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.

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.

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.

Toast is another easily digested, low fiber food that will help to firm up your stool. For added nutrition, you should feel free to spread jam on your toast if you can stomach it. You will probably want to avoid butter and peanut butter, as they are high in fat, which is hard on your stomach.

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.)

Think options rich in simple carbs, like toast or crackers, which can soothe your bubbly bowels. Just make sure to keep it simple: Even if you normally eat toast with butter or crackers with peanut butter or drizzled with hot sauce, you may want to stick to plain while your gut's in overdrive.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Aside from the basics of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, and potentially the other bland foods mentioned, the BRAT diet pretty much excludes every other food. Foods to avoid on the BRAT diet include the following: Meat, poultry, fish, and other forms of protein. Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy.

You can add other bland foods to the BRAT diet. For example, you can try saltine crackers, plain potatoes, or clear soup broths. Don't start eating dairy products, sugary, or fatty foods right away. These foods may trigger nausea or lead to more diarrhea.

Here's how it works: Mix 1 teaspoon carob powder or cinnamon powder with 1/2 cup applesauce (use half this amount for children). Cinnamon has antimicrobial, demulcent (soothing), and astringent (tissue-tightening) properties to help fight infections, tighten tissue, and stop diarrhea.

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.

The BRAT (bananas, rice, apples, toast) diet is often recommended for patients suffering from diarrhea or the stomach flu. In addition to these foods, you may also consume other mild foods that ease the GI tract such as saltines, oatmeal, or boiled potatoes.