Tips to Manage Diarrhea in Summers

The best way to manage acute diarrhea is to replenish fluid and electrolyte loss. Although water is extremely important in preventing dehydration, it does not contain electrolytes. So, to compensate for the lost electrolytes, it’s advisable to have broth or soups that contain sodium. You can also have fruit juices made of banana and chikoo, electrolyte replacement drinks or vegetables rich in potassium.

Depending on the cause of the problem, your doctor will prescribe a medicine to reduce symptoms or treat the infection. Children should ideally be provided with an oral rehydration solution to replace lost fluids and electrolytes.

Some guidelines you must follow:

• Do not eat solid foods.
• Avoid eating left-overs and stale food during summers to prevent upsetting your stomach.
• Watch your plate and steer clear of raw or uncooked foods such as cut salads and cold cuts, especially the ones served in roadside stalls. Avoid chutneys, mawa sweets, paani puri and bhel puri since the hot temperature renders these places as a breeding ground for bacteria and germs. It’s best to rely on freshly prepared food at good clean eating joints when you are eating out in summers.
• Replace water with electrolytes.
• Make sure you drink clean filtered boiled and cool water.
• Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, particularly leafy ones and cauliflower. They not only contain larvae and worms but also collect dirt from the streets.
• Include naturally sour food (not fermented) such as tamarind, tomato, lime, thin buttermilk, and kokum in your diet.
• Moong dal is easy to digest and so is coconut water, buttermilk, rice water, cooked carrots, chicken stew or whey water.
• Garlic, pepper, ginger, asafoetida, south, turmeric, coriander, and jeera improve immunity. Thus, use them liberally in your recipes during summers.
• Vegetables recommended are bhindi, dudhi, parwal, suran, roasted baingan, and karela. Choose fruits that are high in water content such as watermelon, muskmelon, oranges, and sweet lime.
• Peppermint leaves are helpful in combating indigestion. Just dip the tea bag in hot water and sip it after meals.
• Non-vegetarians should go in for lighter meat preparations like soups and stews rather than heavy curries. .
• Avoid dairy products such as milk and paneer. However, skimmed milk curd is good as it is rich in beneficial bacteria.

These tips are effective if combined with correct eating habits while avoiding stimulants such as tobacco and caffeine. Remember, diarrhea is a temporary event and you can easily avoid it with a little bit of caution.

For a personalised diet plan, get in touch with Health Total experts. Call 1800-266-0607 for a FREE consultation.