Stopping children from playing is impossible, and getting infected due to exposure to outside environment is inevitable. Cold, cough, fever, diarrhea and worms are some of the common ailments that children suffer from periodically.
I have listed a few food modifications in this article to be used during diarrhea. Nourishing your child correctly and using natural kitchen remedies for common ailments reduces the need for heavy medications and antibiotics. Moreover, using natural food as medicines boosts your child’s natural immunity and helps ward off infections effectively.
What Causes Diarrhea?
The major cause of Diarrhea in children is due to
- Infected food and water.
- Putting dirty fingers in the mouth.
- Eating roadside food.
- Eating food prepared in unfiltered water.
- Using unclean vegetables/ fruits/meat in the diet cause intestinal distress and prevent the absorption of nutrients by the gut.
Diarrhoea is the body’s defense mechanism to throw out infections/ microbes from the gut. However, the body also throws out fluid, electrolytes, and nutrients in the process of eliminating infection; which causes weakness and malnutrition in the bargain.
Home Remedies for Diarrhea
Food given during such episodes must be fluid & electrolyte-rich, must be easy to digest and at the same time must be nourishing to the body.
Diarrhea may be of 2 types –
1. Infective
2. Mucous
Home remedies for Diarrhoea – Infective
1. Stewed apple with cinnamon & honey
The pectin in apple (especially after stewing) helps bind stools and absorbs excessive water from the gut, thus controlling diarrhea.
2. Plenty of seasoned curds
Seasoned curd works well against infective bacteria in the gut. It also aids in relieving any stomachache or cramps during diarrhea.
3. Coconut water
Electrolyte liquids are a must to ensure that the body is well hydrated.
4. Lemon sherbet
They help in restoring the hydration due to increased fluid loss.
5. Pomegranate juice
They act as anti-inflammatory agents and help in soothing the stomach wall.
6. Baked sweet potato with ghee
Cooked starch in potatoes helps form solid stools and hence helps cure infective diarrhea.
Home remedies for Diarrhoea – Mucous
7. Liberal use of mint, cumin & lemon
These remedies help break down sticky mucous and help improve digestion.
8.Curd
Curd soothes the gut by providing probiotics that help reduce mucous.
9. Moong dal Sprouts
It decreases the frequency of loose stools in the same time providing the adequate nutrition. Moong Dal Soup is an excellent way to restore the lost fluids and prevent further diarrhea.
10.Avoid wheat, processed foods, spices
These foods may aggravate mucous production in the gut.
Please note – It is very important to maintain hydration during diarrheal episodes, so keep giving sips of water or juice at regular intervals.
” Do comment below to let us know what home remedy helped you for treating diarrhea? ”
The next article by the same author
” Top 10 Home Remedies for Fever in Children”
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Author
Dhvani Shah
RD, ND, PG (Dietetics), BSc, C.D.E.
Ms. Dhvani Shah is a consulting dietitian and naturopathic nutritionist. She has done extensive research in traditional diet therapies and naturopathy and its relevance in the modern context and is pioneering drugless healing and well being through her unique approach – FIMS. She runs the “FIMS clinic” which supports a body-mind-spirit approach. Dhvani specializes in Woman and Child Nutritionist by developing specialized nutrition programs, conducting workshops, developing nutritious recipes and now – writing a series of books on Child Nutrition, Women Wellness & Scientific Jain diet.