Digestive Health

Best Drinks for Diarrhea That You Must Include in Your Diet

Believe it or not, diarrhea is a common health condition hampers the digestive system. It could last for one to two days if the condition is acute. The watery and loose stools, along with dehydration, are common and alarming signs of diarrhea that should be addressed immediately.

If this condition doesn’t subside in a day or two, it is essential to see the doctor and check for an underlying condition, if any. However, to treat the disease effectively and rehydrate oneself, it is advisable to go for some of the best drinks for diarrhea that help in retaining the water content in the body and keep you refreshed and healthy.

Best Drinks to Treat Diarrhea

Although there is no alternative better than water to keep you hydrated when suffering from diarrhea, there are a few best drinks to treat diarrhea. Here are some best drinks to rehydrate after diarrhea and even during the condition.

[Also Read: Natural Treatments to cure Diarrhea]

1. Electrolyte Drink

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Electrolytes are chemical compounds that when dissolved in water conduct electricity. The drink can be beneficial for diarrhea and even after the condition for rehydration.

Why Does It Work?

An electrolyte is a great option during diarrhea as it can compensate for the loss of fluid from the body.  Electrolyte water(1) is packed with minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium that help in controlling fluid balance in the body.

How to Use

You can use a homemade electrolyte drink for diarrhea. This can be easily prepared. Read on –

  1. Mix magnesium or calcium supplement with fresh coconut water.
  2. If you need a frothier electrolyte drink, mix all the ingredients in a blender.

If you are not consuming the drink immediately, you can store the drink in a mason jar in the refrigerator and drink within a week.

How Much to Use?

You can drink 5 to 6 cups of electrolyte water every day.

2. Coconut Water

It is packed with electrolytes and is a refreshing drink. Go with fresh coconut water, and even if you are choosing a packaged coconut water, choose the one that does not contain sugars.

Why Does it Work?

As coconut water contains natural electrolytes, it helps in regulating the blood pressure as well as controls the fluid balance in the body.

How to Use

  1. Take one cup of shredded or desiccated coconut.
  2. Blend it well.
  3. Pour it in a cup lined with nut milk bag.
  4. You can either strain the pulp or leave it as is to get a thicker mixture.
  5. You can add a pinch of salt for taste.

How Much to Use?

You can drink two to three cups of coconut water to help rehydrate.

[Read: Benefits of Coconut Water]

3. Turmeric Water

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Turmeric(2) acts as a natural antiseptic and is commonly found in every kitchen as it is a favorite spice. It is also known to ease any inflammation. This spice also helps in reducing abdominal pain caused by diarrhea.

Why Does it Work?

Curcumin in turmeric contains anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. This helps in easing inflammation in the lining of the stomach.

How to Use?

You can prepare turmeric water by –

  1. Adding a tablespoon of turmeric powder to a glass of lukewarm water.
  2. You can add one tablespoon of lemon juice to this for taste.

How Much to use?

You can drink two to three glasses of turmeric water during diarrhea to reduce inflammation.

[Also Read; Best Soups for Diarrhea]

4. Chicken Broth or Chicken Soup

One of the best drinks for rehydration after diarrhea and even during the condition is a chicken or beef broth. An incredibly healthy drink, broth can be easily be digested and is considered as one of the best drinks for diarrhea.

Why Does it Work?

Chicken broth is packed with amino acids and proteins that help in supporting the health of the gut. Moreover, it also helps in easing the inflammation in the stomach and offers other essential minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus.

However, it is highly recommended to remove the fat from chicken or beef while preparing the broth.

How to use

It is easy to prepare chicken broth at home. Some of the ingredients that you require are chicken (without fat), carrots, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, and salt.

  1. Add chicken, carrots, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, and salt in a large pot.
  2. Add water to it and bring it to boil over medium-high heat.
  3. Now, strain the broth and pour it into a large bowl.
  4. Cool the broth before drinking it.

You can use the same procedure for chicken soup. Use boiled shredded chicken instead of raw chicken.

How Much to Use?

You can drink chicken broth two to three times a day.

5. Black Tea

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Black tea is considered as one of the best drinks for diarrhea. It helps in relieving an upset stomach and reduces inflammation caused during diarrhea(3).

Why Does it Work?

Black tea helps in retaining the water content in the body, and the astringent tannins in the tea reduce inflammation in the intestines.

How to Use?

You can prepare black tea easily at home. The ingredients required are black tea leaves, water to boil, and raw honey as a sweetener.

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  1. Boil water and add the black tea leaves to simmer.
  2. Add one tablespoon of raw honey to add some sweetness to your drink. You can also drink it without the honey.

How Much to Use?

You can drink a maximum of two cups of black tea every day during diarrhea.

[Also Read: Tea in Relieving Diarrhea]

6. Blackberry Tea

Blackberries are rich in tannins and are being used as a natural home natural since ages. Berries are also packed with antioxidants and loaded with minerals.

Drinking a cup of blackberry tea every day will help in relieving the symptoms of diarrhea and rehydrate the body. It also helps in supplementing the loss of minerals from the body.

Why Does it Work?

The antioxidants in blackberries help in fighting the condition. It is also loaded with minerals that help in substituting for the loss of fluids and essential nutrients during diarrhea. One of the best drinks for diarrhea, blackberry tea helps in regaining strength.

How to Use

You can prepare for blackberry tea at home. The ingredients that you require are blackberry tea leaves, water to boil, raw honey, and a few slices of lemon.

  1. Add two tablespoons of blackberries or blackberry tea leaves to 1 ½ cup of water and boil it.
  2. Strain the tea in a container and add raw honey to add a sweet taste to the drink.
  3. You can also add lemon slices to your tea.

How Much to Use?

It is recommended to have one cup of blackberry tea every day.

7. Psyllium Seeds Water

Psyllium is a bulk-forming laxative. It is a type of soluble fiber that quickly passes through the digestive system without getting completely absorbed or broken down.

On the contrary, psyllium quickly absorbs water and turns into a compound that helps relieve condition such as diarrhea, cholesterol, blood sugar, and weight loss.

Why Does it Work?

It helps in relieving diarrhea due to its water-absorbing property that increases the thickness of stools. Psyllium is also known to slow down the passage of stool through the colon. Surprisingly, psyllium can relieve one from diarrhea as well as constipation as it helps in normalizing the bowel movement.

How to Use?

You can use psyllium seed water to help relieve diarrhea. All you need to do is add psyllium seed with water and drink it.

How Much to Use?

You should only take recommended psyllium seed water every day. As it is a soluble fiber, it acts as a supplement. Therefore, drinking one glass should suffice. However, one should consult the doctor for a prescribed intake.

8. Chamomile Tea

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One of the popular varieties of tea, chamomile is packed with some health benefits, including easing diarrhea. It also helps boost the immune system and aiding digestion.

Why Does it Work?

Chamomile tea contains antioxidants. It is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties that help in easing inflammation during diarrhea. Moreover, some studies indicate that chamomile tea is a potent drink for soothing the stomach.

How to Use?

One can prepare chamomile tea at home. Some of the ingredients required for the tea are dried leaves of chamomile or chamomile tea leaves, water to boil, raw honey as a sweetener.

  1. Take water in a kettle and let it boil.
  2. Add three to four tablespoons of chamomile tea leaves and let it steep for five to ten minutes.
  3. Now, add raw honey to add taste.
  4. Add some freshly squeezed lemon juice.

How Much to Use?

It is recommended to have three cups of chamomile tea every day.

[Read: Chamomile Tea Benefits]

Some Necessary Precautions to be Undertaken

While adding some of the best drinks for diarrhea to your Diet, there are some necessary precautions that one should resort to.

  • Ensure that you drink enough water during diarrhea. Electrolyte water is recommended for substituting for loss of fluids, but drinking plain water is healthy too.
  • If consuming chicken, remove the chicken fat while preparing the broth or soup.
  • If the condition does not seem to get better, always consult a nutritionist for a well-balanced diet.
  • Check with a doctor if diarrhea does not get better in a couple of weeks.

Any health condition can be treated effectively if the right remedies and treatments have been followed and used. Diarrhea too can be treated with some simple homemade recipes and best drinks for diarrhea.

Once a person has the right medical help, prescribed medications along with these best remedies and drinks for diarrhea can help in treating the condition. By getting to know the best drinks for diarrhea, one can surely recover faster during the condition and also regain strength and minerals that were lost during the health problem.

So, one of the best ways to treat diarrhea is to keep these great and simple drinks and remedies in mind and using them during diarrhea.


FAQs

1. What to Drink When You Have Diarrhea?

During diarrhea, you must have fruit juices without the soda, caffeine, or pulp, tea with raw honey, chicken broth without the fat. You can also have sports drinks but make sure to choose the ones without added sugars and artificial flavors. It is essential to drink lots of water and drink fluids between meals instead of during meals. Keep sipping fluids in small quantity.

2. Why Is ORS Solution Beneficial for Diarrhea?

ORS solution is great for diarrhea due to its glucose content. Glucose helps in enabling the intestine to absorb the salts and lost fluids more effectively. Therefore, it helps in treating or preventing dehydration. ORS does not stop diarrhea but helps the body from dehydrating.

It is recommended to give ORS as much as required, in small amounts. If the child is seen vomiting the ORS, wait for ten minutes and provide the solution again.

3. Which Juice Is Best for Diarrhea?

Since diarrhea causes loss of fluid from the body, one should drink juices that have a high amount of calcium, potassium, magnesium, and sodium. Some of the best juices for diarrhea are orange juice and lemon juice. One should avoid apple juice, alcohol, or anything with caffeine during diarrhea. Milk and milk-based products should also be avoided.