What to Do About Diarrhea? Causes, Daily Life & Diet

Diarrhoea is one of the most unpleasant and at the same time most common digestive complaints. It is usually harmless and clears up on its own, yet it can noticeably disrupt everyday life. In this guide you will learn what lies behind it, when you should take a closer look and how you can support your body.

What lies behind diarrhoea

We speak of diarrhoea when the stool is very soft or liquid more than three times a day. This is usually because the intestine reclaims too little water from the food pulp or moves it along too quickly. Normally the large intestine draws most of the water out of the food pulp, so that formed stool results. If this process is disrupted, more water remains in the intestine and the stool becomes thin.

The triggers are varied: viral or bacterial gastrointestinal infections, spoiled food, travelling to unfamiliar regions, stress, certain medications or intolerances such as to lactose or fructose. Some infections cause diarrhoea because pathogens irritate the intestinal lining and draw more water into the intestine. An intestinal flora that has fallen out of balance, for example after a course of antibiotics, can also play a role. In the vast majority of cases it is acute, short-term diarrhoea that disappears again within a few days.

When you should have it checked by a doctor

You should seek medical advice if the diarrhoea lasts longer than two to three days, is very severe or keeps recurring. Warning signs are blood or mucus in the stool, high fever, severe abdominal pain as well as signs of fluid loss such as pronounced thirst, a dry mouth, dizziness or noticeably less urination.

Particular caution is called for with infants, young children, older people, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses, as they lose dangerously large amounts of fluid more quickly. A medical assessment is also advisable after long-distance travel or if you have recently taken antibiotics.

What you can do in everyday life

The most important thing is to make up for the loss of fluid and salt. Drink plenty of still water, unsweetened tea or diluted broth throughout the day, ideally in small sips rather than large amounts at once. Ready-made electrolyte solutions are available from the pharmacy; they provide water and salts in a balanced ratio and replace the loss in a targeted way.

Give your digestive system a rest and initially eat only small, light portions. Warmth on the stomach, for example with a hot-water bottle, and enough sleep can also do you good. Avoid fatty, heavily spiced or very sugary foods, alcohol and coffee for as long as your intestine reacts sensitively. Also pay attention to thorough hand hygiene, especially after using the toilet and before eating, because many diarrhoea pathogens are passed on via the hands.

If an infection is involved, hygiene also protects the people around you. Your own towels, thorough hand-washing with soap and cleaning bathroom surfaces reduce the risk of infection within the household. During this time, avoid preparing food for others as far as possible. Should you fall ill while out and about or travelling, safe drinks and thoroughly cooked food are a sensible precaution. Also listen to your body's signals: anyone who feels weak should take it easy and not try to push through everyday life under pressure.

Nutrition that supports

Proven gentle foods are rusks, oat porridge, grated apple, mashed banana, cooked carrots and well-cooked rice. These foods are easy to digest and provide carbohydrates as well as some potassium, which is lost with the diarrhoea.

Bananas and carrots bring pectins, soluble fibres that can bind water in the intestine. A classic tip is Moro's carrot soup, in which carrots are cooked for a particularly long time. Clear vegetable broth, mashed potato without much fat and lightly salted soups are also well tolerated and at the same time provide some salt. Ease your way slowly back to normal food and rely on easily digestible options before returning to raw vegetables, pulses or fatty dishes.

A widespread classic is grated apple and mashed banana, because both taste mild, are easy to digest and provide pectins as well as some potassium. Dry rusks or pretzel sticks with still water are a simple combination for taking in carbohydrates and some salt. During the acute phase, do without milk and high-fat dairy products, because the intestine often tolerates them less well during this time. Sugary juices and soft drinks are also unfavourable, since a lot of sugar can additionally draw water into the intestine. Warmth, small portions and patience are the guiding threads you can orient yourself by.

Nutrients & plants with a connection

When it comes to digestive matters, it is worth looking at a few nutrients. Potassium contributes to normal muscle function and to the maintenance of normal blood pressure and is one of the salts that are excreted along with fluid during heavy fluid loss. Zinc contributes to normal carbohydrate metabolism and to the normal function of the immune system.

Magnesium too is among the minerals that can be lost via the intestine; it contributes to normal muscle function and to a normal energy-yielding metabolism. In addition, vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, which can be pleasant during the recovery phase after an exhausting infection. Lactic acid cultures and fibre are traditionally associated with a balanced intestinal flora. In the plant world, dried bilberries as well as chamomile and fennel have long been given a place in digestive care in folk medicine. Such approaches are no substitute for a medical assessment, but they round out the picture.

What remains important is the context: these nutrients fulfil general bodily functions and are not a targeted remedy against diarrhoea. In the acute case, making up for fluid and salts as well as a gentle diet are clearly the priority. Food supplements or special foods can accompany a balanced diet, but in the case of persistent or severe complaints they never replace a medical assessment.

Rebuilding the intestinal flora after diarrhoea

After a gastrointestinal infection or a course of antibiotics, the intestinal flora can be out of balance for a while. The body usually rebuilds its microbial balance on its own, yet a conscious diet can accompany this phase. Fibre-rich foods such as oat flakes, cooked vegetables and, over time, wholegrain products too provide food for the intestinal bacteria. Fermented foods such as yoghurt, kefir or sauerkraut bring live cultures with them. After an acute phase, give your intestine a few days' time before switching back to heavy or very fatty food, and observe what agrees with you.

An unhurried return pays off: begin with small meals and increase quantity and variety step by step, rather than immediately eating lavishly again. Gently cooked vegetables, potatoes, rice and oat porridge are good companions during this transitional period, because they do not overtax the intestine. Raw vegetables, pulses, very fatty dishes and alcohol are best reintroduced only once digestion has noticeably calmed down. Anyone who pays attention to their own signals and gives the body time supports the natural balance most reliably. Enough sleep and little stress also contribute to a good recovery during this phase.

Honestly put into context

Acute diarrhoea is usually a sensible reaction of the body, which is ridding itself of unwanted substances. As a rule it does not require any special remedies, but above all fluid, rest and patience. There is no miracle cure, and no food or food supplement can treat an illness. If warning signs appear or the complaints do not subside, going to the doctor is the right way.

Suitable products from Scheunengut

Anyone who would like to consider their intestinal flora with cultures will find the Flora Intenso Cultures Complex with 23 bacterial strains and 100 billion CFU per gram in our range. The combination provides a high diversity of cultures in concentrated form. This is a food supplement and no substitute for a balanced diet or medical treatment.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

How long does acute diarrhoea usually last?

In most cases, acute diarrhoea improves on its own within two to three days. If it lasts longer, you should seek medical advice.

What should I drink when I have diarrhoea?

Still water, unsweetened herbal tea and diluted broth are ideal. Ready-made electrolyte solutions from the pharmacy additionally make up for salts.

Which foods are well tolerated with diarrhoea?

Rusks, oat porridge, mashed banana, grated apple, cooked carrots and well-cooked rice have proven their worth, because they are easy to digest.

Should I eat nothing at all when I have diarrhoea?

Prolonged fasting is usually not necessary. As soon as you feel up to it, small portions of gentle food help to support your circulation.

Can stress trigger diarrhoea?

Yes, the intestine reacts sensitively to tension. Persistent complaints in connection with stress should nevertheless be checked by a doctor.

How do I rebuild my intestinal flora after diarrhoea?

A fibre-rich diet with cooked vegetables and oat flakes as well as fermented foods such as yoghurt or kefir accompany the natural rebuilding. After an acute phase, give your intestine some time.

When is diarrhoea an emergency?

With blood in the stool, high fever, severe pain or clear signs of fluid loss, the diarrhoea needs to be examined by a doctor immediately.