# Solid Food and Diarrhea **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425 "2008-12-03T00:00:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425/1 "2008-12-03T00:00:37Z")
My M-in-L is strongly discouraging me from feeding my kid because she (my kid) has diarrhea. No solid food or milk products, says she. Please confirm or disconfirm this old wive’s tale. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425/2 "2008-12-03T00:03:06Z")
Ridiculous! She needs food and water, or risks mineral depletion and dehydration. Something should be done to curb the diarrhea. PLEASE CONSULT A DOCTOR. EVERYTHING POSTED IS CONSIDERED IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425/3 "2008-12-03T00:07:21Z")
> **[Does Your Child Need to Be on the BRAT Diet?](https://www.verywellfamily.com/is-the-brat-diet-necessary-for-your-child-2633489)** > > The BRAT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, is usually unnecessary for kids who have diarrhea and could even be harmful. ---
**Author:** ![YamatoTwinkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/cc9497/32.png) [@YamatoTwinkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YamatoTwinkie)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425/4 "2008-12-03T00:08:48Z")
The [BRATTY](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRAT_diet) diet contains both solid foods (toast) and milk products (yogurt), and is specifically recommended for diarrhea. _shrugs_ Edit: beaten by Phil ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425/5 "2008-12-03T00:19:12Z")
Having checked some medical websites, I gave her a banana and some diluted apple juice. Thanks for your quick responses though! -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/solid-food-and-diarrhea/475425/6 "2008-12-03T02:41:51Z")
As a Peace Corps volunteer (and therefore someone who experience diarrhea pretty often) I gotta second the BRAT diet. Think simple starches. Stay away from oily, fatty or spicy food. The absolute best thing to drink is [Oral Rehydratin Solution](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_rehydration_therapy). This stuff save lives (diarrhea is still the world’s leading cause of death among children.) I keep cases of it around and it always makes me feel better very quickly when I am sick (though it tastes horrible). It is also a surefire way to get rid of hangover. You can make it yourself quite easily. The next best things to drink are plain water, broth, sports drinks (though they don’t really help much more than a regular soft drink) and diluted juices. Caffeine and milk products can irritate the intestines and should be avoided, even though live culture yogurt may have some benefits. Of course, see a doctor if diarrhea lasts more than a day or so, or if it has blood or mucous in it.