Benefits, Foods Included, and GI Uses. The BRAT diet(Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, Toast) was once a staple of most pediatricians' recommendations for children with an upset stomach. The idea was that it gave the gut a chance to rest and reduced the amount of stool produced. Experts now say the BRAT diet may not be the best option for children who are ill. Because BRAT diet foods are low in fiber, protein, and fat, the diet lacks enough nutrition to help a child's gastrointestinal tract recover. The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that kids resume eating a normal, well- balanced diet appropriate for their age within 2. That diet should include a mix of fruits, vegetables, meat, yogurt, and complex carbohydrates. Both children and adults who are ill need to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Water is good, but adding broth, a sports drink, or a rehydration solution can help replace lost electrolytes. Call your health care provider if you or your child experiences: Diarrhea that lasts for more than three days. A temperature of 1. Fahrenheit or higher. Reduced urine. Lightheadedness. No tears or sunken cheeks. Sources. SOURCES: Dziwe, N. Emergency Medicine News, January 2. Kliegman, R. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics, 2.
Rakel, R. Textbook of Family Medicine, 2. Diarrhea. Postgraduate Medicine, January 2. Parrish, C. Practical Gastroenterology, June 2. All rights reserved. Is It a Good Idea? The BRAT diet is a bland, easily digestible diet. For decades, it has been prescribed for adults and children with gastroenteritis, an infection of the intestines commonly known as the stomach flu. However, the BRAT diet has been criticized for being overly restrictive. This article takes a detailed look at the BRAT diet and whether it is appropriate during recovery from digestive illness. What Is the BRAT Diet? BRAT is an acronym for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. These are the main foods that make up the BRAT diet. Many people follow the BRAT diet when transitioning to normal eating after illnesses involving vomiting and diarrhea. It is intended to be followed for up to 4. The BRAT diet has been prescribed for both children and adults because the foods it contains are bland, easy to digest and may be helpful for nausea. Bottom Line: The BRAT diet contains bland, easy- to- digest foods like bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. It is often prescribed for people recovering from illnesses that involve vomiting and diarrhea. History of the BRAT Diet. Until fairly recently, it was believed that the intestinal tract should rest during and after digestive illness. Up until the 1. 98. The first mention of the BRAT diet was nearly a century ago, in a 1. The report described the diet’s use for children with intestinal illness involving severe diarrhea and dehydration (2). Today, many people consider the BRAT diet the best way to manage diarrhea in both children and adults. However, despite its widespread use over the past century, there has been very little research on the BRAT diet to support its efficacy. Bottom Line: The BRAT diet was first mentioned in a paper in 1. It has been widely used in cases of vomiting and diarrhea, despite a lack of evidence to support its use. Foods to Eat and Avoid on the BRAT Diet. The BRAT diet only allows a few foods and liquids, although they can be consumed in unlimited quantities based on appetite. Foods Allowed on the BRAT Diet. Bananas. White rice. Applesauce. Toast made from white bread. Soda crackers. Clear liquids including water, weak tea, broth, juice, electrolyte- containing beverages, such as sports drinks, and soda that’s flat and caffeine- free. Foods to Avoid on the BRAT Diet. Information about the BRAT, BRATTY, and BRATT diet for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, indigestion, and an upset stomach.Meat, fish and poultry. Eggs. Dairy products. Fruits other than bananas and applesauce. Vegetables. Nuts and seeds. Whole grains. Beans and legumes. Beverages that contain caffeine. Carbonated beverages. Bottom Line: The BRAT diet excludes most foods other than bananas, applesauce, refined grain products and clear liquids. Advantages of the BRAT Diet. Diarrhea is a. 3 Ways to Treat Diarrhea. Fluids, a bland diet. Some bland foods include bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast — otherwise known as the BRAT diet. The Brat diet has been formulated to help you when you have an upset stomach and are suffering with nausea, and diarrhea. It can be difficult to know what to eat and. The BRAT diet has certain advantages. It consists of easy- to- digest foods that are unlikely to irritate the gut or cause nausea during digestive illness. Although there are no studies supporting the BRAT diet’s ability to decrease diarrhea, there is research on certain foods in the diet suggesting they may help. Bananas may act as a binding agent and provide other anti- diarrhea effects. In a study of tube- fed, hospitalized patients, 5. It appears that green or unripe bananas are particularly effective at reducing diarrhea. Green bananas contain resistant starch, which bacteria that live in your gut ferment into short- chain fatty acids. Research suggests that these short- chain fatty acids may increase the gut’s ability to reabsorb water and nutrients, which can be very beneficial during episodes of diarrhea (4). One researcher conducted several studies in children with diarrhea and reported that including green bananas in their diets consistently reduced the severity of diarrhea and led to faster recovery (4, 5, 6). One of these studies looked at more than 2,9. They found 8. 0% of those who received green bananas experienced resolution of diarrhea within three days, compared to 5. Rice has also been shown to provide anti- diarrheal activity. Most of these studies looked at the effects of rice- based oral rehydration solutions, which are used to treat diarrhea- related dehydration (7, 8, 9, 1. However, a large analysis of 1. Bottom Line: Studies have found that green bananas and rice- based solutions may help reduce the duration and severity of diarrhea. Disadvantages of the BRAT Diet. The BRAT diet’s main disadvantage is that it does not provide the appropriate nutrition that people recovering from illness need. These individuals are already nutritionally depleted due to vomiting, diarrhea and poor appetite. This is especially concerning for children and the frail elderly, who are more likely to become malnourished and are at greater risk of repeated illness than strong, healthy adults are. The BRAT diet is very low in protein, fat and other nutrients that are needed for proper healing. In one study, researchers analyzed the nutritional content of the usual diet of a two- year- old versus the nutrition of the BRAT diet. They reported the following (1. Calories: 3. 00 fewer calories on the BRAT diet. Protein: 7. 0% lower on the BRAT diet. Fat: 8. 0% lower on the BRAT diet. The BRAT diet also provided far less than the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for key nutrients involved in healing: Vitamin A: 1. RDIVitamin B1. 2: 0% of the RDICalcium: 1. RDIAlthough the BRAT diet is intended to be followed for no longer than two days, there have been reports of children remaining on the diet until diarrhea resolves, which may be considerably longer. In 1. 99. 8, researchers reported the case of two young children who followed the BRAT diet for two weeks and developed severe malnutrition due to insufficient protein and calorie intake (1. The nutritional inadequacy of the BRAT diet has been acknowledged by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and the European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. These organizations now recommend that children resume a normal, age- appropriate diet within 2. Bottom Line: The BRAT diet does not provide enough calories, protein or key nutrients to ensure proper healing from digestive illness in children and the elderly. Extending the diet beyond a few days may lead to malnutrition. Alternative Dietary Strategies for Digestive Illness. Here are some ideas for you to try during and after digestive illness, instead of following the BRAT diet: Take probiotics or eat probiotic- rich yogurt: Certain probiotics can help reduce diarrhea, including Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus GG and Saccharomyces boulardii (1. Take prebiotic fiber: Prebiotic fiber feeds healthy gut bacteria. In one study, diarrhea resolved significantly faster in children and adults given prebiotics, compared to those given a placebo (1. Begin a regular diet within 2. Foods rich in protein, vitamins and minerals provide nutrition needed for proper recovery. Add small amounts of meat, fish, eggs, yogurt and cooked vegetables first. Avoid foods that worsen diarrhea: These include milk, sugar, fried foods, spicy foods and caffeinated beverages. You can add them back into your diet gradually after a few days. Include BRAT foods: Including bananas and rice as part of a balanced diet may help firm up loose stools. Bananas can also help replenish potassium lost during sickness. Drink electrolyte- rich fluids: Bone broth, chicken broth or beef broth are good options to replace water and electrolytes. For children, oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte are recommended (2. Bottom Line: Taking probiotics and prebiotics, consuming a balanced diet and rehydrating can help promote recovery from intestinal illness. Take Home Message. Pediatricians and other experts now believe the BRAT diet is unnecessarily restrictive for digestive illness. It may even hinder recovery because it doesn’t provide enough calories, protein or important nutrients. For healthy adults, following the BRAT diet for a few days is unlikely to cause problems, but there is no evidence it will help resolve your symptoms more quickly. For children and the elderly, resuming a normal diet as soon as possible is recommended to regain strength, ensure proper healing and prevent malnutrition.
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