How long to stay on bland diet

Last Updated February This article was created by familydoctor. An upset stomach or diarrhea can leave you feeling miserable. But it can be hard to determine what to eat after throwing up or having diarrhea. The BRAT diet is a bland food diet recommended for adults and children. The benefits of using the BRAT diet to treat upset stomach and diarrhea include:. After you have diarrhea or vomiting, follow the BRAT diet to help your body ease back into normal eating. This diet also may help ease the nausea and vomiting some women experience during pregnancy.

You can add other bland foods to the BRAT diet. For example, you can try saltine crackers, plain potatoes, or clear soup broths. These foods may trigger nausea or lead to more diarrhea. Stomach viruses are easy to catch and can make you feel miserable. For mild cases, I recommend simple home treatment. Read More. Last Updated: October 5, If your gut is in distress, or you are preparing for a colonoscopy or gut surgery, a bland food diet may be for you.

Generally, these are the staple foods to eat on a bland diet:. The bland diet is only recommended for short-term healing. Fiber is important for all sorts of things like:. The bland diet is generally considered safe. Sticking to a bland diet for too long can also result in an imbalance of healthy gut bacteria. A bland diet is a short-term vacation from fiber and other irritants in your gut. Talk with your doctor about the best timeline and food list for your unique needs.

Your doc may suggest incorporating antacids, acid blockers, or meds to your bland diet regimen. Burning upset stomach? You could have an ulcer. However, due to the upset stomach and nausea that sometimes accompany diarrhea, a bland diet may be better tolerated. A BRAT diet is a diet that solely consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. While the BRAT diet is also considered a bland diet, it is more restrictive than the general bland diet.

The intent behind the BRAT diet is to limit foods that are considered "binding," or provide bulk to your stool that makes it firmer. Bananas, which are high in potassium, are particularly helpful, as diarrhea will tend to cause you to lose potassium. While this may be a potentially useful diet for adults, this diet is no longer recommended for children. You may, however, discuss this option with your healthcare provider if your child cannot keep other foods down.

Otherwise, children are encouraged to maintain a normal diet. The BRAT diet should not be used long-term, as it is not sufficiently adequate in dietary requirements, and malnutrition will occur. In general, foods that you eat on a bland diet do not have to taste bad or plain. There are many foods that can be eaten on a bland diet that you will likely find tasty to your palate.

Listed below are categories of foods and some examples of foods that you can eat if you are on a bland diet:. As you can see, there are many different types of foods that you can eat while maintaining a bland diet. As you can see from the lists above, a bland diet offers more variety than you may have originally assumed. However, there are some limitations that may restrict you from eating some foods that you might usually enjoy. Gas pain? Stool issues?

Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Low-residue and low-fiber diets in gastrointestinal disease management. Adv Nutr. Emergency Medicine News. January Clinical Key website. Subscription Required. Updated Aug. Managing Your Bacterial Food Poisoning.