Many times we do not know what to eat or drink when we have diarrhoea, and we have to be very careful, since the old techniques of drinking isotonic drinks are more than out of print by international health organizations. That is why we wanted to write this little guide, to offer help in case of doubts about what to drink when having diarrhoea.
When we have diarrhea, we have heard thousands of times that we should drink Aquarius, or isotonic drinks, better known as “sports drinks”. This poses a serious risk to our health, since, in those moments, we need quality hydration, not to stress our body more.
Throughout this text we are going to explain what drinks we can drink when we are in a diarrheal process. In addition, we will also understand the risks of drinking Coca-Cola without gas or isotonic drinks, as well as drinking only water.
Danger of isotonic drinks
The danger is real, and if any doctor recommends us to drink sports drinks like Gatorade or Aquarius, we’d better change doctors. Throughout this text we are going to see healthier alternatives that will provide nutrients and benefits to our body.
The greatest risk of diarrhea is dehydration, so far we all agree, that’s why whenever we have gastroenteritis they tell us to drink a lot of fluids, but very little by little and at room temperature.
Isotonic drinks are dangerous, for two reasons, the amount of sugar they contain and because they do not have the nutritional values necessary to maintain the body for several hours.
The SEAP itself (Spanish Society of Primary Care Pharmacists) advises against the use of isotonic drinks in diarrhea and/or vomiting. Not even, even if the diarrhea lasts 1 or 2 days, they are not recommended drinks.
Gastroenteritis are common, especially in the summer. In fact, it is known as the stomach flu and it is an endemic infection that we will always be suffering from throughout our lives. The risk appears when it lasts more than 4 days and the levels of dehydration are acute, there we can even lose our lives.
During the processes of diarrhea and vomiting, our body loses a lot of sodium and of course these types of sugary drinks do not help, since they stress the digestive system more. Drink only beverages approved by the World Health Organization and the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
recommended drinks
There are many drinks on the market that are suitable for those processes of diarrhea and/or vomiting that sometimes make it so bad for us. In this section we are going to know the best options, in addition, they are easy to prepare and we can take them all, both young and old.
alkaline lemonade
It is a lemonade reduced with water, it can be made with lemon, or with orange, if we like it better. To prepare it, we only have to squeeze 2 or 3 lemons , add 1 liter of water at room temperature, half a teaspoon of baking soda, half a teaspoon of salt and a maximum of 2 tablespoons of our favorite sweetener.
We should not drink it quickly, but eat it in small sips and always at room temperature, never cold or hot, or add anything extra. Our digestive system is very weak, we only have to drink every few minutes to stay hydrated.
Fruit juice
Among other beverage options for diarrhea, we have fruit juices, but here there is a small print. Not just any fruit, or mixing several. Avoid fruits that are rich in fiber such as raspberries, pears, kiwi, plums, etc.
Besides, when juicing and removing the skin, much of the fiber is lost, so good options are apple, banana, currants, watermelon, melon, pineapple, peach, mango, grapes, apricot, papaya, strawberries, etc.
Pharmacy water or serum
Water is insufficient, it can be a companion when starting with soft solids, but it is very insufficient to keep us in good condition during the diarrheal process. So it is better option to choose pharmacy serum.
Normally there are neutral flavors, strawberry, banana, among others. They come in little bottles like the Puleva chocolate shakes with their straw and everything to help their consumption. From now on we warn that they do not taste like anything, what’s more, we may not like it, but they are the hand of a saint. They are going to keep us at 100%, so much so that we will even want to move and we will get hungry.
electrolyte drinks
They are specialty drinks that are sometimes confused with sports drinks, but they are not the same. These are special drinks for athletes to recover minerals that they lose when they sweat after physical exertion.
Electrolytes are minerals in the body that have an electrical charge . They are essential because they help the body balance the acid/base (better known as pH) levels in the body.
Some examples are coconut water or watermelon water, but there are also drinks already prepared specifically for these situations.
Tips for choosing the right drinks
We already know what we can and cannot drink in a situation as delicate as gastroenteritis. Well, now it’s time to know how we should deal with this situation, so we are going to give some basic and important advice so as not to repeat past mistakes and recover quickly.
- During the first 4 or 6 hours, do not eat anything , just drink some of the drinks that we have explained before.
- Everything should be at room temperature.
- We must drink in small sips and every few minutes.
- It is not recommended to stay long with the feeling of thirst.
- Alternate between drinks throughout the day.
- Do not drink from the bottle or the pitcher, but use glasses.
- Avoid sugar consumption.
- Minimize high-fiber foods.
- Do not eat heavy or greasy food.
- Nothing to drink spicy.
- Electrolyte intake is essential.
- If we get dizzy very often, it would be wise to visit a doctor.
- In the case where diarrhea is combined with vomiting for more than 6 hours, you should see a doctor.
- We should not make physical efforts.
