What Is BRAT Diet And Why Is It Discontinued?
The BRAT diet constitutes Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. It was a staple home remedy used to treat common gut problems like diarrhea and vomiting. But today it is no longer recommended. It isn’t that the BRAT diet had serious consequences but that it lacks the necessary nutrients needed for long-term benefits.
If you want to follow the BRAT diet, you should first know about the process, advantages, and reasons for discontinuing the diet. The BRAT diet is different for kids and adults. Also, you should know that it is a home remedy and you need to visit a doctor, if it doesn’t work.
Let’s discuss about the BRAT Diet ..
BRAT Diet For Kids
Children suffering from diarrhea should be administered ORS until they become stable. Also, avoid giving them liquid foods to help stabilize their condition. Start this diet for two to three days as it isn’t an alternative to healthier food.
- Coconut water
- Dry toast
- Cooked vegetables
- Mashed potato/sweet potato/banana
- Rice boiled with lentils
- Broth/clear soup
Continue the diet for the said period. If the symptoms improve, bring the child back to their normal diet.
BRAT Diet For Adults
First, give your stomach some rest after vomiting or diarrhea. Once you develop liquid tolerance, you can start sipping water, coconut water, apple juice, or broth. Start with small quantities and increase your liquid intake gradually. Continue your BRAT diet for three days and resume your normal diet after you feel comfortable.
First Day: Take only a liquid diet including coconut water, fruit juice, and broth. Continue drinking liquid every two hours until the symptoms improve.
Second Day: Start taking foods from the BRAT diet including bananas, toast, rice, and applesauce.
Third-Day: Resume your normal diet and add more fruits and vegetables to get nutrition.
Why BRAT Diet?
To understand how this diet works, you need to understand the treatment of a stomach bug. When you have diarrhea, the first six hours are crucial for the treatment. You should take rest after diarrhea or vomiting. Also, you should drink liquid like potable water in small amounts to avoid dehydration.
In clear liquid, you can drink apple juice, weak tea, broth, or flat soda. Taking enough liquid will avoid dehydration and allow your stomach to improve. Soon you will start feeling better and you can continue your BRAT diet.
Take the BRAT diet for three days and return to your normal diet after 72 hours. The BRAT diet will improve your gut health.
How Does Bananas, Rice, Applesauce & Toast Diet Work?
Foods included in the BRAT diet are bland. They have low-fiber content that makes them easy to digest. The bland food is easier on the digestive system. It won’t cause any gut irritation and allow your stomach to heal.
Earlier pediatrics used to recommend the BRAT diet to toddlers suffering from tummy problems. The objective of administering bland food to toddlers is to provide them with nutrition while allowing them to heal. Also, they are kept on the BRAT diet for a short period of up to 72 hours after which they can return to their normal diet.
Why Is The BRAT Diet Recommended For Three Days?
This diet consists of bland food that is low in fiber, protein, and fat. Simply put, it can’t be called a nutritious diet. Since toddlers need nutrition to maintain their growth, they shouldn’t be kept on low nutrition diet for a long time.
BRAT food has another advantage. The food eases stress on the digestive system and improves the binding properties of the food. It makes the stool firm that helps treat diarrhea. If you want to take this diet to cure diarrhea or vomiting, you should keep your nutritional need in mind.
Why Is The BRAT Diet Popular?
There is little doubt that this diet helps treat diarrhea but there is one more reason for the popularity of this diet. The foods included in the BRAT diet are widely available and easy to prepare. Mothers can easily serve this diet to their toddlers suffering from diarrhea.
Also, BRAT diet foods are high in taste. In other words, kids love eating BRAT food. They can easily consume bland food and digest it as well. Since this food improves gut health, kids feel healthy after taking bland foods.
Why Is The Bananas, Rice, Applesauce & Toast Diet Discontinued?
The American Academy of Pediatrics has discontinued this diet for health reasons. According to experts, this diet consists of food low in essential nutrients like fiber and protein. They believe that keeping kids on a low-nutrition diet for an extended period isn’t good for their health.
The BRAT diet is discontinued for toddlers and kids because it focuses on carbohydrates that draw water into the stomach. The experts believe that it could worsen diarrhea and disturb the digestive system. The academy advised against this diet, especially for kids.
What Do Experts Recommend For Diarrhea Treatment?
If you have diarrhea, you should first take a liquid diet to allow your time to heal. The symptoms should improve with time. When you start feeling well, you should take gut-friendly food including low-fiber fruits and vegetables, oatmeal, and sweet potatoes. These foods will keep your gut healthy.
This diet is no longer recommended for treating diarrhea but you can try to improve your diarrhea with gut-friendly food. Also, changing your food habits and lifestyle can help improve your digestive system. During diarrhea treatment, you should avoid spicy, alcohol, sugary beverages, fried food, and dairy items including cheese, ice cream, and yogurt.
Conclusion
The BRAT diet consists of bland food that is easy to break down and digest. It makes stool firmer and helps treat diarrhea. But it is low on nutrition. Experts suggest people treat diarrhea through other means like adding gut-friendly food to their diet.
This diet is recommended only for 72 hours and if the symptoms don’t improve within the said period, you should see a doctor for medical intervention. This diet is strictly not recommended for kids as it can devoid them of the essential nutrients they need to maintain their health.
Disclaimer: The information is for educational purposes only and viewers are advised to take medical help to cure diarrhea, vomiting, and other stomach problems.
