Foods to Avoid for Diarrhea

Fried foods, sugar-free candy containing sugar alcohols, and very sugary desserts are foods to avoid or limit if they make diarrhea worse.

Food tolerance varies, so you do not have to exclude every item on this list. Replacing lost fluid is important too; see the best drinks for diarrhea for hydration options.

A review of dietary management in children found that identifying a dietary cause can help in some conditions, but cautioned against unnecessary exclusion diets. It did not establish that avoiding all the foods below treats ordinary acute diarrhea in children or adults.

Which 8 foods should you avoid or limit during diarrhea?

The 8 foods and food groups below are worth considering if you notice that they worsen loose stools or discomfort. An electrolyte calculator may help you think about fluid and electrolyte intake, but it cannot diagnose dehydration or determine your treatment.

1. Fried and greasy foods

Fried chicken, fries and other greasy meals contain a lot of fat, which can be difficult to tolerate when digestion is unsettled. A rich meal may make nausea or abdominal discomfort more noticeable, although not everyone with diarrhea reacts to fat.

If greasy food bothers you, temporarily choose baked, boiled or simply prepared foods instead. A smaller meal may be more comfortable than a heavy one; return to your usual foods as symptoms improve. Evidence: This is a practical, tolerance-based suggestion, not a restriction tested for typical acute diarrhea in the cited review.

2. Sugar-free candy and gum with sugar alcohols

Some sugar-free candy and gum contain sugar alcohols such as sorbitol or mannitol. These ingredients can draw water into the intestine and cause loose stools, particularly when someone consumes more than they tolerate.

Check the ingredient list and reduce or stop a product if you suspect it contributes to symptoms. Choose an alternative you tolerate rather than replacing it with a large amount of regular candy. Evidence: The water-drawing mechanism is established, but the cited review does not give an individual limit for these products or test their avoidance as a general treatment.

3. Very sugary desserts

Large amounts of sugar that are not fully absorbed can draw water into the intestine. Very sweet desserts may therefore be uncomfortable for some people, though a small serving does not necessarily make diarrhea worse.

If heavily frosted cake, syrup-rich desserts or similar foods seem to aggravate symptoms, have less or set them aside temporarily. You do not need to eliminate every food containing sugar, and there is no tested dessert serving that works for everyone. Evidence: The mechanism is plausible, but the cited review does not establish a dessert limit for acute diarrhea.

4. Milk and ice cream

Milk and ice cream contain lactose, a sugar that can cause gas, bloating and loose stools when it is not well digested. Some people temporarily have more difficulty digesting lactose after an intestinal infection, while others continue to tolerate dairy.

If these foods make symptoms worse, try a lactose-free product or temporarily choose another food you tolerate. Some people find yogurt or hard cheese easier to tolerate than milk, but responses differ. Evidence: Lactose-related symptoms are a recognized concern; the cited pediatric review does not show that everyone with acute diarrhea should avoid dairy.

5. Hot peppers and heavily spiced dishes

Hot peppers contain capsaicin, which can make burning or abdominal discomfort more noticeable in sensitive people. Spicy food is not necessarily the cause of diarrhea, and a meal can be well tolerated by one person but uncomfortable for another.

If hot peppers or chili sauces aggravate symptoms, leave them out of meals for the time being. You can try your usual seasonings again as you feel better, rather than avoiding all spices indefinitely. Evidence: This is an individual comfort measure; the cited review does not test avoiding spicy food as a general diarrhea treatment.

6. Beans and lentils

Beans and lentils contain carbohydrates that gut bacteria ferment, producing gas and sometimes bloating. That discomfort can be unwelcome during diarrhea, although gas alone does not mean these foods are causing more loose stools.

If they make you uncomfortable, try a smaller portion or temporarily choose another protein you tolerate, such as simply cooked chicken or eggs. There is no reason to exclude beans and lentils if they sit well. Evidence: Fermentation is a recognized digestive process, but the cited review does not show that avoiding legumes treats acute diarrhea.

7. Bran-heavy cereals

Bran is rich in insoluble fiber, which adds bulk to stool and can speed its passage through the gut. A large serving may feel uncomfortable for some people who already have frequent, loose stools, though the effect varies.

If bran seems to worsen symptoms, temporarily swap a bran-heavy cereal for a food you tolerate, such as plain toast or rice. Reintroduce fiber-containing foods as you feel able rather than keeping a restrictive diet without a reason. Evidence: Insoluble fiber affects stool and transit, but the cited review does not provide an acute-diarrhea serving limit for bran.

8. Raw broccoli and cabbage

Broccoli and cabbage contain fermentable carbohydrates that can cause gas. Raw, fibrous vegetables may also feel harder to tolerate when your abdomen is uncomfortable, but they do not cause diarrhea in everyone.

If a large raw portion bothers you, try a smaller serving, cooked vegetables or another food you tolerate. Cooking does not remove all the fiber or guarantee that a vegetable will be symptom-free. Evidence: This is advice for individual comfort; the cited review does not establish that avoiding these vegetables shortens diarrhea.

How should you limit foods without restricting your diet unnecessarily?

Eat as your appetite allows rather than fasting, and use your symptoms to guide temporary changes. Small meals may be easier to tolerate than large ones; plain rice, potatoes, toast and simply prepared chicken are options, but you do not need to eat only bland foods if your usual meals sit well.

Try not to remove several foods indefinitely without a clear reason, particularly if diarrhea continues. Infants should generally continue breast milk or their usual formula; do not dilute formula or change feeding plans without medical advice. If you use an oral rehydration solution, mix it with exactly the amount of water specified on the packet.

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

Seek urgent medical care for signs of severe dehydration, including confusion, fainting, very little urine or an inability to keep fluids down. Black or tarry stool, severe abdominal pain, or blood in the stool also needs urgent assessment; seek prompt medical advice for a high fever.

Adults should contact a clinician if diarrhea lasts more than 2 days. Seek advice sooner for an infant or young child, an older adult, someone who is pregnant, or someone with a weakened immune system. Contact a clinician promptly if diarrhea follows antibiotic use or occurs alongside kidney disease, diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Children can become dehydrated quickly, and a clinician can advise on rehydration and feeding. People with kidney disease or prescribed fluid restrictions should ask their clinician how to replace losses safely.

Ask a clinician or pharmacist before using an anti-diarrhea medicine if you have bloody stool or fever, and before giving one to a child. If you take medicines such as diuretics, seek advice when you are losing fluids; do not stop prescribed medication on your own.