Diarrhea is medically referred to the excessive passing of loose stools. It is most often caused by a bacteria or virus and can be acute in nature or chronic lasting for over a couple of weeks. Almost every individual experiences diarrhea at some point or the other during their lifetime. Diarrhea is most often accompanied by symptoms like nausea, stomach aches and vomiting. Consuming water which may have been contaminated by bacteria, improperly cooked meat and eggs as well as poor kitchen hygiene are all responsible in causing infections leading to diarrhea.
As mentioned earlier, diarrhea is essentially caused by viral or bacterial infections or in some cases, even food poisoning. Diarrhea is even known to be transmitted from an infected person to a non-infected person through various public means such as shaking hands and drinking water from an unwashed bottle or glass. This is the reason why it is necessary to wash the hands with medicated antibacterial cleansing agent and water after you have used a public toilet.
When the microorganisms irritate the mucus membrane in the small or large intestine leading to an unusually high quantity of water in the motions, diarrhea is said to occur. The irritated gut begins to contract excessively and irregularly leading to acute abdominal pain. Sometimes, the stools may also contain some blood.
It is not a good idea to neglect the condition as the disorder can lead to various other complications and cause frequent bouts of loose stools resulting in dehydration and possible malnutrition. To reduce the effects of diarrhea, you should ensure that it is treated as soon as possible. It is highly advisable to avoid all fried, spicy and processed foods as these are more difficult to digest and can result in placing a greater strain on the body’s digestive system. Foods with a high content of artificial sweeteners, flavors and coloring agents should be avoided because of the same reasons.
An individual affected by diarrhea should have whole grain foods like contains whole grain breads and bran. This will help the digestive system in solidifying the stools. It is important to bear in mind that diarrhea is responsible for causing dehydration and therefore it is critical to replace the lost fluids, minerals and salts. Raw vegetables or vegetable juices are known to be effective in curbing the symptoms of diarrhea, but care must be taken to ensure that vegetables are clean and thoroughly washed. It is advisable to break down meals into smaller helpings instead of a single large helping in order to reduce the strain on the digestive system as well as ensure that the individual does not feel nauseated. You can also mix equal quantities of fresh orange juice and warm water and sip on this throughout the day as this will help to alleviate the condition.