Eat Fermented Foods and Probiotics

If you suffer from diarrhea, try adding fermented foods such as sauerkraut or kimchi to your meals: cabbage is fantastic for the colon. The healthy bacteria found in yogurt can also help keep your intestines healthy, but not if you’re sensitive to dairy. Consider buying a probiotic supplement from your health food store instead. Look for a brand that contains strains of acidophilus and bifidobacterium.

See Also: Bowel Problems

Mix Up Some Pedialyte  

When your little ones are recovering from a tummy bug, you can help them feel better sooner with this homemade (and natural!) version of Pedialyte. Mix together one quart of water, a half cup of orange juice, two tablespoons of sugar, three-quarters of a teaspoon of baking soda, and a quarter teaspoon of salt. Serve once their vomiting has stopped for a few hours. Make sure to contact a doctor if any problems persis

Drink Chamomile and Rice Water

To soothe a sudden bout of diarrhea, try drinking chamomile tea. Rice water may also be helpful. Boil a half cup of brown rice in three cups of water, let simmer for 45 minutes, strain, and drink the rice water on its own. Eat the rice too: a high-fiber diet helps combat diarrhea, and the B vitamins will help your digestive system heal.

Stay Hydrated

When you have diarrhea, you know it’s important to stay hydrated. Black tea with a bit of sugar or honey not only helps with rehydration, but the tannins can actually help stop the intestinal inflammation. Avoid adding milk, of course, which could make the problem worse. If you’re a health nut and happen to have any carob powder on hand, you can add a teaspoon or so to hot water and drink it. It will have the same effect as the black tea.

Look into Lactose Intolerance

All your life you enjoyed milk, cheese, ice cream, and all variety of dairy products, so why should they give you tummy trouble now? It’s a real bummer, but lactose intolerance can strike at any age. Take a break from all dairy for a week and see if you feel better. (The good news is that if you’re lactose intolerant, you should still be able to eat yogurt and some varieties of cheese.)

See Also: Natural Remedies for Stomach Pain

The Wonders of Wine

You’re enjoying an exotic vacation, sampling the local street food, but that tasty grilled meat on a stick didn’t settle with you and now you have a bout of traveler’s diarrhea. Have a glass of wine! It turns out that wine will quickly go to work in killing those nasty bacteria, so you’ll be feeling normal again in no time. Just stick to one glass, or you may have other problems on your hands!

Be a BRAT

Once the “runs” stop running, try the time-tested BRAT diet to get you feeling like yourself again. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. These comforting foods will make your tummy feel better and have the important effect of firming up loose stool.

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