- The BRAT diet used to be a popular eating plan for children with an upset stomach.
- However, the BRAT diet is no longer widely recommended because it's low in nutrients.
- When recovering from a stomach bug, the most important factor is staying hydrated.
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If you or your child has ever had a stomach virus, you may have heard of – and implemented –the BRAT diet. BRAT stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, which are supposed to be easy on the stomach and help relieve symptoms like nausea and diarrhea.
However, the diet has fallen out of favor since it was first introduced and it may not be the best option anymore. Here's what you need to know.
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Kids and adults can try the BRAT diet
The BRAT diet "has been around for about a century, and it was originally developed for pediatricians to give to kids to minimize the amount of diarrhea they have when they get acute intestinal illnesses," says David Cutler, MD, a family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center.
Though the diet was primarily invented for sick children, adults suffering from acute stomach problems can also use it to reduce their symptoms. But before starting yourself or your child on the BRAT diet, it's crucial that you know what's causing the symptoms in the first place.
"[There are] many different causes of diarrhea and for some, a BRAT diet definitely would not be a good idea [like] if they have some infection going on, if they have some inflammatory condition in their intestines, or if they're having a dietary reaction," says Cutler.
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The BRAT diet is safe short-term
Let's say you've ruled out the other possible problems, and you're simply dealing with an acute viral intestinal illness like your run-of-the-mill gastroenteritis — like a stomach bug — that'll resolve in a couple of days.
To really recover from a stomach bug, experts believe that you need a full range of vitamins, nutrients, proteins, and healthy fats. The BRAT diet provides a small amount of nutrients like vitamin C in applesauce and fiberand vitamin B-6 in bananas. But you'll be lacking other key nutrients including protein and healthy fats.
In fact, the BRAT diet isn't as popular or as endorsed by doctors as it once was. "It's been discovered over the years that it nutritionally is very deficient in a lot of things that kids need. So generally, it's fallen greatly out of favor to use," says Cutler.
Therefore, to get the full range of nutrition you'll want to re-introduce a normal balanced diet after one or two days of the BRAT diet to regain your health.
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What's even more important than the BRAT diet
Since prolonged diarrhea and vomiting can be very dehydrating, the most important thing is staying hydrated by consuming lots of fluids.
"The best way to treat diarrhea is simply to replace the fluid that you're losing in the diarrhea," says Cutler.
Drink lots of water and consider rehydration solutions such as low-sugar options like G2 or Pedialyte that contain fluids and electrolytes. Avoid high-sugar drinks like regular Gatorade or Powerade because the sugar may actually worsen diarrhea. Soup or plain broths are also good options that are soothing and rehydrating.
"Most experts would now recommend that people just avoid foods that might be aggravating diarrhea, and to stay on a good healthy diet with fiber and protein and mono or polyunsaturated fats," says Cutler.
In addition to sugary drinks, other foods that may upset your stomach and exacerbate your symptoms may include dairy, greasy foods, and foods high in insoluble fiber like beans, nuts, and leafy greens.
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Insider's takeaway
The BRAT diet might be helpful short-term, but it's even more important to stay hydrated and avoid aggravating foods when trying to get better.
Overall, the BRAT diet shouldn't be used for more than a couple of days, for either children or adults.
Ashley Laderer is a freelance writer from New York who specializes in health and wellness. Follow her on Twitter@ashladerer
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I can provide information on a wide range of topics, including the concepts mentioned in this article. I have access to a vast amount of information and can provide detailed insights and explanations.
The article discusses the BRAT diet, which used to be a popular eating plan for children with an upset stomach. However, it is no longer widely recommended because it is low in nutrients. The most important factor when recovering from a stomach bug is staying hydrated.
The BRAT Diet
The BRAT diet, which stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was originally developed for pediatricians to give to kids to minimize the amount of diarrhea they have when they get acute intestinal illnesses . It was believed that these foods were easy on the stomach and could help relieve symptoms like nausea and diarrhea. However, the diet has fallen out of favor since it was first introduced and may not be the best option anymore.
Nutritional Deficiency
The BRAT diet is low in nutrients and lacks important components of a balanced diet. While it provides a small amount of nutrients like vitamin C in applesauce and fiber and vitamin B-6 in bananas, it lacks other key nutrients including protein and healthy fats It has been discovered over the years that the BRAT diet is nutritionally deficient in many things that kids need, and it is no longer widely endorsed by doctors.
Importance of Hydration
When recovering from a stomach bug, the most important thing is to stay hydrated. Prolonged diarrhea and vomiting can be very dehydrating, so it is crucial to replace the fluid that is lost. Drinking lots of water and consuming rehydration solutions such as low-sugar options like G2 or Pedialyte that contain fluids and electrolytes is recommended . It is important to avoid high-sugar drinks like regular Gatorade or Powerade because the sugar may worsen diarrhea. Soup or plain broths are also good options that are soothing and rehydrating.
Other Considerations
In addition to staying hydrated, it is recommended to avoid foods that might aggravate diarrhea and to maintain a good healthy diet with fiber, protein, and mono or polyunsaturated fats Foods that may upset the stomach and exacerbate symptoms include dairy, greasy foods, and foods high in insoluble fiber like beans, nuts, and leafy greens.
Conclusion
While the BRAT diet might be helpful in the short-term, it is important to prioritize hydration and avoid aggravating foods when trying to recover from a stomach bug. The BRAT diet should not be used for more than a couple of days, for either children or adults. It is advisable to reintroduce a normal balanced diet after one or two days of the BRAT diet to regain proper nutrition .
I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.