Does Not Eating Help Diarrhea? Understanding the Role of Nutrition

October 11, 2025 •

4 min read

Acute diarrhea, a common ailment, usually resolves within a few days, but it can be uncomfortable and dehydrating. While some believe fasting can provide relief, the answer to the question, does not eating help diarrhea, is more nuanced. Most experts advise against it, recommending that proper nutrition and hydration are key to a speedy recovery.

Quick Summary

Fasting is not generally recommended for acute diarrhea due to the risks of dehydration and nutrient loss. Instead, focusing on a diet of bland, low-fiber foods, prioritizing fluid and electrolyte intake, and avoiding certain trigger foods is the most effective strategy for managing symptoms and promoting healing.

Key Points

Avoid fasting: With acute diarrhea, skipping meals is not recommended and can increase the risk of dehydration and nutrient deficiency.
Prioritize hydration: Replenish lost fluids and electrolytes by drinking water, broths, and electrolyte replacement drinks.
Start with bland foods: Introduce bland, low-fiber options like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (the BRAT diet) to calm the digestive system.
Eat small, frequent meals: Opting for smaller, more frequent meals can be easier on the stomach than three large meals.
Avoid irritants: Steer clear of high-fat, spicy, or high-sugar foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen symptoms.
Know when to seek help: If diarrhea persists for more than a few days, or if symptoms include fever, blood, or signs of severe dehydration, contact a doctor.

The Dangers of Fasting for Diarrhea

When experiencing diarrhea, the body is rapidly losing fluids, electrolytes, and essential nutrients. While giving your digestive system a short rest might seem logical, prolonged fasting is not a recommended or sustainable solution. The potential downsides far outweigh any perceived benefits, particularly for acute cases. Fasting can significantly increase the risk of dehydration, especially for young children and the elderly, whose bodies are more susceptible to fluid imbalances.

Additionally, your body needs nutrients to repair and recover. A lack of food can lead to fatigue and general weakness, hindering your body's ability to fight off the infection or irritant causing the diarrhea. For individuals with chronic conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or collagenous colitis, fasting may temporarily alleviate symptoms, but it's not a viable long-term strategy and should only be considered under a doctor's guidance.

The Best Foods to Eat When You Have Diarrhea

Eating bland, low-fiber foods can help firm up stools and prevent further irritation to the digestive tract. The classic BRAT diet is a good starting point, though it lacks nutritional variety for long-term use.

The BRAT Diet and Beyond

The BRAT diet consists of:

Bananas: High in potassium, which is often lost during diarrhea.
Rice (white): A bland, low-fiber starch that is easy to digest.
Applesauce: Pectin in applesauce can help bind stools.
Toast (white bread): Low in fiber and well-tolerated.

Beyond the BRAT diet, you can gradually reintroduce other bland foods. Focus on small, frequent meals rather than three large ones to ease the burden on your digestive system.

Additional well-tolerated foods include:

Cooked cereals, such as oatmeal or cream of wheat.
Soda crackers.
Baked or boiled potatoes (without the skin).
Cooked carrots and green beans.
Plain baked or broiled lean meat like chicken or turkey.
Scrambled or cooked eggs.
Low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt, if dairy is well-tolerated.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Just as important as knowing what to eat is knowing what to avoid. Certain foods and beverages can exacerbate diarrhea symptoms and prolong recovery.

Foods to avoid include:

Fatty and fried foods: Greasy, high-fat meals can worsen diarrhea.
Dairy products: For some, diarrhea can cause temporary lactose intolerance.
Spicy foods: Can irritate the digestive tract.
High-fiber foods: Raw vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes can be difficult to digest.
Certain fruits: Citrus fruits, cherries, grapes, and seeded berries can worsen symptoms.
Sugary drinks and artificial sweeteners: Excess sugar and sugar alcohols like sorbitol can pull fluid into the intestines.
Caffeine and alcohol: These can act as diuretics and dehydrate the body further.

The Critical Role of Hydration

Dehydration is the most serious complication of diarrhea. Drinking plenty of fluids is not optional; it is essential for recovery.

Recommended fluids include:

Water.
Clear broths.
Electrolyte replacement drinks (like Pedialyte for children, or sports drinks diluted with water for adults).
Diluted fruit juices (like apple juice, but be mindful of high sugar content).
Weak, decaffeinated tea.

Aim to drink at least one cup of liquid after each loose bowel movement to replenish lost fluids and electrolytes. For homemade oral rehydration solutions, consult a healthcare provider or a trusted resource like Alberta Health Services.

Comparison of Diarrhea Diets


	BRAT Diet (Initial Stage)	Bland, Low-Fiber Diet (Progression)
Recommended For	First 24-48 hours of acute diarrhea to calm the digestive system.	Gradual reintroduction of nutrients after initial symptoms subside.
Key Foods	Bananas, white rice, applesauce, white toast.	Cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, well-cooked vegetables, soda crackers, oatmeal.
Nutritional Value	Limited in protein, fat, and fiber. Not nutritionally complete for long-term use.	Provides more varied nutrients, including protein and vitamins, to support recovery.
Long-Term Feasibility	Not suitable for extended periods due to nutritional deficiencies.	Can be sustained for a few days to a week as symptoms improve.
Primary Goal	To be gentle on the stomach and bind stools.	To restore nutritional balance while avoiding irritation.

Conclusion

When a stomach bug strikes and you face diarrhea, the decision to fast is often counterproductive. While a short period of avoiding solids can help, deliberately starving yourself is not the answer and can lead to complications like dehydration and malnutrition. The correct approach involves staying hydrated, starting with a bland diet like BRAT, and slowly reintroducing easy-to-digest, low-fiber foods. By prioritizing strategic eating and proper hydration, you can support your body's natural healing process and recover more quickly. If symptoms are severe, persistent, or accompanied by fever or bloody stools, it is crucial to consult a healthcare provider.

For more detailed guidance on managing diarrhea with nutrition, consult resources from a reputable organization like the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is not recommended to eat your normal, full-fat or high-fiber diet while you have diarrhea. Instead, start with a bland diet of easily digestible foods and gradually return to your regular diet as your symptoms improve.

The BRAT diet consists of Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. These foods are bland, low in fiber, and can help bind stools and calm the digestive system during the first day or two of diarrhea.

Diarrhea causes your body to lose a significant amount of fluid and electrolytes. Replenishing these is critical to prevent dehydration, which is a serious complication, especially for children and the elderly.

You may need to avoid milk and other lactose-containing dairy products for a few days, as diarrhea can cause temporary lactose intolerance. Yogurt with live cultures, however, may be an exception as probiotics can help restore healthy gut bacteria.

Sports drinks can help replenish electrolytes lost during diarrhea, but it is best to choose low-sugar varieties or dilute them with water. Overly sugary drinks can draw more fluid into the intestines and worsen symptoms.

For some chronic conditions like IBS or functional diarrhea, fasting may temporarily improve symptoms, but this should only be done under a doctor's supervision. It is not a recommended treatment for acute diarrhea.

You should see a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than a couple of days, if you have a high fever, bloody stools, or show signs of severe dehydration such as dry mouth or decreased urination.