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Are you suffering from diarrhoea, vomiting or a stomach virus and want to consume something for it? Walk into any drugstore, pharmacy or the health conditions related section of your favorite supermarket and you’ll be bombarded with a plethora of options and offers to settle this all too common condition people find themselves in nowadays.
The products available all tell the same story, ‘immediate relief’, ‘quick remedy’ and so on. Perhaps you’ve had your fill of trying this and that without finding something you can count on each and every time. Well, the BRAT diet could be at least part of that solution you’re looking for to help you recover from the effects of any stomach-related illness you may have to go through (6). Some pediatricians regularly recommend it for children with upset stomachs because the main goal of the diet is to give the gut a rest and it can significantly reduce the volume of stool produced.
Lena Beal, M.S., RD, LD, a Piedmont therapeutic dietitian, once noted that in the past paediatricians recommended the diet to children who got sick and then were unable to eat anything (8). BRAT diets won’t irritate your stomach, and a lot of people have testified to the fact that it helped them after illness to get back to normal eating without stress. Some women who were vomiting during pregnancy also found the diet useful (2).
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The rationale behind the BRAT diet is to discourage people from eating foods that can trigger gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea and gas (11). Also, the diet encourages the consumption of the soft, milder foods that don’t have the intense odours and flavours that often make some people feel disgusted and so on.
The BRAT diet is the composition of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. Over the years people have used it to support the treatment of stomach illnesses like stomach flu and diarrhoea.
In both adults and children this way of eating is gentle on the stomach and can help to clear up an upset stomach quickly. The BRAT diet is also easy to digest and can help provide you some nutrients and energy when you are not feeling well.
If you have diarrhoea, the BRAT diet can help to solidify your stool as it contains binding foods like bananas and rice. This can help slow down the movement of stool through your intestine and make it less watery. The BRAT diet can also help to ease nausea and vomiting.
It is important to note that the BRAT diet should not be used as a long-term solution for stomach problems. If you have persistent diarrhoea or vomiting, it is important to see a doctor as you may be dehydrated or have another underlying condition.
There are risks associated with this meal plan. The risks arise from it being deficient in calories and nutrients— it is specifically low in fat and protein.
This is just one of the reasons why doctors recommend the BRAT diet for short-term use only. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has placed a note of warning that as soon a child begins recovering from gut-related illnesses, the intake of a well-balanced diet should immediately be resumed to avoid additional complications.
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Recently there modifications to the traditional BRAT diet have appeared. For instance, there is the BRATT diet, which encourages the addition of drinking tea to the food items, and BRATY diet, which is involves the inclusion of yoghurt to the diet (7).
But is the diet really effective in treating all that it is claimed to be capable of? Well, although no clinical trials have been carried out yet on its effectiveness (10), one can not deny the reports from family members and friends that it has been useful to relieve a number of people of their stomach illnesses.
Some components of the diet have been studied by some researchers. What they have looked into are rice and bananas, and from their research, they discovered that the bananas which are rich in pectin, a starch, make a valuable contribution to the healing of the digestive tract. They also found that in particular, green banana pulp has added goodness in that it can potentially reduce constipation and diarrhoea in children (5).
Research conducted in 2010 by G. H. Rabbani et al. found out that a green banana supplemented diet aided the quick recovery of children suffering from diarrhoea (4). Another study was conducted in 2016 and it found that a rice soup diet was effective in treating children with diarrhoea (9).
As much as components of the BRAT diet may work well for children, it should be noted that it’s good for adults too. The starchy and low-fibre foods serve to make stools firmer. We can especially say this for bananas, which are high in potassium. Therefore this diet has elements which can assist in the replacement of lost nutrients in the body due to diarrhoea and vomiting (2).
Please note that the purpose of the BRAT dietary plan is not for weight loss; it is primarily for the treatment of stomach illnesses like stomach flu and diarrhoea, for example, and this diet is for a short period of time only.
The BRAT diet consists of Bananas, Rice, Apples and Toast, but that does not mean your meal is restricted to them. Depending on how severe the situation is with your health, you may want to add solids into your meals after a few days (1). So, what else can you eat on the BRAT diet?
You may also choose to add some other bland foods (gastrointestinal soft foods which are low in fibre and gentle on the digestive system) to your BRAT diet foods (11). These may include:
Understanding the fact that the possibility of dehydration may occur, you need to be sure to drink enough fluids. Some of the liquids you may want to consider include clear broths, water, apple juice, coconut water and herbal teas like those that contain peppermint and ginger (11).
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You may like to try out these BRAT diet recipes (1):
After your stomach has taken some rest from vomiting, have a popsicle or piece of hard candy. Then, if nausea persists, you can sip water or eat ice chips.
Twenty-four hours after the vomiting, you can take liquids.
Consume bland foods like applesauce, bananas, cooked cereals, crackers, jelly and toast.
Start a regular diet. You can add things like stewed fruits, soft-cooked eggs, turkey, cooked vegetables, sherbet or chicken white meat.
Another dietary regimen that you can follow when you are on BRAT diet is in the list below:
As you feed on bananas, applesauce, and toast, slowly add some foods rich in protein that are also probiotic. A few of the ones that you can add to your BRAT diet list include (3):
Lunch And Dinner Foods
Whatever kind of food you eat during lunch and dinner should be rich in protein with some carbohydrates to help regulate watery stools. Remember that excessive fats may not be well tolerated during this period. So, your diet composition can include the following:
You can also prepare a vegetable soup using any of the above-listed ingredients.
Some of the foods that you should not consider include:
BRAT diet can be helpful and temporarily safe when addressing stomach-related illnesses, but then you should always be aware of when it is time to seek medical attention. If you feel any of the symptoms listed below, you should contact a doctor:
The BRAT diet is an old-time dietary plan that paediatricians have used for many years in treating children suffering from stomach-related issues. It has helped people who have felt queasy, nauseous, or have vomited as well as those experiencing diarrhea. However, the reservation most physicians today have is that it is low in protein, fibre and fat, nutrients which are essential for a body’s needs. Consequently, those who follow the plan should not do so for a lengthy period of time and that as soon as possible, they should resume eating a balanced diet.
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