Diet for people with chronic diarrhea

The article is professionally consulted by Doctor Vo Thi Thuy Trang, Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.

For the definitive treatment of chronic diarrhea, diet plays an extremely important role. Patients with chronic diarrhea need to know the appropriate and correct diet to achieve the best treatment for chronic diarrhea.

When the patient shows signs of passing loose or mushy stools three times a day for more than 2 weeks without any signs of recovery, this may be a sign of chronic diarrhea.
Patients will be thin, lose weight, anemic, and gradually become malnourished if not properly treated and nutritionally supplemented. Patients should use foods that are easy to digest and absorb, with high nutritional value, taste, and sufficient energy. It is important for the patient to eat more than usual to compensate for diarrhea.
Some foods are recommended for patients with chronic diarrhea include:
Foods full of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals Yogurt is fermented with beneficial bacteria, good Bacterial fermentation process converts lactose into lactic acid, helping patients better absorb it. Yogurt also has the effect of shortening the duration of diarrhea, re-establishing the balance of bacteria Soy milk can be used as an alternative if the patient is lactose intolerant or allergic to cow's milk protein Chicken is an easy-to-digest food. with patients with diarrhea. Besides, chicken is softer than other meats, easy to absorb even when the patient's intestinal mucosa is damaged, shortening the time of diarrhea. Provides adequate vitamins and minerals to help patients with chronic diarrhea easily stabilize their condition

The total energy required for patients with chronic diarrhea is 2,000-2,400 k calories/day. In which protein (protein): 80g/day (1.5-2g/kg/day); fat (lipid): 15g/day; flour - sugar: 400g or more; water, salt: just enough; vegetables, fruits: fresh, ripe.
Food must be suitable for clinical condition. It is best to eat a high-protein, vitamin-rich, calorie-rich diet. It should also be noted that if the patient has a high blood urea nitrogen index, it is necessary to reduce the amount of protein, rich in calories.

Patients with chronic diarrhea should prepare and distribute meals, choose long-term food, divide meals into several meals for easy absorption.
Diarrhea patients can refer to the following sample menu:
7 o'clock: 200ml soy yogurt (20g soybeans, 20g sugar), 100g biscuits. 11am: 500ml meat porridge (60g rice, 80g meat, 2g oil), 50g bread, 150g mashed apple. 2pm: Potato soup 400ml (potato 200g, carrot 100g, peas 100g, egg 30g), bread 50g, oil 2g. 18:00: 500ml heart liver porridge (rice 60g, liver heart 80g, 2g oil), 200ml soy yogurt (20g soybeans, 20g sugar). Nutritional efficiency of the menu: energy = 1,800 k calories. In which: protein 58.08g, fat 15.9g; flour - sugar 320.85g. When the patient responds, increase protein, carbohydrates, not fat.
Depending on the progress and customs of each patient, different and appropriate dishes can be changed.
Adhering to the correct diet is the most effective treatment for chronic diarrhea patients.