The 10 Best Natural Remedies For Diarrhea According To A Doctor

  references
  
      UPMC: "Diarrhea Causes, Treatment, and Symptoms"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Diarrhea: When to See a Doctor"
    
      FDA: "Problems Digesting Dairy Products?"
    
      American Family Physician: "Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Summary of the Evidence"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes"
    
      MyFoodData: "Top 10 High Fat Foods to Avoid"
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Is something in your diet causing diarrhea?"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Food Problems: Is it an Allergy or Intolerance"
    
      Molecules: "Capsaicin, Nociception and Pain"
    
      International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders: "Common Causes of Chronic Diarrhea"
    
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Alcohol Use and Your Health"
    
      OncoLink: "Low Fiber Diet for Diarrhea"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Fecal incontinence"
    
      Pharmacy Today: "Apple cider vinegar for diabetes: Limited evidence, potential risks"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Ginger Ale and Saltine Crackers? 5 Ways to Ease Stomach Pain and Nausea"

Is this an emergency? If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, please see the National Library of Medicine’s list of signs you need emergency medical attention or call 911.

Yogurt and other foods that pack probiotics may help get your gut back on track if you're dealing with diarrhea.

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Foods With Soluble Fiber
Plain Foods
Probiotic Foods
Hydration
No Artificial Sweeteners
Limit Dairy
No Fatty or Fried Foods
No Spicy Foods
No Caffeine
No Alcohol
When to See a Doctor

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Unflavored oatmeal and apples are considered binding foods for diarrhea because they're high in soluble fiber.

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Lemons are high in soluble fiber, but they’re not very pleasant to eat. Instead, try citrus fruits like oranges or grapefruit (and keep in mind that fruit juices do not contain fiber).

Eating five to six smaller meals throughout the day may be easier on your digestive system than eating three larger meals, per OncoLink.

The probiotics in sauerkraut may help naturally stop diarrhea.

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It’s not clear whether apple cider vinegar can be counted among the home remedies for diarrhea. Some research, including a February 2016 paper in Pharmacy Today, notes that ACV might delay the emptying of the stomach, which sounds promising. But ACV is also very acidic, which could irritate the gut and lead to digestive problems for some people.

Wondering what to drink for diarrhea? Plain old water is your best bet.

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Ginger root can help alleviate nausea and vomiting, according to the Cleveland Clinic, which are symptoms that often accompany diarrhea. But research is mixed on whether ginger can help get rid of diarrhea. And keep in mind that many ginger ale drinks may be made with artificial flavorings rather than natural ginger.

When it comes to home remedies for diarrhea, what you don't eat is just as important as what you do eat.

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Holding off on spicy foods like chili can help stop diarrhea fast at home.

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A specific food intolerance could be causing your diarrhea. Other symptoms of food intolerance include stomach pain or cramping, gas and bloating, per the Cleveland Clinic. Keeping a food journal can help you identify possible trigger foods and limit or avoid them going forward.

It's best to say no to alcohol when you're trying to treat watery diarrhea.

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Dr. Meisner notes that if you’re having chronic or reoccurring diarrhea, it’s important to assess whether it could be fecal incontinence instead. Diarrhea is defined as an increased amount of stool, but fecal incontinence is when you don’t have the ability to control your bowel movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. This often results in accidents or soiling of undergarments and is not necessarily increased quantity of stool. The difference is important, Dr. Meisner says, because a doctor will need to assess the two conditions differently, so don’t be afraid to speak with your doctor if you are actually experiencing incidents of incontinence and not just diarrhea.

Diarrhea is defined as an increased amount of stool, but fecal incontinence is when you don’t have the ability to control your bowel movements, according to the Mayo Clinic. This often results in accidents or soiling of undergarments and is not necessarily increased quantity of stool.

The difference is important, Dr. Meisner says, because a doctor will need to assess the two conditions differently, so don’t be afraid to speak with your doctor if you are actually experiencing incidents of incontinence and not just diarrhea.

      UPMC: "Diarrhea Causes, Treatment, and Symptoms"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Diarrhea: When to See a Doctor"
    
      FDA: "Problems Digesting Dairy Products?"
    
      American Family Physician: "Probiotics for Gastrointestinal Conditions: A Summary of the Evidence"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Artificial sweeteners and other sugar substitutes"
    
      MyFoodData: "Top 10 High Fat Foods to Avoid"
    
      Harvard Health Publishing: "Is something in your diet causing diarrhea?"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Food Problems: Is it an Allergy or Intolerance"
    
      Molecules: "Capsaicin, Nociception and Pain"
    
      International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders: "Common Causes of Chronic Diarrhea"
    
      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "Alcohol Use and Your Health"
    
      OncoLink: "Low Fiber Diet for Diarrhea"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet"
    
      Mayo Clinic: "Fecal incontinence"
    
      Pharmacy Today: "Apple cider vinegar for diabetes: Limited evidence, potential risks"
    
      Cleveland Clinic: "Ginger Ale and Saltine Crackers? 5 Ways to Ease Stomach Pain and Nausea"