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How to Stop Diarrhea

author avatar Dr. Eric Berg 10/17/2024

Having diarrhea is no fun at all. And it isn’t good for your body, either. Important nutrients start to get depleted fast, and that can wreak havoc on your entire system. If you are dealing with loose motions, then you’ll want to know how to stop diarrhea naturally and quickly. In this article, discover the best foods and supplements that can help you find relief and get your digestion back on track.

I will cover:

Nurse holding a blackboard that says diarrhea. Diarrhea concept, how to stop diarrhea


What causes diarrhea?

There are many possible reasons for getting diarrhea. It can be brought on by infection, medications, dietary factors, or underlying health conditions, for example.

Here are some of the common causes of diarrhea:

  • Viruses

  • Bacteria

  • Food poisoning

  • Antibiotics

  • Consuming sugar alcohols

  • Excess bile

  • Gut dysfunction (any underlying damage to the lining of the digestive tract such as with Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, IBS, celiac disease, etc.)

  • Medications (such as metformin, depression and anxiety drugs, and more)
     

Whatever the cause, it is important to know how to get rid of diarrhea naturally, and how to get rid of diarrhea quickly. The longer you have it, the longer you are being depleted of key nutrients that are very needed in the body.

Why you want to get rid of diarrhea as fast as possible

Diarrhea is very hard on the body. Loose motions make it so that many different minerals, electrolytes, and nutrients are flying out of the body and not being absorbed. This can lead to deficiencies and severe depletion of key nutrients.

Some of the important things that get depleted when you have diarrhea include:

  • Electrolytes

  • Fluid

  • Salt

  • Trace minerals

  • Microbes (probiotics)

  • Fiber

  • Acids

  • Trace minerals
     

When you get diarrhea, all of these things get wiped out. And your body will start to suffer without them.

Woman with diarrhea sitting on toilet holding toilet paper, how to get rid of diarrhea


One of the big problems and risks with getting diarrhea is that you can become deficient in electrolytes very fast. And many of these electrolytes are needed for your heart to function properly. When they become depleted, as with diarrhea, you can start to feel dizzy, get arrhythmias, and have problems with your heart.

That is why it is so important to replenish the nutrients on the list above when you are experiencing symptoms of diarrhea, and to learn how to stop diarrhea fast at home when you get it.

But how do you do that? You’ll need to focus on increasing your consumption of probiotics, fiber, and acids so you can relieve your diarrhea.

 

The 3 things you need more of to stop diarrhea

In the large colon, there are many different probiotics (friendly bacteria) that work together to aid in your digestion. These microbes feed on fiber from the foods you eat (like veggies), ferment those fibers, and turn them into certain acids that are beneficial for you.

The acids can feed your colon cells, give your body energy, and also help things like Fat Storing Hormone resistance and immunity. When the friendly bacteria ferment fiber from your diet, a bulky substance is formed, and that makes up part of your stool.

Probiotics, gut microbiome concept. Illustration of intestines, zoom into intestinal flora


When we have diarrhea, we are losing too many probiotics, fiber, and acids. Our stool becomes loose and we lose more and more of the nutrients we need.

In order to halt and prevent diarrhea, we need more of all three of these factors:

  1. Probiotics

  2. Fiber

  3. Acids
     

When we replenish them, we can finally start to feel better. To relieve diarrhea, we can add back in microbes, fiber, and acids through the foods that we eat and through quality supplements.

 

The best foods to get rid of diarrhea naturally

These foods are some of the best healthy sources of probiotics, fiber, and acids:

1. Kombucha tea

Kombucha tea is a great choice as a diarrhea home remedy. It contains both probiotics and lactic acid, which helps you to replace what has been lost. Drinking kombucha can help you feel better really quickly and help you find relief.

Jar of kombucha tea with label next to bottle and glasses on countertop. Healthy probiotic drink


2. Kefir

Consuming kefir is an excellent way to get healthy probiotics back into your system. Kefir is a healthier option than yogurt, especially when you choose goat milk kefir (which is lower in carbs). Make sure to choose a plain kefir that doesn’t have added sweeteners or other junk in it.

3. Pickles and other fermented foods like sauerkraut and kimchi

Fermented pickles and other pickled foods are a good source of fiber when you have diarrhea. Because they have already had a head start in the fermentation process, the fiber in these foods is easier to break down. Plus, you also get some friendly bacteria and acids – allowing you to get all three of the components you need all in one food. Opt for naturally fermented options like pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi that have live probiotics in them.

4. Berries

Berries are another source of healthy fiber that can feed the microbes in your gut and promote healing. Blackberries seem to work especially well in slowing the movement of food through your gut and preventing diarrhea.

Here’s a great tip for a diarrhea home remedy: take some berries and blend them with some kefir. This combination makes a really great diarrhea remedy to drink.

Healthy blackberries overflowing out of bowl on wooden table with blackberry leaves


5. Carob

Carob, which you can find in the form of carob powder, also provides a good source of fiber to help fix diarrhea. I find that carob powder works very well if you have the runs and need a fast home remedy to turn to.

 

Take a high-quality probiotic supplement, too

Along with the foods listed above, a probiotic supplement can go a long way in helping you to get rid of your diarrhea. A healthy microbial population in your gut is key to getting your digestive system back on track and to relieve your diarrhea symptoms.

When choosing a probiotic supplement, make sure to go for a high-quality option. You’ll want one that will survive the acidity of the stomach so that it can actually get down to where it is needed and start building back up your gut flora.

To learn more about probiotics supplements, go here.

 

The bottom line

Woman writing Stop Diarrhea with a marker over blurred natural background. Diarrhea remedies


If you have loose motions and diarrhea, then you’ll want to take action now to fix the problem.

Remember, you need more fiber, microbes, and acids to get back on track, and you’ll want to replenish other nutrients that have been lost like electrolytes.

Foods and supplements to try to stop diarrhea include:

  • Probiotic supplements

  • Kombucha tea

  • Kefir

  • Pickles and fermented foods

  • Berries

  • Carob powder
     

If you are dealing with digestive issues on an ongoing basis, I recommend that you check out my videos on the digestive system. I’ll help you to understand the whole system, how it works, and how to relieve common problems. Avoid synthetic ingredients, like polydextrose, maltodextrin, and dextrose. Get started here.

Give the diarrhea remedies listed above a try, and see how they work for you. Then share your questions and comments with me down below!

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Disclaimer: Our educational content is not meant or intended for medical advice or treatment.

Editor’s Note: This post has been updated for quality and relevancy.

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