Menu for people with acute diarrhea

Acute diarrhea is a common disease, with sudden onset, frequent bowel movements during the day, sometimes with loose stools, sometimes with blood. Patients may have abdominal pain, vomiting, and fever. The consequences of acute diarrhea are dehydration and electrolyte loss that can be fatal. Therefore, nutrition for patients with acute diarrhea plays an important role in shortening the treatment process.

Foods to eat: rice, rice flour, potatoes, carrots; chicken, lean pork, vegetable oil; soy milk, low-lactose or lactose-free milk; bananas, sapodilla, ripe guava, apples...

Foods to avoid: carbonated and sugary industrial soft drinks; foods high in fiber and low in nutrients such as whole grain starch (corn) and high-fiber vegetables; foods high in sugar (candy, cakes, etc.); processed foods (ham, sausage, smoked meat, pate).

People with acute diarrhea should eat ripe sapodilla.

Principles of menu building

Rehydration and electrolytes: oral rehydration solution (ORS), mineral water, roasted rice water, rice water, vegetable and fruit juice.

Gradually increase the amount of food to ensure adequate water, electrolytes, energy, protein, and vitamins. Switch from liquid to solid foods, mainly cereal powder, potato powder, mashed sweet potatoes; lean meat, vegetable juice, fruit juice, and yogurt.

Avoid foods that easily ferment, produce gas in the intestines and are difficult to absorb such as eggs, milk, fatty meats and fats, and vegetables high in fiber.

Building a menu for acute diarrhea (including 3 stages)

Initial stage: 24-48 hours (mainly fluid replacement).

Patients with severe diarrhea, dehydration and electrolyte loss need to be given ORS and combined with saline and sweet intravenous fluids. In addition, a diet with enough water and electrolytes is needed to combat dehydration and salt loss, while providing a minimum amount of calories. Energy is about 800kcal, protein is about 15g.

Menu sample:

ORS drink as needed, the more you go the more you need to drink.

6:30 am: 300 ml sugar porridge (30 g rice, 20 g sugar, 5 g salt); 100 g mashed apple or mashed ripe guava.

9:30 am: 400 ml carrot soup (200 g carrots, 20 g sugar, 5 g salt); 150 ml soy yogurt (15 g soybeans, 10 g sugar).

12 hours: 400ml sugar porridge, 100g mashed apple or mashed guava.

15 hours: 400ml carrot soup.

7pm: 300ml sugar porridge, 200ml soy yogurt.

Nutritional efficiency of the menu: energy = 1,072 kcal. Of which: protein: 16.65g; fat: 2.5g; starch: 238.8g.

Stage 2: The patient's diarrhea has improved.

Total energy intake: 1,200kcal or more. Of which: protein: 30g (about 0.6g/kg/day); starch 250g or more; fat: 10g; salt to taste; water as needed, add fruit juice.

Menu sample:

6:30 am: 200 ml soy yogurt (20 g soy, 5 g sugar), 50 g biscuits.

10am: 400ml meat porridge (60g rice, 30g meat), 200ml soy yogurt.

14:00: Pureed vegetable soup (rice 30g; potatoes 100g, carrots 100g, meat 30g).

6:00 p.m.: 400ml meat porridge (60g rice, 30g meat), mashed apple or 100g ripe banana.

Nutritional value of the menu: energy = 1,265kcal. Protein: 37.8g; fat: 13.2g; carbohydrates: 223.62g.

Phase 3 (recovery phase). Eat a normal diet with increased protein, calories, and vitamins.

Menu sample:

6:30 am: sugar porridge (50g rice, 30g sugar), 50g biscuits.

10am: 100g rice, 40g steamed meat, vegetable soup (50g vegetables).

14:00: Mashed potatoes and eggs 300ml (200g potatoes, 50g eggs).

6:00 p.m.: Pho with meat (200g rice noodles, 50g lean meat), 200ml soy yogurt (20g soy, 20g sugar).

Nutritional efficiency of the menu: Energy = 1504.6kcal. Of which: protein: 52.27g calories from protein 13.5%; fat 11.04g calories from fat 6.5%; starch 278.23g.

According to Health & Life