Digestive Health Diarrhea Foods to Avoid When You Have Diarrhea By Barbara Bolen, PhD Barbara Bolen, PhD Twitter Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 27, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS Medically reviewed by Jay N. Yepuri, MD, MS Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Jay Yepuri, MD, MS, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and a practicing partner at Digestive Health Associates of Texas (DHAT). Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print When you have diarrhea, it's important to know what to eat and what to avoid. You don't want to aggravate your digestive system more by eating the wrong things. This article will walk you through what to eat, what to avoid, and why, so you don't make your diarrhea worse. Eat Yogurt Chicken or turkey Broth-based soups Spinach, green beans, zucchini Plain water or Pedialyte Avoid Most dairy Fatty, greasy foods Sugar substitutes Beans, broccoli, cabbage Peaches, pears, plums Caffeine and alcohol Dairy Products seksan Mongkhonkhamsao / Getty Images Avoid most dairy products. Even if you don’t have lactose intolerance, you may have trouble digesting them. Dairy products contain a sugar called lactose. Your body digests lactose with an enzyme called lactase. Diarrhea can deplete lactase. Undigested lactose can increase gas, bloating, nausea, and diarrhea. Common lactose-containing foods include: MilkCreamCheeseIce creamSour cream A Healthier Choice Yogurt is an exception. It contains probiotics that are good for digestion. Choose plain yogurt. And skip those with a lot of added sugar. Fatty Foods Digital Vision / Getty Images Fatty foods can speed up intestinal contractions. That almost guarantees worse diarrhea. Avoid foods like: Creamy foodsFast foodFatty meatGravyGreasy foodsFried foods Healthier Choices Lean protein is a better choice. Reach for white meat chicken or turkey. Broth-based soups are better than cream-based. Recap Dairy and fatty foods can increase diarrhea. Yogurt and lean meats are better choices. Sugar-Free Foods Juanmonino / E+ / Getty Images Some artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes can have a laxative effect. They can also increase gas and bloating. Until you're feeling better, avoid: Diet sodaSugar-free candySugar-free gumSugar substitutes for coffee and tea Healthier Choices Instead, choose water or unsweetened/lightly sweetened tea (especially herbal or decaf). A small amount of sugary candy is probably okay if you have cravings. Just don't overindulge. Gas-Producing Foods Andrew Olney / Digital Vision / Getty Images Certain fruits and vegetables can cause gas. More gas can mean more diarrhea. Avoid gassy foods until your stomach has settled down. The gassiest ones include: BeansBroccoliCabbageCauliflowerOnionsPeachesPearsPlumsDried fruits (apricots, prunes, raisins) Healthier Choices Some better choices include: SpinachGreen beansZucchiniBlueberriesStrawberriesHoneydewCantaloupePineapple The Best Non-Gassy Foods Recap Artificial sweeteners, sugar substitutes, and gas-creating foods are best avoided when you have diarrhea. Instead, choose unsweetened or lightly sweetened food and drinks. Try to avoid gassy foods entirely. Alcohol, Caffeine, and Carbonated Beverages Alexander Spatari / Getty Images Alcohol, caffeine, and carbonation don't cause diarrhea. But they can irritate your digestive system. It's smart to avoid them until you feel better. Don't drink flat soda, either. Your grandmother may have sworn by it. But some soda ingredients can make diarrhea worse. Healthier Choices Better choices include: Hydrating drinks like PedialyteWater Herbal or decaf tea (unsweetened or lightly sweetened) It's important to replenish fluids lost from repeated bowel movements so you don't get dehydrated. High-FODMAP Foods Westend61 / Getty Images Do you have diarrhea from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)? You may want to avoid high-FODMAP foods. Studies suggest they can trigger IBS symptoms. FODMAPs are types of carbohydrates found in many common foods. Some common high-FODMAP foods include: Garlic, onions, and legumesApples, mangos, peaches, and cherriesMost dairy productsHoney, agave nectar, high fructose corn syrupAlmonds, cashews, hazelnuts, and pistachiosWheat, rye, barley, and couscous High and Low-FODMAP Foods Healthier Choices You may feel better choosing low-FODMAP foods. They include: Eggs and meatAlmond milkRice, oats, and quinoaPotatoes, cucumbers, zucchiniGrapes, strawberries, blueberries Common Causes of Diarrhea After Eating Recap Alcohol, caffeine, carbonation, and high-FODMAP foods can worsen diarrhea. Stay away from soda, even if it's flat. Try hydrating beverages, water, and herbal or decaf tea. Unsafe Foods Alexey Kopytko / Moment / Getty Images Food poisoning can cause diarrhea. Protect yourself by safely storing, preparing, and handling food. Good food hygiene involves: Washing hands before handling foodWashing raw fruits and vegetablesCleaning sinks and counters before and after useCooking food to an internal temperature of 160 degrees FahrenheitPromptly refrigerating or freezing leftovers Food Safety and How to Prevent Food Poisoning Summary Foods that make diarrhea worse include: Most dairyFatty foodsArtificial sweeteners/sugar substitutesGas-producing foodsAlcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinksHigh-FODMAP foods Making healthier choices can help soothe your digestive system and keep diarrhea in check. A Word From Verywell Diarrhea usually clears up in a few days. Still, you'll be more comfortable if you can get rid of it faster or keep from making it worse. If diarrhea lasts more than a few days, or if it's severe or getting worse, get medical attention. That'll help you avoid possibly serious complications. Frequently Asked Questions What foods should you avoid if you have diarrhea? When you have diarrhea, certain foods can aggravate your digestive system and make it worse. Avoid most vegetables, fruits, legumes, dairy, fried or fatty foods, and artificial sweeteners. Coffee, alcohol, and carbonated drinks can also make diarrhea worse and should be avoided until you feel better. Is yogurt good for diarrhea? It depends. Unless you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk proteins, yogurt is the one dairy recommended for treating diarrhea. Yogurt contains probiotics, which can help balance intestinal flora and ease diarrhea. Look for blends that are low in sugar and have lactobacillus probiotic strains.People lactose intolerant or allergic to milk can benefit from dairy-free yogurt or probiotic supplements. What can I eat or drink to stop diarrhea? If you have diarrhea, be sure to drink plenty of water, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or other electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated. An age-old recipe to stop diarrhea is known as the BRAT diet. Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are commonly recommended to bind up loose stools and stop diarrhea. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Chen J, Wan CM, Gong ST, et al. Chinese clinical practice guidelines for acute infectious diarrhea in children. World J Pediatr. 2018;14(5):429-436. doi:10.1007/s12519-018-0190-2 Cozma-Petruţ A, Loghin F, Miere D, Dumitraşcu DL. Diet in irritable bowel syndrome: What to recommend, not what to forbid to patients!. World J Gastroenterol. 2017;23(21):3771-3783. doi:10.3748/wjg.v23.i21.3771 Chattopadhyay S, Raychaudhuri U, Chakraborty R. Artificial sweeteners - a review. J Food Sci Technol. 2014;51(4):611-621. doi:10.1007/s13197-011-0571-1 Gibson PR, Shepherd SJ. Evidence-based dietary management of functional gastrointestinal symptoms: The FODMAP approach. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2010;25(2):252-258. doi:10.1111/j.1440-1746.2009.06149.x Giddings SL, Stevens AM, Leung DT. Traveler's diarrhea. Med Clin North Am. 2016;100(2):317-330. doi:10.1016/j.mcna.2015.08.017 Baker KK, O'Reilly CE, Levine MM, et al. Sanitation and hygiene-specific risk factors for moderate-to-severe diarrhea in young children in the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, 2007-2011: Case-Control Study. PLoS Med. 2016;13(5):e1002010. Published 2016 May 3. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1002010 Guandalini S. Probiotics for prevention and treatment of diarrhea. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2011;45 Suppl:S149-53. doi:10.1097/MCG.0b013e3182257e98 Additional Reading Muir JG, Gibson PR. The low FODMAP diet for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome and other gastrointestinal disorders. Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y). 2013;9(7):450-452. National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diarrhea. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus. When you have diarrhea. Pashapour N, Iou SG. Evaluation of yogurt effect on acute diarrhea in 6-24-month-old hospitalized infants. Turk J Pediatr. 2006;48(2):115-118. By Barbara Bolen, PhD Barbara Bolen, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and health coach. She has written multiple books focused on living with irritable bowel syndrome. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit