Diarrhea Myths That Have Been Debunked By Science

Diarrhea is a common and unpleasant digestive issue that thankfully tends to be short-lived. While there are many factors that can contribute, there are equally as many myths surrounding both the cause and the appropriate treatment. We may not enjoy discussing the subject of poop, but it is important to understand the science related to diarrhea if you are to treat it effectively.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, diarrhea is "passing loose, watery stools three or more times a day, or more often than what is normal for you." Viruses are a common cause of loose stools, but if you assume you or your child has caught something because you have diarrhea, it is not necessarily the case. According to pediatrician Dr. Cindy Gellner, sugar can often be a factor, especially in young children. "Sugar draws fluid into the intestines, making the stools more watery," she explains. "Even natural sugars found in fruit can cause diarrhea ... [and] we see diarrhea in toddlers a lot because they drink a lot of juice."

Teething is also commonly blamed for diarrhea, but Dr. Gellner says this is not accurate. While sore teeth can cause infants to be uncomfortable and irritable, it does not cause diarrhea. Too much soluble fiber, on the other hand, can cause runny poop so if your child has been eating huge quantities of fruits and veggies, this could be the culprit.

Many of us are familiar with the advice on what to eat after a bout of diarrhea: plain, bland tasting foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, known as the BRAT diet. But the assumption that it is recommended to eat this way for many days after being ill is a myth, and could potentially impede your recovery.

The BRAT diet is recommended since these foods are easy for the body to digest, and can help make your poop more solid. Gastroenterologist Jacqueline Wolf explains, "both apples and bananas contain a type of soluble fiber called pectin that binds excess water, which can help firm up your stools." However, in terms of nutrition, these ingredients are not the richest, lacking in protein and healthy fats in particular. For this reason, it is not recommended to follow the BRAT diet for more than a few days.

Soups with a broth base, skinless poultry, and oatmeal are all options that provide more nutrients than the BRAT diet, so you should aim to incorporate these other items as well if you feel up to them. "Typically, people are encouraged to eat as tolerated," family medicine specialist Sarah Pickering Beers says. "Your stomach tends to handle smaller meals better." One food type that should be avoided is sugary drinks. Even fruit juice can make diarrhea worse, so stick to water and decaffeinated tea until you feel better.

A common misconception is that seasonal flu and diarrhea are related. This is likely due to the commonly used term "stomach flu," which is often used to describe viral gastroenteritis. One of the tell-tale symptoms is diarrhea, along with stomach cramps and nausea or vomiting, but it is unrelated to the seasonal flu, which primarily affects the respiratory system. This means that the flu vaccine will not protect against stomach flu, which originates from viruses such as norovirus and rotavirus. The best way to prevent these viruses from spreading is regular hand washing with hot soapy water, rather than hand sanitizer, and not sharing items that have been used by an unwell person.

If you are considering that antibiotics may be required for a particularly nasty bout of diarrhea, think again. It is a myth that antibiotics are effective against regular diarrhea, which is usually caused by a virus rather than bacteria. Even in cases of bacterial diarrhea, caused by microbes such as Salmonella or E. coli, antibiotics are often only given to vulnerable individuals with weakened immune systems. This is because antibiotics can sometimes cause more problems than they solve, and one side effect is often, ironically, diarrhea.

Antibiotics kill bacteria in the gut indiscriminately, meaning they target both good and bad microbes. Destroying the beneficial flora in the gut can hinder recovery from the illness, and create a wide range of side effects, including digestive upset and fungal infections. Instead, in otherwise healthy individuals, probiotics are sometimes used to increase the proportion of beneficial bacteria in the gut, rather than antibiotics to destroy the harmful ones.