Causes of diarrhea & How to stop it?
Do you suffer from diarrhea? Do you go through it on a regular basis, often with the same symptoms? If so, then this article is for you! Here I’ll be discussing how to stop diarrhea, along with its causes.
How to stop Diarrhea?
To stop diarrhea (and stop the pain of gas), you have to address the cause. Diarrhea is caused when the bowel doesn’t move enough, or moves too much. Establishing a proper diet, and a good bowel movement routine will go a long way to preventing future issues.
- Firstly, make sure that your diet consists of 50% fiber, and avoid sugar, or it will just continue to aggravate the problem.
- A daily routine of mild exercise is a good idea, as it can help the bowels to move more effectively. Vigorous exercise should be avoided, as it can cause muscles to loosen and not contract.
- Drink plenty of water too (not soda or coffee), as this will help move things along nicely.
- Whenever you do have diarrhea, make sure you clean yourself well, so as not to infect yourself. Never wipe from back to front; always wipe the normal way around. Use a damp washcloth or tissue, and make sure you wash it properly afterwards.
- Use of an enema may help. However, this should only be used if other things don’t work. Try to use natural remedies first.
- Drink some fennel tea (it’s mildly astringent), as it can help relieve cramping and gas in the gut. You’ll have to drink several cups of this over the course of a day though. Alternatively, you can chew on fennel seeds too (about 1 teaspoon).
What causes diarrhea?
There are many different causes of diarrhea. What they all have in common; is that they induce too much watery stool (diarrhea) and bad smells. What you can do to prevent these problems is to avoid foods with irritants and banish excess fluids (watery stools) .And yeah, DEPRESSIONS IN THE BOWELS can also be the cause of diarrhea.
In other words, diarrhea is in most cases caused by one or more of the following: irritation of the intestine, an overgrowth of bacteria or virus, a diet that is too rich in fiber and / or carbohydrates (which can eliminate undigested food), an excess of vital intestinal acids that destroy a number of microorganisms and finally not enough bicarbonate to counteract these excess acids. This results in a net loss of liquid from the intestine.
What foods should you avoid?
There are many foods which I, as a stomach specialist, recommend to my patients. These are included on page 22 of my diet book, Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Guide to a Healthy Diet. If you want to see the complete list go there or take a look at my blog here.
Read: Can you lose weight without exercise?
What if you’re sensitive to lactose and dairy?
I recommend that people with lactose intolerance take low lactose products. The best way is to avoid the following commonly consumed products: Yogurt, cheese, ice cream and sour cream. Instead use plain yogurt or cottage cheese (never cottage cheese with blueberry pie fillings).
How to take care of your stools and stop diarrhea?
Carry a toothbrush and mouthwash – and use them as often as possible. Stay away from liquid foods – they only aggravate the symptoms. Start following my diet recommendations. Digestive enzymes may help to increase digestion and reduce the incidence of diarrhea. Lactose-free yogurts are good (but contain more sugar to compensate for the lack of lactose). Try taking a probiotic supplement (prebiotics are better, but very expensive). Eat cheese that was made from unpasteurized milk (but try not to ingest any toxins like amines, which can be present in unpasteurized cheese).
What are the types of diarrhea?
There are four types:
- Watery Diarrhea
- Diarrhea with a lot of mucus.
- Painful Diarrhea (cramping)
- Bloody diarrhea or Black stools (blood mixed with stool). (very rare)
Symptoms of diarrhea
Watery stool, very frequent bowel movement and abdominal pain or cramps, gas pains often accompanied by an urgent need to have a bowel movement, nausea and vomiting etc…
Can diarrhea be fatal?
Not normally, but in certain situations (for example watery diarrhea or bloody diarrhea with dehydration) it can indeed be.
