Is Applesauce Good for Diarrhea?

Yes, unsweetened applesauce can be a tolerable food during mild diarrhea because its soluble fiber may help hold water in the gut, although it is not a proven treatment. Direct evidence for applesauce is limited, and replacing lost fluids is more important. Severe symptoms or signs of dehydration need medical attention.

Is applesauce a good choice when you have diarrhea?

Applesauce may be a reasonable choice if you feel like eating and it does not make your symptoms worse. Its soft texture can make it easy to eat when your appetite is low, but people respond differently to foods during diarrhea.

Choose unsweetened applesauce when possible. It has no added sugar, although it still contains the fruit’s natural sugars, which some people may find aggravate diarrhea. If applesauce seems to make your stools looser, stop eating it and choose other foods you tolerate.

Applesauce is only one option among the best foods for diarrhea. You do not need to eat it, and you should not rely on it as your only food.

How might applesauce affect loose stools?

Applesauce may contain pectin, a type of soluble fiber found in apples. Soluble fiber can bind water and form a gel in the digestive tract, which may help give stool more form. The amount of pectin in applesauce varies, however, so its effect on an individual’s diarrhea is uncertain.

Applesauce also contains natural fruit sugars. These may be poorly tolerated by some people, particularly when consumed in larger amounts, and can contribute to loose stools. Unsweetened applesauce avoids added sugar but does not remove the naturally occurring sugars.

Neither effect means applesauce fixes the cause of diarrhea. Loose stools can have different causes, and a food that feels comfortable for one person may not help another.

What does the evidence say about applesauce and diarrhea?

There is limited direct evidence that applesauce improves diarrhea. Its reputation largely comes from the BRAT diet, a traditional eating plan that includes applesauce. Familiarity with that diet is not the same as proof that applesauce treats diarrhea.

A 2012 review of probiotics in diarrheal management discussed evidence for probiotics and suggested reexamining the dietary restrictions associated with the BRAT diet. It did not establish that applesauce itself reduces diarrhea or identify an effective serving amount.

A restrictive diet centered on a few foods may not provide enough nutrition, especially for children. As appetite allows, returning to a varied, usual diet is generally more useful than continuing a limited diet solely for diarrhea.

How should you use applesauce when you have diarrhea?

If you want to try applesauce, start with a small amount of unsweetened applesauce and see how you feel. You can eat more if it agrees with you, but there is no proven dose for treating diarrhea. Avoid forcing yourself to eat it if it causes discomfort or seems to worsen your stools.

Eat other foods you normally tolerate as your appetite returns. A varied diet helps provide nutrients that applesauce alone cannot supply. If eating is difficult or diarrhea is not improving, contact a clinician rather than relying on a restrictive food plan.

Pay particular attention to replacing fluid and salts lost through diarrhea; an oral rehydration solution can help, especially when losses are substantial. Follow the package directions, and see the best drinks for diarrhea for more on fluid choices. If you have been told to restrict fluids, ask a clinician for individualized advice.

Who should be careful, and when should you get medical help?

Seek urgent medical care for signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, fainting or very little urine, or if you cannot keep fluids down. Blood in the stool, black or tarry stool, severe abdominal pain, or a high fever also warrants prompt medical assessment. Severe dehydration may require treatment in a medical setting.

Contact a clinician if diarrhea is worsening or not improving. Seek advice sooner for an infant or young child, an older adult, someone who is pregnant, or someone with a weakened immune system, kidney disease or another serious medical condition. These groups may be at greater risk from fluid loss or may need an assessment sooner.

For a child with diarrhea, continue usual breast milk or formula and ask a clinician about oral rehydration solution. Do not use applesauce in place of fluids or appropriate feeding. A child who is unusually drowsy, has few wet diapers, has blood in the stool or cannot drink needs prompt medical attention.

If diarrhea starts during or after antibiotics, contact the prescribing clinician; do not stop prescribed medicine on your own. People taking diuretics or other medicines that affect fluid balance should also ask for advice if they develop significant diarrhea.