Tips to Reduce High Cholesterol

Pretzels and Sports Drink
 

You lose electrolytes (salts) when you have diarrhea and it can be helpful to replace them. Pretzels are made with white flour and baked and have salt, so they are a good choice. You may also use electrolyte-replacement sports drinks.

Oatmeal, Farina, or Cream of Wheat

These comforting hot breakfast cereals are good choices, plus you can also enjoy cornflakes. Oatmeal has soluble fiber, as may be recommended as a bulking agent for your stool when you have diarrhea. Keep in mind that you want to limit any sugar, honey, or dairy products you might normally have with hot or cold cereal.

Chicken Broth

Your grandmother had it right-chicken soup is good for whatever ails you, including diarrhea. Sipping soup can be extremely soothing, and chicken broth contains nutrients and electrolytes that can help to replace those that might have been lost by your repeated bouts of diarrhea. The warm broth will provide a little extra comfort for your sore stomach.

Steamed, Baked, or Broiled Chicken or Lean Meat

Steamed white meat chicken is an easily digested source of protein. This provides a fairly safe way to get some nutrients into your body. Keep it simple, though, and avoid adding oils or butter when you cook the chicken. If you don't have a steamer or aren't confident about steaming a chicken safely, you can bake or broil the chicken instead.

Mashed Potatoes

Potatoes are a good comfort food option and are also high in potassium. While the skins have lots of nutrition, you should avoid them when you have diarrhea, so peeled potatoes are best. Steam, microwave, or boil your potatoes A little salt for flavor is fine but avoid too much butter, margarine, sour cream, or gravy.

Dairy Products

Saturated fats and the no fiber component is the reason dairy products come in this category. If you're constipated, leave out cheese and milk from your breakfast, stick to oatmeal and yogurt.

Chips

Snacks such as potato chips make the list of constipating foods mainly because they almost always replace a snack or side dish that is richer in fiber. High-fat foods like potato chips cause delayed digestion, leading to a 'too-full' feeling that mirrors constipation. For constipation relief, look for reduced-fat snack foods that contain whole grains to increase your fiber intake.

Frozen Food

These meals in a box may be convenient, but they rarely have the nutritional merits of a meal you prepare yourself. Frozen foods are always low in fiber and often high in fat. They are usually high in sodium, which ties up water to dilute the salt, keeping it from pushing waste through the body. Keep these constipating foods to a minimum.

Cookies

Cookies as well as other sources of refined carbohydrates like pastries, cakes, and many crackers, have three strikes against them when it comes to constipation - they're low in fiber, low in fluid, and high in fat. It's best to reduce your intake of these constipating foods in favor of higher-fiber dessert or snack choices, such as fresh fruit, which are great for constipation relief.