Diarrhea has many causes that include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, infections, or certain medications. Bouts of diarrhea can be brief or persist for long periods of time. Diarrhea occurs when foods and liquids pass through your body too quickly. This prevents the proper absorption of enough nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and water. It is important to manage diarrhea to prevent dehydration and malnutrition. Follow these tips to manage diarrhea:

Contact your healthcare team for advice managing diarrhea.

  • If you have sudden diarrhea, have diarrhea for more than 24 hours, or are experiencing pain, cramping, or blood in your stools, call your healthcare provider immediately.
  • Take medications or supplements only if they are recommended by your healthcare team.
  • Always ask your healthcare team first before taking anti-diarrhea medications.
  • Always talk to your healthcare team or a dietitian before taking any supplements.

Stay hydrated to replace fluid losses.

  • Be sure to drink plenty of clear liquids (water, ginger ale, sports drinks, or electrolyte replacement drinks) for 12 to 24 hours after a sudden bout of diarrhea.
  • Make a homemade electrolyte replacement drink by mixing the following ingredients: ¼ teaspoons salt, 8 teaspoons sugar, 3 tablespoons orange juice concentrate, and 4 cups water.
  • Let carbonated drinks lose their fizz before you drink them.
  • Drinking clear liquids helps the bowels rest and replaces lost fluids.
  • Healthy people need a minimum of 8 cups of liquid per day. You may require more to replace fluids lost with diarrhea.

Eat 5 or 6 small meals per day instead of 3 larger meals.

  • Eating smaller meals may put less stress on your bowels and will make it easier for your body to digest food.

Choose foods and drinks carefully.

  • Very cold foods and very hot foods can make diarrhea worse.
  • If your diarrhea gets worse after eating a certain food, stop eating that food until you recover.
  • Avoid foods and drinks that can make your diarrhea worse. High- fiber foods, raw fruits and vegetables, full-fat dairy products, foods and drinks that contain caffeine, and spicy or high-fat foods can make diarrhea worse.
  • Choose foods that help manage diarrhea, like white rice, puffed rice cereal or other low-fiber grains, soft fruits like bananas and applesauce, cooked soft vegetables, and low-fat meats and dairy products.

Avoid foods and drinks that can make your diarrhea worse. Choose foods that help manage diarrhea.

Use this chart to know which foods to choose and avoid.

Food Group

Avoid

Choose
Grains High fiber, whole grain foods (bran, whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasts, whole grain cereals, whole grain crackers, and brown rice) Enriched grains that contain less than 2 grams of fiber per serving (white rice, cream of wheat, puffed rice cereal or corn flakes, white bread or toast, white pastas, and white crackers)
Fruits Raw fruits with skinsDried fruit

Juices with pulp, prune juice, apple juice

Canned fruit in heavy syrup

 Soft fruits without skins (ripe bananas, melons, applesauce)Pulp-free 100% fruit juice

Soft canned fruit it its own juice
Vegetables Raw vegetablesVegetables with skins and seeds

Gas-forming vegetables (corn, dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, beans, and peas)

 Well-cooked, soft vegetables without seeds or skins Mashed potatoes without skin

Strained vegetable juice

Lettuce
Dairy Full-fat dairy products (whole milk, cream, sour cream, ice cream, and cheese) Low fat and/or lactose-free dairy products (buttermilk, skim and low- fat milk, lactose-free milk, soy milk, yogurt with live active cultures, and low fat (2%) aged cheese)
Proteins Spicy and high fat meats (fried meats or fried fish, bologna, salami, bacon, and hot dogs)Nuts, seeds, and chunky nut butters Low fat meatsCooked tender meats

Fish

Eggs

Soy foods

Smooth peanut butter
Beverages Caffeinated or sugary drinks (coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks, alcohol, and drinks that contain sugar alcohols like xylitol or sorbitol) Caffeine-free drinks (water, decaf coffee, decaf tea, sports drinks, and electrolyte replacement drinks)
Other Fried, greasy foodsSweets and desserts

Spicy foods (pepper, strong spices, hot sauce)

Foods and drinks made with sugar alcohols (Sugar alcohols include xylitol and sorbitol and are found in many sugar-free products like candies, gums, and snack bars. Read ingredient lists to look for sugar alcohols.)

Download or order The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s free handout Side Effect Management: Managing Diarrhea and Constipation for more information.