Ask anyone who has struggled with diarrhea about their experiences, and they will most likely tell you that it is not a walk in the park. People dealing with diarrhea have to frequently expel loose and watery stools, alongside other symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and fever.¹

While most acute diarrhea cases may last for around two to three days,² it can also take on a chronic form that may last for four or more weeks.³

Not only do instances of diarrhea equate to more bathroom trips and reduced time for work or play, but a higher risk for dehydration too. This can complicate your situation even more and make you more prone to other health issues.

Lessen your risk for dehydration and other issues related to diarrhea by making early recovery a priority! Learn how to rehydrate and support your body after dealing with vomiting related to diarrhea and other ways you can boost your health during this time.

What the Body Goes Through if You’re Dehydrated Due to Diarrhea

Health experts consider dehydration a severe complication linked to diarrhea.⁴ This health issue may occur among people with diarrhea since their bodies expel watery stools, and along with them, fluids and electrolytes.⁵ If vomiting also happens during this time, there is a higher risk for mineral and (more) fluid loss too.⁶

Babies, children, and older adults are some of the age groups most prone to dehydration linked to diarrhea. Common symptoms of dehydration include:⁷

• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Extreme thirst
• Reduced frequency of urination
• Darker-colored urine
• Irritability
• Decreased skin elasticity (skin that has been pinched stays in place)

Once you notice the early warning signs of dehydration, it’s crucial that these be acted upon ASAP. Failure to do so can greatly increase someone’s risk for health problems like seizures, low blood pressure levels, kidney stones, kidney failure, urinary tract infections, stroke, heart attack, or even death.^8,9

What’s the Best Way to Rehydrate During and After Diarrhea?

To answer this question, you may want to take a closer look at your diet, especially what you eat and drink. If you’re curious about how to recover and rehydrate while and after dealing with diarrhea, vomiting, or even dehydration, remember these tips:

1. Increase fluid intake: This is undeniably one of the most helpful ways to replenish the body after it loses so much fluid due to diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, or all of the above. Doing so may also help reduce the risk of further dehydration.

   The top fluid of choice when it comes to boosting fluid intake remains to be clean drinking water.¹⁰ According to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine based in the U.S., adequate total water intake for men and women aged 19 to 30 years old stands at 3.7 liters for the former and 2.7 liters for the latter.¹¹ However, to be on the safe side, you might want to already reach for your trusty glass or tumbler and drink water from it when you are feeling thirsty.¹²

   Aside from clean water, you can also consider other fluids that contain electrolytes like broth, fruit juice, or coconut water.¹³

2. Consider oral rehydration solutions: If symptoms of dehydration are present, these rehydration solutions may be recommended for older adults, children, and immunocompromised people. These typically contain some amounts of electrolytes and glucose that may help replenish the body’s fluid stores. Just make sure to get the clearance of your doctor prior to taking these solutions.

3. Add probiotic-rich food to your diet:¹⁴ Probiotics, or good bacteria, can be found in your gut, mouth, skin, lungs, and even the urinary tract. Their main tasks include maintaining balance between good and bad bacteria in the body,¹⁵ promoting further growth of other probiotics, and preventing growth of pathogens in the body.¹⁶

   Initial research has linked probiotic intake to targeting germs responsible for diarrhea,¹⁷ improving efficiency of treatments after two days, and reducing duration and hospital stays among kids dealing with this health issue.¹⁸

   Examples of healthy, probiotic-rich food in Filipino cuisine that can be consumed on a daily basis include atchara, burong mustasa, and burong mangga.¹⁹ Yogurt can be another probiotic-rich option, but ONLY if the chosen variant is low in sugar AND the patient is not lactose-intolerant. Be extra careful about eating yogurt since a lot of dairy products are a no-no if you have diarrhea.

4. Boost your health with the BRAT diet:²⁰ When spelled out, the BRAT diet stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. Albeit bland and lacking in flavor, these food choices have been recommended for people dealing with diarrhea because these contain low amounts of fiber, help firm up stool, and do not disrupt the digestive system intensely and cause bowel movements.

   In particular, bananas are also home to valuable electrolytes that can be eliminated from the body if you have diarrhea.²¹ These electrolytes assist in vital processes such as regulating chemical reactions within the body and maintaining fluid balance inside and outside cells.²² 

   Other food options to consider if you have diarrhea include soda crackers, low-sugar apple juice, or baked or boiled potatoes.

5. Avoid dairy products: Speaking of dairy, health experts have recommended that people with diarrhea or those recovering from it avoid eating or drinking milk, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products.

   People with diarrhea may have lower amounts of an enzyme called lactase that the body needs to digest a sugar called lactose found in dairy products. This decreases the body’s ability to digest dairy, eventually causing diarrhea and its other symptoms.²³

6. Avoid caffeinated drinks, like coffee:²⁴ If you cannot function without coffee, you may have to cut back if you have diarrhea. Acids found in this well-loved drink may raise the body’s levels of a hormone called gastrin. This hormone then triggers involuntary muscle movement in the stomach and results in increased bowel movement.²⁵

   Caffeinated drinks like coffee, especially when consumed in high amounts, can also act as diuretics that increase the amount of urine that the body produces and expels. When you urinate more but fail to replenish with adequate hydration, your body becomes more at risk for fluid loss and dehydration.²⁶

   Both of these health issues can negatively impact road to recovery after diarrhea. Other caffeinated drinks and food you may want to avoid for the time-being include green tea, sodas, and chocolate.²⁷

7. Avoid alcoholic drinks:²⁸ You have probably been told to drink water while drinking alcoholic drinks. It’s because alcohol is a known diuretic that may result in vital fluids being removed from the blood (and the body). If you keep on drinking alcoholic drinks but fail to replenish with water, you’re more than likely to experience dehydration and put your body at risk for various health issues.

8. When in doubt, ask your doctor: Got other questions about the best (and worst) food and drinks for your recovery? Ask your doctor. They can help you understand what may be causing your diarrhea or dehydration, and recommend medicines and strategies to help you recover.

Add This Probiotic Supplement to Your Post-Diarrhea Care Plan

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to predict when diarrhea (and vomiting and dehydration that may arise from it) can affect you or someone you know. If you have just dealt with diarrhea, vomiting, or dehydration, or just want to reduce your overall risk for these health issues, consider taking a probiotic supplement like Biome® GutCare!

Biome® Gut Care contains 5 billion colony-forming units (CFUs) of a probiotic called Saccharomyces boulardii. This supplement may help reduce the frequency and duration of gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, together with proper diet and exercise.

Plus, probiotics like Saccharomyces boulardii as a whole are known to aid the body in maintaining good gut and overall health while lowering the risk for illnesses like diarrhea.

If you’re ready to boost your probiotic intake, take one (1) capsule of Biome® Gut Care once a day alongside food. Prior to taking this supplement, talk to your doctor about the ideal administration, dose, and intake of Biome® Gut Care. This also applies if you are taking other medications or have been diagnosed with a medical condition.

Meanwhile, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a yeast allergy, or are undergoing antifungal therapy, avoid taking this probiotic supplement. After taking Biome® Gut Care, store the capsules in a cool and dry place that’s away from direct sunlight. Take note that Biome® Gut Care should only be taken by adults.

Biome® Gut Care is available in leading drugstores nationwide and online on Lazada and Shopee at Php 35.00 SRP per capsule.

MAHALAGANG PAALALA: ANG BIOME® GUT CARE AY HINDI GAMOT AT HINDI DAPAT GAMITING PANGGAMOT SA ANUMANG URI NG SAKIT.