• Buffets - here the food may stay out at room temperature for long periods and breed bacteria
• Dairy products
• Fruits and vegetables, unpeeled
• Ice
• Salads
• Street food
• Undercooked animal protein
• Water, tap
Take a homeopathic remedy kit with you for traveler’s diarrhea: podohyllum (the best remedy for acute diarrhea) and arsenicum (for food poisoning). See homeopathic remedy section below.
Acidophilus Take acidophilus with meals whenever you feel sanitation or water supply may be questionable. This will help build up the "friendly" bacteria in your intestines. Either a tablespoon of liquid or one to two capsules should do the trick. One good product is called Culturelle (a probiotic formula).
Apple cider vinegar For a preventive measure start taking a teaspoon of vinegar and a teaspoon of honey in a glass of water half an hour before each meal a few days before your trip. Continue this regimen during your trip.
Bismuth Subsalicylate The active ingredient found in Pepto-Bismol, bismuth subsalicylate, can be taken either after an attack or as a preventive measure. Be careful if you take aspirin regularly as Pepto-Bismol contains salicylates, which added to that in the aspirin may cause symptoms such as ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
Grapefruit seed extract Another good preventive or treatment remedy for traveler’s diarrhea is grapefruit seed extract. This extract is a powerful all-around antimicrobial product and is an excellent disinfectant. This extract is very bitter, so use tablets or capsules (take 3 capsules daily) instead of the liquid. If you do use the liquid, use five drops in a glass of water. Another helpful product to carry with you is activated charcoal which is explained in more detail below.
Lemon juice Drinking the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon in a large glass of water three to five times a day will kill off the pathogens causing the diarrhea. For prevention in case there is a stomach virus going around, take 1-2 tablespoons of juice before meals.
Loperamide hydrochloride For severe cases of diarrhea, Loperamide hydrochloride (the active ingredient of Imodium A-D) can be very helpful.
Powdered cow’s milk carries antibodies of the E. coli bacteria that you may take to prevent getting Montezuma’s revenge. Check with your health food store.
Wine Red or white wine (6 ounces is enough) contain polyphenols, an antibacterial agent.
• If you do not have a sudden bout of diarrhea and cannot identify the cause from those mentioned here, you may have one that is chronic due to some major underlying causes which you should discuss with your healthcare provider. Some of these are:
• Lactose intolerance (lack of enzymes to digest milk sugar) is another common cause.
• Gluten intolerance. You may not be able to tolerate certain foods that contain gluten (wheat, oats, rye and barley). See celiac disease below.
• Various types of bowel problems, such as bowel cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.
• A hyperactive thyroid can also cause diarrhea.
• Food allergies are a very common cause of diarrhea. Proper testing will discover which one(s) you are allergic to. Eliminating the offending food may well stop the diarrhea. Have a blood test done or try an elimination diet to find out what is causing the diarrhea.
• Celiac disease. This is a disease where the person is allergic to gluten, a protein substance found in wheat, barley, oats and rye and, therefore, in a wide variety of foods. Many individuals with celiac disease are deficient in vitamin B-6 and magnesium. Magnesium is necessary to utilize vitamin B-6. Your doctor can test for gluten intolerance.
• A deficiency in niacin.
• A deficiency in folic acid.
If you have chronic diarrhea you may be suffering from malabsorption of food which may include deficiencies in vitamins, minerals and enzymes or have food allergies. You and your healthcare practitioner will have to correct the digestion problem or discover the source of your allergy in order to stop the diarrhea.
Many traditional doctors try to stop the diarrhea before it has done its job, and some of the remedies they use, such as the drug calomel, as well as castor oil, leave the patient constipated afterward.
Over-the-counter remedies to stop diarrhea are not recommended. Let Nature take her course and rid the body of the toxins that caused the problem; many doctors recommend doing nothing for 6 to 12 hours, then begin antidiarrheal remedies. However, if the diarrhea persists for two or three days, looks like black tar or there is blood in the stool, or if you have a fever, see your doctor.
If persistent, this type of diarrhea may be caused by parasites and should be treated by a doctor.
• Bacteria in food or protozoa in water are often the cause, but other causes are viruses, parasites in food and other sources. Diarrhea caused by intestinal parasites is the third leading cause of illness. If you have a number of the following symptoms: gas, diarrhea, chronic constipation, bloating, fatigue, skin rashes, nail biting, mood swings, insomnia, dry skin, brittle hair, hair loss, weight gain, bad breath, and muscle cramping, you should be tested for parasites.
• Gastroenteritis, caused by a virus that has entered the digestive tract or contaminated food or water, causes inflammation, cramping, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Severe cases can lead to dehydration, so be sure to drink fluids and balance your electrolytes (take Pedialyte for young children and the elderly, and sports drinks for everybody else.)
• Eating an excessive amount of fatty foods or fruit
• Food poisoning
• Extreme fatigue
• Stress or anxiety. What effects the mind ends up effecting the sympathetic stomach.
• Antibiotics and some prescription medications affect the bowels by killing the good bacteria along with the harmful bacteria. Take acidophilus or live culture yogurt while you are taking medication to help rebuild your intestinal flora. A probiotic remedy will be helpful.
• Still other causes are excessive consumption of alcohol, caffeinated drinks, coffee, and large quantities of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and magnesium. A good way to counteract diarrhea if you are taking large amounts of magnesium, is to supplement with acidophilus lactobacillus.
• Nutritional deficiencies.
• Consumption of sorbitol and mannitol, the sugar substitutes. And now to this list we are adding Splenda.
• The low-carb craze is very popular with those wanting to lose weight, but it has created other health problems: bloating, gas and diarrhea. Many low-carb foods are sweetened with lacitol or sorbitol, which are sugar alcohols, and, when, eaten in large quantities, can cause digestive disturbances.
• A study done at the University of Iowa medical found that 30 percent of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms had fructose (a form of sugar) on their breath, and were experiencing stomach pain, gas, or diarrhea. Once fructose consumption was curbed, the symptoms were significantly reduced. Fructose is found in many things, but especially as a sweetener for sodas. Fructose intolerance is rapidly rising due to the tremendous increase in soda consumption.
• Over-use of laxatives (excess magnesium in some antacids), and antacids containing magnesium hydroxide. Along these same lines is the magnesium in calcium/magnesium supplements that many women take for prevention of osteoporosis.
• Long term use or excessive amounts of aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen may also be a cause of diarrhea because they can have a dramatic affect on the digestive tract.
• Still other causes are putrefaction and excessive fermentation of food in the bowels.
• Improper chewing of food so that it doesn’t get enough enzymes from saliva in the mouth needed for good digestion.
• For some people eating certain foods, such as apples, can cause diarrhea.
• Pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables is a cause that is often overlooked.
• Dishwashing detergent residue can be extremely irritating to the intestinal tract. Babies are especially susceptible to this problem because of the amount of residue compared to their body weight. Also, their intestinal tracts have not fully developed the digestive process. Be sure to thoroughly rinse all utensils and dishes, especially if you hand-wash them.
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Diarrhea is characterized by frequent, watery bowel movements, often accompanied by stomach cramps, abdominal pain and gas. Diarrhea may be various colors and contain mucous, blood or pus. In general diarrhea is caused by a gastrointestinal problem, but may be a symptom of some underlying ailment such as: irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, bowel cancer, celiac disease, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, Crohn’s disease, dysentery, AIDS or ulcerative colitis, among others. It is important, therefore, to discover the cause of the diarrhea. Diarrhea is one of Nature’s defense systems used to help rid the body of toxins and poisons as quickly as possible.
It is important to know what diarrhea does to the body besides the obvious effects. The salivary glands in the mouth, the mucous membrane in your stomach, and the liver and pancreas produce saliva which is used in the digestive process to break down food. When diarrhea strikes the saliva is lost and the digestive process is interrupted. In addition, diarrhea depletes the body of important minerals, called electrolytes, needed for good health. They are: potassium, magnesium, chloride, sodium and calcium. Without these minerals you may feel weak, tired and depressed, have an abnormal heart rhythm, and become dehydrated. For these reasons it is important to drink plenty of fluids when you have a bout of diarrhea, especially those that can replenish your electrolyte balance. Your energy level will rebound quickly if you do. It is also important to eat a proper diet, as mentioned below, to regain proper digestion.
Other nutrients, as well, pass through the intestines without being absorbed into your system. Dehydration may result and makes diarrhea in infants and the elderly especially dangerous and should be taken very seriously. Oral rehydration fluids are available at pharmacies and grocery stores. Give them all they want, as the body will tell them what it needs. Two of the leading brands are Pedialyte and Rehydralyte.
Dehydration occurs because there is too much water lost, not enough water taken in, or most often a combination of the two.
