to the bathroom will seem less urgent.

Sources of soluble fiber for diarrhea include:

• Sweet Potatoes
• Mangoes
• Gluten-Free Grains
• Peaches
• Rice
• Kiwis
• Apples
• Berries

As you can see, some of these soluble fiber sources also provide electrolytes. However, these foods also serve as prebiotics for good gut bacteria- probiotics. So, not only will soluble fiber help stop diarrhea, it can help prevent a reoccurrence by balancing the microbiota and strengthening your beneficial bacteria.

Not a big fruit and veggie eater? Infuse any of your favorite drinks with prebiotic-rich fiber with Ombre Rise.

Unlike other fiber supplements, Rise won't cause bloating or exasperate diarrhea. It will help nourish healthy bacteria that will bring balance to your gut, and aid with diarrhea.

Drink Herbal Teas

An excellent way of handling uncomfortable GI problems is herbal tea.

Herbal teas to drink to stop diarrhea discomfort include:

• Peppermint – Soothing
• Licorice Root – Anti-inflammatory
• Chamomile – Relaxing
• Ginger/Turmeric – Anti-inflammatory

Just make sure the tea is decaffeinated. Caffeine is a stimulant. Therefore, it might empower your gut muscles to start contracting. The end result would be the complete opposite of stopping diarrhea!

Take Enzyme Supplements

If you realize you are sensitive to gluten or lactose, it doesn’t mean you can’t indulge every now and then. You’re just going to need a little extra help. That assistance can come from enzymes or optimizing the gut microbiota with a targeted probiotic.

Look into getting all-natural supplements for your specific sensitivity. For instance, gluten enzyme supplements contain an enzyme useful in breaking down gluten known as dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV). Just one of these enzyme pills may help someone with gluten sensitivities enjoy a beer or a slice of bread with dinner.

Slow Down on Exercise

It’s not every day you’ll hear a gut health company say to slow down on exercise. However, if you have diarrhea, consider it. For one, exercise will cause you to get dehydrated and sweat out electrolytes.

When you have diarrhea, your body is already struggling. While there’s no gain without pain, pushing yourself with diarrhea is unneeded stress. It’s borderline masochistic.

If you need to get some workout in, we hear you. Try yoga. There are many yoga positions for GI problems. These movements can help detoxify organs and get enzymes interacting to get everything else back on track!

Rethink Over-the-Counter Medications

One of the most efficient ways to stop diarrhea fast is over-the-counter medications. You can find a number of them throughout the pharmacy.

The top two choices are:

• Loperamide (Imodium)
• Bismuth Subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol)

While these are great quick fixes, over-the-counter meds aren’t long-term solutions. These remedies are not intended for daily use. They’re for isolated occasions. Unfortunately, people turn to these quick fixes to mask an underlying issue, living in denial. Over time, these medications can do more harm than good.

Use Targeted Probiotics

A study looked at how probiotics can stop diarrhea, noting,

Many of Ombre's probiotics contain strains scientifically proven to target pathogens that promote diarrhea. For instance, one study involving healthy children found that supplementation with Saccharomyces boulardii can lessen bowel frequency [6]. That's why we include this strain in our Healthy Gut blend.

Meanwhile, studies have also shown that strains of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici can improve symptoms of IBS, which includes diarrhea. IBS and diarrhea are commonly triggered by immune responses caused by food sensitivities. That's why we fortify our Ultimate Immunity probiotic blend with these strains.

Learn which blend is best for your gut. Target your symptoms of diarrhea by getting your gut tested with Ombre. Discover which foods are best to optimize your gut and which blend will alleviate your symptoms.

Resources

[1] Akech, Samuel, and Philip Ayieko. “Risk Factors for Mortality and Effect of Correct Fluid Prescription in Children with Diarrhoea and Dehydration without Severe Acute Malnutrition Admitted to Kenyan Hospitals: an Observational, Association Study.” The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7, P516-524, JULY 01, 2018, 20 May 15AD, www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(18)30130-5/fulltext.

[2] Marciani, L., Garsed, K. C., Hoad, C. L., Fields, A., Fordham, I., Pritchard, S. E., … Spiller, R. C. (2014). Stimulation of colonic motility by oral PEG electrolyte bowel preparation assessed by MRI: comparison of split vs single dose. Neurogastroenterology and motility : the official journal of the European Gastrointestinal Motility Society, 26(10), 1426–1436. doi:10.1111/nmo.12403

[3] de Oliveira, Erick Prado, and Roberto Carlos Burini. “The Impact of Physical Exercise on the Gastrointestinal Tract.” Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19535976.

[4] InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Can probiotics help against diarrhea? 2016 May 4 [Updated 2019 Dec 19]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK373095/

[5] InformedHealth.org Internet. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Can probiotics help against diarrhea? 2016 May 4 Updated 2019 Dec 19. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK373095/

[6] Paineau, D., Carcano, D., Leyer, G., Darquy, S., Alyanakian, M. A., Simoneau, G., Bergmann, J. F., Brassart, D., Bornet, F., & Ouwehand, A. C. (2008). Effects of seven potential probiotic strains on specific immune responses in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial. FEMS immunology and medical microbiology, 53(1), 107–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2008.00413.x