Diarrhea and Foods

Written by: Muhammad Arif Rahimi

Diarrhea is the passage of three or more loose stools per day. Bacteria cause diarrhea-producing infections. Contaminated foods and fluids are common sources of bacterial infections and some other microbial diseases also cause diarrhea. If the diarrhea patient does not pay attention to his/her foods, he/she might suffer some other diseases too.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some patients and a physician about this issue.

A woman, a resident of district 9th, Kabul city says, “I was suffering from diarrhea and I was vomiting too. When I ate grapes and porridge, my disease increased, and faced stomach pain too. I had been going to the toilet about 25 times a day and blood was coming with my stool.”

Another woman says, “Eating beans, beef, contaminated water and vegetables doubled my diarrhea and lowered my blood pressure.”

Doctor Faridullah Omari, an internist at infectious diseases hospital, Kabul city says, “When one does not consider diet in diarrhea, the disease would be increased and the patient might face other health problems like dysentery and vomiting. If diarrhea gets worse, there is an increased loss of water and electrolytes (sodium, chloride, potassium, and bicarbonate) in the liquid stool. Water and electrolytes are also lost through vomit, sweat, urine, and breathing. If not treated on time, the patient might die.”

What do people think about the causes of this disease?

A woman says, “I am suffering from Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) and when I eat vegetables, beans, and contaminated water, I get diarrhea.”

Muhammad, a resident of Kabul city says, “I do not know about the main cause of diarrhea, but I think contaminated foods might cause diarrhea.”

Doctor Omari says, “Sweets, vegetables, some fiber, Cellulose, and glucose-rich fruits, beef, beans, and peas cause the increasing of diarrhea.”

What kind of foods should be eaten or avoid during diarrhea?

Sado Khan, a resident of Maidan-Wardak province says, “I was suffering from diarrhea and when I ate vegetables and fresh fruits (peach), my disease got worse. The doctor advised me to eat soft foods, boiled eggs, yogurt, and potatoes and warm tea to drink.”

Doctor Omari says, “We advise the patients to take O.R.S first, and then they should eat wholemeal foods like rice without ghee, yogurt, boiled potatoes, and boiled eggs. In fruits, they can eat bananas and apples but they should avoid protein-rich foods, Kabab, beans, and carbonated drinks.”