Frugal Home Remedies: BRAT Diet

After suffering from a gastrointestinal infection it is not unusual for the symptoms to remain long after the virus or bacteria is gone.  Keep hydrated by drinking an electrolyte solution.  I prefer to mix Gatorade half and half with water.  Once any vomiting has stopped it is time to move on to the BRAT diet to bring the diarrhea under control.

B  banana
R  rice
A  applesauce
T   toast (or saltines)

Start out slowly by eating small amounts, say half a banana and a few saltines.  Try to keep a little something in your stomach to avoid heartburn.  Once your symptoms have abated you can begin to introduce bland, non fatty proteins to the BRAT foods.  I start with a boiled egg.

Stay away from dairy until you have been symptom free for 24 hours, then you can introduce plain yogurt in small amounts.  The yogurt can help introduce good bacteria back into your digestive system.

Now you can add other foods in small amounts, one at a time, to see if you tolerate them.  If symptoms reoccur, remove that food from your diet and return to the BRAT diet.

You should be diarrhea free very soon, but if your symptoms persist for more than a few days call your health practitioner.

BRAT Diet Avgolemono Soup

1 cup chicken broth
1 cup cooked rice
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Heat chicken broth.  Add rice.  In a bowl beat together eggs and lemon juice.  Stir egg mixture into soup and keep stirring until broth begins to thicken.  When hot and creamy soup is done.

This soup is a less bland way to add protein into your BRAT diet.

God bless,
Pam