Is White Rice Good for Diarrhea?

Yes, plain, well-cooked white rice can be a good food choice during mild diarrhea if you can tolerate eating, because its low-fiber, easily digested starch is generally gentle on the gut. Evidence that white rice treats diarrhea in humans is limited. Keep drinking fluids, and use an oral rehydration solution when needed to replace lost water and salts.

Is white rice a good choice during diarrhea?

White rice is a reasonable option when you feel hungry but want a simple food. It does not cure an infection or replace treatment for the cause of diarrhea, and you do not have to eat it if it makes you feel worse.

As your appetite returns, add other foods you normally tolerate rather than relying on white rice alone. For more options, see the best foods for diarrhea.

How might white rice help during diarrhea?

White rice has had its bran removed, so it contains less fiber than brown rice. Its starch is generally easy to digest when cooked, which can make it easier to tolerate than a heavy or greasy meal while your gut is upset.

That does not mean white rice will stop diarrhea or absorb harmful substances from the gut. People respond differently, and the cause of diarrhea matters. If eating white rice seems to worsen your symptoms, stop eating it and choose another food you tolerate.

What does the evidence say about white rice?

Direct evidence that plain white rice treats diarrhea in humans is limited. In a 2004 animal study, researchers examined diets containing cooked white rice in recently weaned piglets with or at risk of diarrhea linked to E. coli. The study compared complete diets, not white rice as a stand-alone treatment.

Animal findings cannot establish that white rice shortens diarrhea or changes stool consistency in people. The study also does not provide a proven serving size for treating diarrhea. White rice is best viewed as a potentially tolerable food, not a remedy with a guaranteed effect.

How should you eat white rice when you have diarrhea?

Cook white rice thoroughly in water and serve it plain or with minimal seasoning. Start with a small amount if your appetite is limited, and eat more only as you feel able. There is no established therapeutic portion that you need to finish.

You can return gradually to a varied diet as tolerated. White rice provides energy, but it does not supply everything you need, so eating only white rice for an extended period is not a balanced approach.

Hydration matters more than choosing any one food. Sip fluids regularly; an oral rehydration solution can replace both water and salts lost through diarrhea, particularly when losses are substantial. Prepare a commercial solution according to its package directions. See the best drinks for diarrhea for more hydration guidance.

Handle cooked white rice carefully: serve it promptly, or cool and refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers. Reheat leftovers until steaming hot. Rice left at room temperature for too long can allow bacteria to produce toxins that reheating may not destroy.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

Seek urgent medical care for signs of severe dehydration, such as confusion, fainting, or very little or no urination. Also seek prompt medical attention for bloody or black, tarry stools, severe abdominal or rectal pain, a high fever, or an inability to keep fluids down.

Adults should contact a clinician if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days. Contact a clinician sooner if you are pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or have a condition such as kidney disease or diabetes. If diarrhea occurs while taking or after taking antibiotics, contact your clinician; do not stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice.

For a child, contact a clinician if diarrhea lasts more than 1 day, and seek advice sooner for an infant or a child with signs of dehydration. Continue breast milk or the usual formula for infants; do not dilute formula or substitute white rice for normal feeds. A clinician can advise whether an oral rehydration solution is needed and how to give it.

Do not give a child an anti-diarrhea medicine unless a clinician recommends it. Adults with bloody diarrhea or fever should also seek medical advice before using one.