Causes of diarrhea after eating, why diarrhea begins after eating

Diarrhea after fatty foods is the body’s protective reaction to unhealthy foods. Diarrhea is accompanied by cramps in the intestines, gas formation, vomiting, and an increase in body temperature; this is how the stomach reacts to a certain type of fatty food or fats contained in foods. Pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, inflammatory processes in the pancreas, and infectious diseases are common causes of diarrhea.

Development mechanisms

Digestion of food is a set of complex biological and biochemical processes that transform consumed food into a set of elements and substances useful to the body. Contrary to popular belief, digestion is not limited to the stomach, but continues in the small intestine.

In case of any digestive disorders, it immediately affects the body in the form of vomiting, constipation or diarrhea.

Diarrhea after eating can occur constantly due to the following intestinal disorders:

• disturbances of intestinal motility;
• exudate entering the intestinal cavity due to thinning of its walls;
• change in pressure in the intestinal cavity;
• imbalance of microorganisms.

Folk remedies to combat loose stools

Patients who experience diarrhea within an hour or immediately after eating can benefit from traditional medicine. Treatment with decoctions and products that can cope with the problem will provide the opportunity to get rid of diarrhea.

After eating, you can drink an infusion of chamomile flowers, oak bark, or a decoction of alder cones. A powder made from films located on the inner surface of the chicken stomach will help in the fight against diarrhea. They are dried, ground, and stored in an airtight container. You can eliminate diarrhea in children and adults with the help of rice broth, porridge prepared from this cereal in water.

The danger posed by diarrhea must be taken into account. There is no need to try to identify the causes or seek treatment on your own if such a disorder regularly occurs after eating. This symptom may be a consequence of serious illnesses that require immediate treatment.

Types of diarrhea

As a rule, such diarrhea is caused by an intestinal infection, and there are two main types:

• bloody;
• watery.

Bloody diarrhea after each meal indicates the presence of inflammatory ulcers in the intestines.

If you find bloody discharge in your stool, you should immediately go to the doctor, who, as a rule, prescribes a full diagnostic test in such cases.

Watery diarrhea after eating indicates the presence of viruses and bacteria in the intestines.

If left untreated, watery diarrhea can easily become chronic. Secondary causes of watery diarrhea:

• stressful state of the body;
• allergic reaction to food and medications;
• vitamin deficiency and dysbacteriosis;
• surges in blood pressure.

Causes

Diarrhea after eating can occur due to the following reasons:

• The so-called neurogenic diarrhea, which appears in moments of severe stress in the body. If the body is under constant psychological stress, irritable bowel syndrome may develop. However, diarrhea is not the only consequence of stress; a person may also begin to suffer from nervousness and other disorders in the functioning of the body.
• Dysbacteriosis is an imbalance of microorganisms in the intestines that occurs due to poor nutrition and lack of useful elements and vitamins. The body cannot fully digest and assimilate food, so it strives to eliminate it as quickly as possible.
• Intestinal infections are another reason why constant diarrhea occurs after every meal. The body reacts especially sharply to unhealthy and fatty foods, so immediately after eating it tries to get rid of it. The most common intestinal infections are acute gastritis, enteritis, and so-called food poisoning.
• Allergy to certain types of food - in this case, the dangerous product should be identified and completely eliminated from the diet.
• Food poisoning is associated with ingestion of food that is unfamiliar to the body or spoiled. Usually in this case, loose stools do not last more than 1-2 days until all harmful toxins are washed out of the body. If the condition persists longer, you should consult a doctor.
• Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas that often causes diarrhea after eating.
• With diseases of the liver and biliary tract, a person may often suffer from regular diarrhea. This is also accompanied by general weakness of the body, vomiting, and high fever. If these symptoms occur in combination, you should immediately seek medical help.

Treatment of diarrhea with folk remedies

In folk medicine there are many remedies that will help with diarrhea after each meal. It should be noted right away that such remedies are safe, but they will not bring quick results, unlike medications.

Traditional medicine recipes are recommended to be combined with other therapies. Among the effective recipes are:

1. Infusion of oak bark. Need for 1 tbsp. add 250 ml of boiling water to the crushed bark and leave for half an hour. Drink the product after each meal in equal parts.
2. Peppermint infusion. Place 1 tbsp in a cup. dried or fresh plants and add boiling water, leave for 20 minutes, then drink half a cup every couple of hours.
3. Infusion of carrot seeds. The seeds must be ground into powder. You need to take 1 tsp. dry powder with a glass of water. The product should be used after every meal.
4. Cumin infusion. Place 2 tbsp in a cup. caraway seeds, add boiling water and leave to brew for 20 minutes. Take 50 ml 3 times a day after meals. Suitable for treating a child.

Although traditional medicine methods are safe and natural, before using them it is better to consult a doctor and undergo an examination, because diarrhea after eating can indicate serious abnormalities.

There is a varied range of medications that are used to treat diarrhea. The choice of a particular medication depends on the cause that caused the disorder.

When to see a doctor?

First of all, you need to pay attention to the presence of foreign secretions in the stool. If there is a purulent smell, pus itself or blood, this is a sign of serious damage to the intestines, and it is better not to delay the time to see a doctor. Also an alarming signal is the appearance of an unpleasant odor, which is a signal that fats in the body are not completely broken down. Long-term diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days is also a cause for concern.

The doctor will conduct a physical examination, question the patient in detail about the frequency of loose stools per day, food intake and other possible general symptoms. A diagnostic test will be ordered, including blood and stool (possibly urine) tests.

If necessary, the doctor may prescribe hospitalization and inpatient treatment.

Treatment

There are both folk and drug treatments for diarrhea.

Medications:

Loperamide

A drug that normalizes intestinal motility. The advantage of this drug is the absence of the narcotic effect of the active substance, like its analogues (codeine, diphenoxylate).

Price: 20 rubles for 20 tablets.

Imodium

Lozenges. The advantage is the rapid effect (starting from one hour after use). This drug will help if diarrhea is of a non-infectious nature (stress diarrhea, traveler's diarrhea).

Contraindications: intestinal obstruction, age under 6 years, pregnancy and lactation, allergic reactions, ulcerative and pseudomembranous colitis.

Price: 350 rubles for 10 tablets.

Smecta

The drug, recommended for use for intestinal infections, is taken 3 times a day between meals.

Contraindications: intestinal obstruction, allergic reactions, sucrose-isomaltase deficiency, fructose intolerance.

Price: 150 rubles for 10 bags.

Kaopectate

Available in both tablet and suspension form.

Contraindications: intestinal obstruction, allergic reactions, age under 3 years.

Linex

Probiotic that normalizes intestinal microflora.

Contraindications: age under 1 year, allergic reactions.

Price: 650 rubles for 48 capsules.

Folk remedies:

• Oak bark decoction. The bark is poured with hot water, and the resulting decoction should be taken immediately after meals, one glass at a time. As a rule, intestinal function returns to normal after a couple of days of using the product.
• Buckwheat porridge with water and no salt. You need to eat this porridge in the morning, without anything accompanying it. After one meal, bowel function usually improves.
• Dissolve chopped nutmeg in milk. This recipe is good for children, recommended dose: 1 teaspoon 4 times a day.
• Bird cherry decoction. This recipe is not suitable for everyone: bird cherry is contraindicated for pregnant and lactating women.
• Strong tea and rice water also have a strengthening effect.

Treating diarrhea at home (for adults)

Only if the above-described symptoms of diarrhea are not identified, treatment at home is possible.

This requires adherence to a gentle daily regimen, balanced nutrition, replenishment of water and salts lost by the body, and the use of medications. Replenishment of losses of water and minerals

What drink?

In order to avoid dehydration, it is necessary to replenish all substances and water removed from the body. To do this, it is better to use water with minerals dissolved in it. Solutions of drugs such as Regidron, Ringer Lock, Gidrovit, Orasan are better suited for these purposes.

The best thing you can do without a doctor's prescription is to take a sorbent. Since 2011, treatment standards for infectious diseases have been in effect in Russia. According to them, the drug of choice is the enterosorbent PEPIDOL. The drug eliminates the need to take antibiotics and probiotics. This is the only antibacterial enterosorbent.

Under no circumstances should you use sparkling water, sweet water, or juices when dehydrated.

How much to drink?

It is recommended to replenish all volumetric water consumption during illness. Therefore, it is advisable to drink 200-300 ml after each trip to the toilet. saline solution. If the consumption of saline solution repeatedly leads to vomiting, then you need to seek help from a doctor - it is necessary to identify the cause of vomiting and regular droppers with electrolyte solutions will be used to prevent dehydration.

What to eat?

Naturally, with diarrhea, it is necessary to consume foods that strengthen.

Food products such as ripe bananas, crackers, and boiled rice have a good effect.

Spices, fried foods, sweets, and dairy products must be excluded during the treatment of diarrhea.

Diarrhea during pregnancy is dangerous for three reasons: harm to the mother’s body, harm to the child’s body, and the fact that many methods of treating diarrhea are not suitable for pregnant women.

Loss of fluid can provoke the development of toxicosis in a woman, especially in the early stages of pregnancy.

In addition to the usual causes of diarrhea, there is a change in a woman’s hormonal levels associated with the expectation of an unborn child.

Diet

If diarrhea occurs regularly after every meal, then there is a high probability that there is something wrong with the food.

You should adjust your diet to prevent diarrhea and exclude harmful foods.

Recommended Products:

• bananas, yoghurts, apples;
• porridge with water;
• boiled poultry meat;
• lean fish.

Prohibited products:

• fatty and fried foods (especially diarrhea often occurs after fatty foods);
• sweet;
• canned food;
• carbonated drinks, chips;
• coffee, cocoa;
• alcohol.

Diet for frequent diarrhea

A special diet for persistent diarrhea after eating should be adjusted to the cause that caused the pathology - the diet is selected by a specialized medical specialist based on the diagnosis.

In general, it is recommended to use table No. 4 according to Pevzner - it ensures a complete supply of all necessary substances, microelements and vitamins to the body, while reducing the negative consequences of inflammatory processes, normalizing the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract in general and the intestines in particular.

Basic postulates:

• Fractional meals in small portions , 5-6 times a day;
• Cooking dishes by baking, boiling or steaming;
• Limiting calories through simple carbohydrates and trans fats, excluding from the diet any foods that cause fermentation, rotting, or enhance secretion;
• The food system is strict . The structure of the dishes is pureed, liquid, in the serving temperature range of 30-50 degrees;
• Daily composition - 250 grams of carbohydrates (of which 50 grams are sugar), 90 grams of proteins (two thirds of animal origin), 70 grams of fats (mostly vegetable), 8 grams of salt. Total calorie content – ​​2 thousand Kcal;
• Moderate consumption of free fluid - from 1.5 to 2 liters maximum.

Allowed for use are crackers, dietary meats and fish, light low-fat soups, 1 soft-boiled egg, pureed porridge (buckwheat, rice, oatmeal), low-fat cottage cheese and soufflé, 5 grams of butter, vegetable decoctions. Also recommended for consumption are apples, pear and berry-based jelly, juices diluted with water, green and black tea, rose hip decoction, and jelly.

Fatty meats and fish, any bread and bakery products , baked goods, rich soups with broths, pasta, dairy and fermented milk products (except low-fat cottage cheese), millet, pearl barley, eggs, legumes and beans, berries, fruits and vegetables are not allowed. cheese and solid form, honey, jam and other sweets, cocoa, coffee, soda, and other very hot or cold drinks.

Diarrhea after eating: causes

Stomach problems after eating

There can be many reasons why diarrhea occurs after eating:

• stress and emotional stress;
• disturbance of intestinal microflora;
• coli;
• food allergies;
• poor quality food;
• exacerbation of pancreatitis;
• liver and gallbladder diseases;
• chronic diseases of the digestive system;
• sudden changes in blood pressure.

If you have diarrhea with bloody discharge, you should immediately go to the clinic. If an infection has entered the intestines or dysbiosis has developed, then the diarrhea will have a watery structure. If you do not see a doctor and undergo treatment, you may develop persistent diarrhea after eating, which is called secondary diarrhea.

Intestinal problems

A common pathology in adults and children is intestinal inflammation. Such diseases include: Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, etc. Diarrhea after eating is not the only symptom of such diseases. In the presence of inflammatory processes, the stomach hurts, gas formation increases, and bloating is observed. Signs of diseases may appear due to poor nutrition and individual intolerance to certain foods.

The stomach hurts, diarrhea occurs an hour after eating or later due to the body’s negative reaction to allergens. If you have an individual tendency to allergic reactions, you need to avoid foods that can cause problems in the digestive system. These include:

• Eggs.
• Milk products.
• Chocolate confectionery.
• Citruses and strawberries.
• Seafood, fish.

A common problem in modern humans is dysbiosis. Poor nutrition and other reasons provoke an imbalance in the content of beneficial and opportunistic bacteria. With this disorder, the stomach often hurts after eating, and diarrhea occurs after eating immediately, an hour later or later. Repeated diarrhea may occur.

Diarrhea can be a consequence of the penetration of viruses and fungi. In such cases, urgent treatment is necessary. The disease is severe, diarrhea can cause dehydration and sharply worsen the general condition. A doctor should identify why and for what reason these symptoms appeared, prescribe and carry out treatment.

The stomach may hurt after taking certain medications if they negatively affect the processes of flatulence. Diarrhea after eating or between meals can be caused by reasons such as sunstroke, a nervous breakdown, a jump in blood pressure, etc.

Additional symptoms of diarrhea after eating

Symptoms of bowel problems after eating

If your stomach hurts after eating and diarrhea occurs, this may be an allergic reaction to some product or poisoning. Abdominal pain accompanies diarrhea in intestinal diseases and general dysfunction of the digestive organs. In addition to diarrhea, there may be additional symptoms that will help diagnose the pathology.

Why does diarrhea occur after eating with food allergies?

An additional symptom of an allergic reaction may be a rash on the body or face, accompanied by itching. This reaction is caused by a product with an allergen, from which the body is in a hurry to get rid of it, which causes frequent contractions of the intestinal muscles. In this case, the person will feel cramping pain in the upper and center of the abdomen.

Allergens, partially absorbed into the blood, cause hives. If a lot of allergen enters the bloodstream, additional symptoms may occur in the form of nasal congestion, cough, lacrimation, and even Quincke's edema. Most often, an allergic reaction and diarrhea immediately after eating occurs in infants. This is due to weak immunity and incomplete development of the digestive tract.

Additional reasons may be:

• hereditary predisposition;
• early transition to artificial feeding;
• intolerance to complementary feeding components;
• viral and other chronic diseases that weaken the body;
• development of dysbacteriosis.

Usually, with age, food allergies go away or the symptoms disappear, but if such a reaction occurs constantly, the child may become allergic for life.

In adults, the main foods that cause allergies and frequent diarrhea after eating are seafood, citrus fruits, some berries, chocolate, and coffee. Antihistamines and absorbents are usually used as treatment; in severe cases, it is necessary to call a doctor.

Diarrhea after eating due to food poisoning

The cause of diarrhea after eating is toxins that are found in spoiled or poor quality foods. These can be dishes containing protein - meat, fish, sausages, eggs, cakes, pastries, ice cream, desserts with whipped cream.

In addition to food toxins, various bacteria can enter the intestines through dirty hands or when food industry workers violate hygiene and sanitation standards. After entering the human body, bacteria begin to multiply rapidly, enter the bloodstream and spread to all organs, thus provoking general intoxication. Food poisoning, in addition to diarrhea immediately after eating, has other striking symptoms:

• high fever and chills;
• general weakness of the body, accompanied by headache, dizziness;
• nausea, vomiting that does not bring relief;
• loss of appetite, increased sweating.

In severe cases of intoxication, symptoms may occur that require urgent hospitalization:

• lowering blood pressure;
• rapid pulse, palpitations;
• delirium, fever;
• vomiting and diarrhea with blood;
• severe pain in the abdominal area.

Pain during poisoning usually occurs in the navel area and occurs with contractions or colic. As a rule, diarrhea in case of poisoning is not the first sign, so toxins are retained in the body. If you suspect poisoning, you should immediately contact the clinic.

Pancreatitis is the cause of diarrhea immediately after eating

Diarrhea and abdominal pain after eating with pancreatitis occur due to a lack of enzyme production by the pancreas. Therefore, fats, proteins and carbohydrates are not broken down and contribute to accelerated intestinal motility, which causes constant diarrhea after eating.

This can be understood by the fatty, smelly stool that has a mushy consistency. The color of the stool becomes gray, and undigested pieces of food can be seen in it. Pain does not occur immediately, but only when the load on the pancreas increases, 1.5-2 hours after eating. The pain syndrome is usually localized in the left side of the abdominal cavity, and can radiate to the shoulder blade. In this case, the cause, that is, pancreatitis, is subject to treatment.

Diarrhea due to liver and gallbladder diseases

With a lack of bile, digestion and the breakdown of fats are impaired. Characteristic symptoms are white feces, dark urine, diarrhea, jaundice. This condition can be caused by poor diet and abuse of heavy fatty foods. The pain occurs on the right side, is intense and is accompanied by intestinal upset.

Irritable bowel syndrome

Persistent diarrhea after eating most often occurs due to emotional stress, poor nutrition and endocrine disorders. The reasons for this may be the following:

1. genetic predisposition;
2. stress and anxiety;
3. violation of diet and nutrition;
4. sedentary lifestyle;
5. diseases of the pelvic organs in women;
6. menopause, obesity, diabetes, thyroid disease.

The main symptom is diarrhea immediately after eating. A provoking factor can be rich food and high-calorie foods. This occurs due to dysfunction of the endocrine system, which is responsible for the production of enzymes to stimulate intestinal contractility.

With this pathology, painful sensations can be different in nature and intensity. In this case, increased accumulation of gases may be present. More often, diarrhea after eating, accompanied by pain, appears before lunch; in the evening it becomes less pronounced.

If a person eats food too quickly, diarrhea after eating may also occur. While eating, you must chew everything thoroughly. To make a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome, you may need a full examination and consultation with more than one doctor.

Consolidating diet for diarrhea: how to “tame” the intestines

A small one-time stool disorder does not always require visiting a doctor. But persistent diarrhea that does not stop for several days may be a symptom of a serious illness. It may be accompanied by fever, poor general health, nausea and vomiting. In such cases, a doctor's examination and diagnosis are necessary.

Treatment of diarrhea involves the use of medications that fight the cause of the pathology. But for greater effectiveness, you need to change your diet for diarrhea in children and adults.

The diet for diarrhea and flatulence fits within the framework of therapeutic diet No. 4 according to Pevzner. The purpose of such nutrition:

• reduce the load on the intestines as much as possible (eat in small portions);
• eliminate physical and chemical irritation;
• prevent fermentation and bloating.

Diet No. 4 is intended for nutrition in acute and chronic intestinal diseases that occur with diarrhea and infectious diarrhea.

Characteristics

Can I have chocolate and pasta? A diet for diarrhea in an adult is based on protein foods with a maximum limitation of fats and carbohydrates. Foods that increase the secretion of digestive juices and cause fermentation in the intestines are prohibited. What else is important?

• Meals. It is necessary to eat five or six meals a day in small portions so as not to put a large burden on the digestive system.
• Energy value. The calorie content of the diet for acute diarrhea is reduced to 1800-1900 kcal due to the reduction of carbohydrates and fats.
• Drinking regime. The amount of liquid should not be less than 1.5-2 liters per day. It is necessary to replenish water losses. Dehydration is dangerous for older people due to heart rhythm disturbances.
• Nutrient composition. The amount of protein corresponds to the age norm - 70-80 g, and more than half should be animal proteins. Carbohydrates are allowed 250 g, of which up to 50 g is allocated to sugar. Fats can be introduced 60-70 g.
• Salt. The amount of salty foods and salt is limited, but not too much. Sodium chloride is needed to replenish electrolyte balance. But at the same time, you shouldn’t get carried away so as not to increase the symptoms of dehydration. 8-10 g of salt per day is enough.

Diet No. 4, which is used in hospitals, is incomplete and monotonous. Therefore, it cannot be used for a long time. It is prescribed for two to five days, and then the patient is transferred to the second or fifth table.

What not to eat...

Restrictions on the period of treatment for diarrhea are strict. The patient will feel non-compliance with the recommendations in his intestines: the symptoms of diarrhea will intensify or recur. The table shows contraindications to the use of certain foods during the treatment of diarrhea.

Table - Foods prohibited in the treatment of diarrhea

The diet for irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea does not differ from the type of diet for organic causes of diarrhea. But it may take less time to correct functional disorders.

...and what is allowed

The list of foods that you can eat for diarrhea includes all the main groups, but with some exceptions.

• Bakery products. Rusks, wheat bread, stale white bread, but not more than 200 g per day.
• Meat. Lean boiled poultry, beef, veal, and also in the form of steam cutlets, meatballs, soufflés and casseroles.
• Fish. Low-fat varieties, steamed, stewed or baked.
• Dairy products. Fresh cottage cheese.
• Cereals. Mashed, liquid porridges cooked in water. Sticky rice porridge is preferable.
• Vegetables. Only in the form of broths.
• Beverages. Water, tea, herbal infusions, dried fruit compotes, jelly.
• Eggs. It is allowed to use it in the form of a steam omelet or boiled, if there is no discomfort.

There are products that have a “bonding” effect. They coat the intestines, reduce fluid loss and help form feces. To a greater extent, viscous rice porridge works this way. Reviews from doctors indicate the effectiveness of rice water. Rich dried fruit compote helps restore electrolyte balance, which is disturbed by diarrhea.