What Should I Eat If I Have Cryptosporidium?

October 5, 2025 •

4 min read

Over 748,000 cases of cryptosporidiosis were reported in the US between 2004 and 2018, with contaminated recreational water being the most common source. When dealing with this parasitic infection, a key concern is what should I eat if I have cryptosporidium? The primary focus of a nutrition plan is to manage symptoms, prevent dehydration, and support the body's recovery with easily digestible, bland foods while avoiding foods that can exacerbate diarrhea.

Quick Summary

This nutritional guide explains the recommended diet for managing cryptosporidiosis, focusing on hydration and bland, low-fat foods. It outlines which foods and drinks to consume and which to avoid to minimize diarrhea and digestive upset. The guide also details the phased reintroduction of a normal diet as symptoms improve.

Key Points

Prioritize Hydration: Focus on drinking plenty of clear fluids, like water, clear broths, and oral rehydration solutions, to combat severe watery diarrhea and prevent dehydration.
Embrace Bland Foods: Stick to easily digestible, low-fiber foods such as bananas, plain white rice, toast, and applesauce to soothe the digestive system.
Avoid Irritating Foods: Stay away from fatty, spicy, high-fiber, and sugary foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol, which can worsen diarrhea and digestive upset.
Monitor Dairy Intake: Temporarily avoid milk and most dairy products, as cryptosporidiosis can cause secondary lactose intolerance.
Slowly Reintroduce Foods: Gradually add more nutrient-dense, cooked foods back into your diet as symptoms improve to prevent malnutrition.
Seek Medical Guidance for Persistent Symptoms: Consult a healthcare provider if diarrhea is severe or persistent, particularly if you are immunocompromised.

Immediate Dietary Focus: Hydration and Bland Foods

When you have cryptosporidiosis, severe watery diarrhea is the most common symptom. The immediate dietary priority is preventing dehydration, which is a significant risk, especially for young children and the immunocompromised. Focusing on easily digestible, bland foods and clear fluids will help soothe your digestive system.

Prioritizing Fluids and Electrolytes

During the initial phase of the illness, you will lose significant fluids and electrolytes. Replenishing these is crucial. Water alone is not enough, as electrolytes like sodium and potassium are also depleted.

Oral Rehydration Solutions (ORS): These are specifically formulated to replace lost salts and fluids. Brands like Pedialyte are excellent options.
Clear Broths: Chicken, vegetable, or beef broth can help replace lost sodium and other minerals.
Diluted Juices: Diluted apple or cranberry juice can be an option, but avoid undiluted, sugary juices that can worsen diarrhea.
Sports Drinks: Certain sports drinks can help replenish electrolytes but should be used in moderation due to high sugar content, which can worsen diarrhea for some.

Embracing a Bland Diet

The traditional BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) is often suggested for digestive issues, but experts now recommend a slightly broader 'bland diet' to ensure adequate nutrients. The goal is to provide sustenance without irritating the gut.

Foods to include:

Bananas: Rich in potassium to help replace lost electrolytes and easy to digest.
White Rice: A starchy, low-fiber food that can help bind stool.
Applesauce: Easy on the stomach and provides some quick energy.
White Toast or Crackers: Simple, low-fiber carbohydrates that are gentle on the digestive system.
Cooked Cereals: Oatmeal or Cream of Wheat can be soothing.
Plain Proteins: Lean, skinless chicken or turkey, cooked thoroughly.
Boiled or Mashed Potatoes: A good source of energy without being too fibrous.

Foods and Drinks to Avoid During Infection

Certain foods can exacerbate symptoms like diarrhea, gas, and bloating and should be avoided until you have fully recovered. These items are often high in fat, sugar, or fiber, making them harder for your compromised digestive system to process.

Dairy Products: Lactose intolerance can develop temporarily, so it is best to avoid milk, cheese, and ice cream.
Caffeine and Alcohol: These can increase dehydration and irritate the gastrointestinal tract.
High-Fiber Foods: While healthy normally, whole grains, nuts, and most raw vegetables can worsen diarrhea in the short term.
Greasy and Spicy Foods: Fried and heavily spiced foods are difficult to digest and can upset a sensitive stomach.
Sugary Drinks: Soda and undiluted fruit juices have high sugar content that can worsen diarrhea.
Untreated Water: Drinking water from untreated sources like lakes, rivers, or streams is a common way to contract cryptosporidiosis, so it must be avoided.

Comparison of Recommended vs. Avoided Foods


Recommended Foods (Phase 1)	Foods to Avoid (Initial Phase)
Bananas, Applesauce	Dairy products (milk, cheese)
Plain White Rice, Toast	High-fiber foods (nuts, legumes)
Clear Broths (Chicken, Veggie)	Greasy, spicy, or fatty foods
Oral Rehydration Solutions	Caffeine (coffee, tea, soda)
Cooked Lean Proteins (Chicken)	Alcohol and sugary drinks
Boiled Potatoes	Raw fruits and vegetables

Phased Reintroduction and Chronic Cases

As your symptoms begin to subside, you can slowly reintroduce other foods. It's best to start with small portions and monitor how your body reacts before returning to a full, varied diet.

Phase 2: Gentle Reintroduction

After the initial acute phase, you can start adding more nutrients back into your diet. This transition period helps prevent malnutrition that can result from a limited bland diet.

Cooked Vegetables: Well-cooked carrots, green beans, or squash are good choices.
Low-fat Probiotics: Small amounts of plain yogurt or kefir can help restore beneficial gut bacteria, assuming no lactose intolerance issues.
Eggs: Soft-cooked eggs can provide protein.
More Fluid Options: Herbal teas like ginger or peppermint can be soothing.

Chronic Cryptosporidiosis Management

For those with compromised immune systems, cryptosporidiosis can become a chronic issue requiring long-term dietary management under a healthcare provider's supervision. In these cases, consistent nutritional support is crucial to avoid malnutrition. Supportive care may involve a lactose-free diet and sometimes nutritional supplements, such as zinc or glutamine. In severe cases, intravenous (IV) fluids and nutrition may be necessary.

Conclusion

Navigating your diet with cryptosporidiosis involves a phased approach focused on hydration and digestive support. Initially, concentrate on replacing fluids and electrolytes with oral rehydration solutions and clear broths, and stick to a bland diet of easily digestible foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. As your symptoms improve, gradually reintroduce cooked vegetables, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy. It is crucial to avoid greasy, spicy, and high-fiber foods, along with caffeine and alcohol, until you have fully recovered. For persistent or severe symptoms, especially in immunocompromised individuals, immediate medical consultation is essential for proper management and treatment.

Additional Resources

For more information on cryptosporidiosis, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website: CDC Cryptosporidium Prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions

To stay hydrated, drink plenty of clear fluids like water and clear broths. Oral rehydration solutions (ORS) are highly recommended because they help replace lost electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which plain water does not.

It is generally best to avoid dairy products, including milk, cheese, and ice cream, during a cryptosporidiosis infection. The illness can sometimes cause temporary lactose intolerance, and dairy can worsen diarrhea.

You should avoid alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea, soda), and highly sugary drinks like undiluted fruit juices, as they can contribute to dehydration and further irritate your digestive system. Untreated water from lakes, rivers, or streams must also be avoided.

The BRAT diet is helpful for short-term symptom relief, but it is very restrictive. Experts now suggest following a more inclusive bland diet that also includes plain chicken, boiled potatoes, and cooked vegetables to ensure you receive more complete nutrition.

You should gradually reintroduce your normal diet as your symptoms subside. Start with small portions of cooked, gentle foods and monitor your body's reaction. Slowly incorporate more varied foods over a few days as you tolerate them.

Some evidence suggests that nutritional supplements, particularly zinc or glutamine, can assist with nutritional support during recovery, especially in chronic cases. However, you should consult a healthcare provider before taking any supplements.

Foods that are easy to digest include bananas, white rice, applesauce, white toast, crackers, cooked oatmeal, and skinless, lean cooked proteins like chicken or turkey.