Fast Diarrhea: No Laxatives Needed

There are several ways to induce diarrhoea without the use of laxatives. Diarrhoea is liquid stool, caused when the intestines do not absorb enough water from the stool. This can be caused by food passing through the intestines too quickly to be digested. It is important to note that diarrhoea can lead to dehydration and skin sores, so it is recommended to call a doctor if it lasts longer than 24 hours. To induce diarrhoea, one can try drinking a glass of rice water solution (cooking one cup of rice in six cups of water for an hour and then straining out the rice). Another option is to drink clear liquids, such as water, and avoid certain foods and drinks that can make diarrhoea worse, such as spicy foods, raw vegetables, fruits, and alcoholic drinks. Additionally, one can try consuming foods that are high in fibre, such as beans, oat bran, leafy greens, chia seeds, flaxseeds, and dried fruits like apricots, figs, and prunes.

Drink rice water

Rice water is an excellent home remedy for treating diarrhoea. It is safe for all ages and can be easily prepared at home. It is also a natural way to quickly recover from loose stools.

How to Make Rice Water

Rice water can be made by boiling 1 cup of rice in 2-6 cups of water for 10-30 minutes, or until the water becomes cloudy. The rice is then strained, and the water is kept for consumption. You can add salt or sugar to the rice water to replace lost electrolytes.

How Much to Drink

It is recommended to drink 1 cup of rice water, 2-3 times a day. For diarrhoea, you can drink 1 litre of rice water per day until the symptoms disappear.

Benefits of Rice Water

Rice water has a slightly starchy solution, which has a binding effect on the digestive system. It can help reduce the frequency of loose stools and form firmer, bulkier stools. It can also help prevent dehydration by replenishing lost fluids and replacing electrolytes.

A German study found that rice water was more effective at treating diarrhoea than traditional rehydration drinks, including sports drinks.

Precautions

Rice water should not be ingested alone to treat diarrhoea. It should be accompanied by an easy-to-digest diet and electrolyte solutions. For moderate to severe diarrhoea, prescribed medication may be necessary.

People who are allergic to rice or have active skin diseases should not ingest rice water.

Consume probiotics

Probiotics are live microorganisms (microbes) that can have beneficial effects on or inside your body. They are often recommended to help bring your microbiome back to balance, especially after an illness or treatment that weakened your microbiome.

Probiotics can be found in certain foods, like yogurt, and they also come in the form of supplements. However, not all probiotics can ease diarrhea, and some may only help with certain types.

Probiotics may help treat and prevent diarrhea by repopulating and maintaining beneficial gut bacteria and correcting an imbalance in the gut microbiota. This is especially useful in cases where diarrhea is caused by an overgrowth of bad bacteria in the gut, often a side effect of antibiotic use.

Probiotics that have been found to be effective in treating diarrhea include:

• Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG)
• Saccharomyces boulardii
• Bifidobacterium lactis
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus reuteri
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Lactobacillus acidophilus

Probiotics are generally considered safe, and serious side effects are rare in healthy people. However, there is a small risk of adverse side effects for people with weaker immune systems, including those recovering from surgery, critically ill infants, and individuals with indwelling catheters or chronic illnesses.

It is always recommended to consult a healthcare professional before adding any supplement to your diet.

Avoid dairy

It is commonly believed that dairy products should be eliminated during episodes of diarrhea, but current evidence does not support this. In fact, some research suggests that certain fermented dairy products, such as yogurt, may help to alleviate acute episodes of diarrhea. However, if your diarrhea is related to lactose intolerance, avoiding dairy products may be a good idea.

Even if you are not lactose intolerant, milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products can make diarrhea worse. This is because lactose is difficult to digest, and when you have diarrhea, the amount of lactase enzyme in your intestines temporarily decreases, making it even harder to digest dairy. As such, you may be temporarily sensitive to dairy products, even if you usually have no problem with them.

If you have very severe diarrhea, you may need to stop consuming dairy products for a few days. However, it is important to note that dairy products are not the only foods that can aggravate diarrhea. Fatty and spicy foods, as well as caffeinated and sugary beverages, can also exacerbate irritation and be more difficult to digest while the digestive tract recovers.

Eat fibre-rich foods

Fibre-rich foods are an important part of a healthy diet, and they can also help with diarrhoea. Fibre is found in all fruits and vegetables, and it's recommended that you eat 14 grams of total fibre for every 1,000 calories, or about 25 grams per day for women and 38 grams per day for men.

If you have diarrhoea, eating fibre-rich foods can help to firm up your stool and slow down digestion. Fibre absorbs water in the digestive tract, and soluble fibre, in particular, turns into a gel when mixed with water, resulting in firmer, bulkier stools that move more slowly through your system.

Some great sources of soluble fibre include oatmeal, potatoes, bananas, and soft, skinless fruits. Sweet potatoes are especially good, with 2 grams of soluble fibre per half-cup of flesh. Other options include white bread or toast, white potato (peeled), and chicken breast (skinless).

It's important to increase your fibre intake slowly, as adding too much too fast can upset your stomach. Start by adding a few fibre-rich foods to your diet and gradually increase your intake over time.

In addition to eating fibre-rich foods, it's also crucial to stay well-hydrated when you have diarrhoea. Drink plenty of water or electrolyte-rich sports drinks, and consider eating probiotic foods like low-fat yogurt to restore the healthy balance of microorganisms in your gut.

Drink more water

Water is a great way to get diarrhea fast without the use of laxatives. Diarrhea is defined as having loose, watery stools several times a day, and it can be caused by the intestines not absorbing enough water from the stool. This happens when food moves through the intestines too quickly to be properly digested.

Drinking lots of water can help induce diarrhea because it can overwhelm the intestines' ability to absorb it, leading to watery stools. While this is a quick way to get diarrhea, it is important to be cautious as diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which can be dangerous, especially for children and older adults. Dehydration occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, and it can cause symptoms such as fatigue, darker urine, and reduced skin elasticity. In severe cases, it can lead to organ damage, urinary tract infections, and even death.

To get diarrhea fast without laxatives, try drinking a large amount of water in a short period. This can be especially effective if you also consume foods or drinks that can worsen diarrhea, such as sorbitol, xylitol, fructose, and lactose. These sugar alcohols and sweeteners can be found in sugar-free products, fruits, and dairy products.

Additionally, continuing to eat solid foods during this process can help add bulk to the stools, making them looser and more frequent. This approach may be particularly effective for children, who should be provided with age-appropriate foods, breast milk, or formula. However, it is important to note that this method may not be suitable for those with certain medical conditions, such as heart failure or incontinence.

If you choose to induce diarrhea by drinking large amounts of water, it is crucial to prioritize your health and stay hydrated. Diarrhea can cause a rapid loss of fluids, so be sure to drink plenty of water and other clear fluids, such as sports drinks or oral rehydration solutions like Pedialyte. These solutions contain electrolytes and glucose, which are essential for maintaining fluid balance in the body.

In conclusion, drinking more water can be an effective way to get diarrhea fast without laxatives. However, it is important to be cautious and prioritize hydration to avoid the potentially dangerous consequences of dehydration.

Frequently asked questions