When food passes through your stomach, the large intestine soaks up extra water to add bulk to your stools, which are then excreted out. However, sometimes this excess water is retained and passes out through your stools—a problem we refer to as diarrhea or loose motions.
Watery bowels may be caused by a number of reasons, such as food poisoning, stomach bug, a diet devoid of fiber, intestinal parasites and food allergies. Whatever the cause, diarrhea can result in loss of water and minerals from the body.
While diarrhea may not be called a medical emergency, it definitely needs to be looked after. But instead of popping an anti-diarrheal, you can try an age-old remedy to cut short your bathroom trips—eating a banana.
Banana For Diarrhea Relief
Bananas are loaded with pectin, a soluble fiber that soaks up excess fluid in your intestine, slowing down the passage of stools. They are rich in potassium, an essential mineral in the body, which plays a key role in muscle strength, nerve function and heart health. Diarrhea associated dehydration can result in loss of essential minerals from the body and bananas can be useful in replenishing your mineral reserves.
How To Use Them
- Eat one or two ripe bananas in the morning.
- Make a quick smoothie with bananas and yogurt, which is loaded with good bacteria essential for digestion.
- Another unique combination that’s excellent for diarrhea relief is brown rice and mashed banana. Cook half a cup of brown rice until it becomes very soft. Mash one small banana in the rice and eat this for instant relief. Brown rice, which is also rich in fiber, doubles the effect and speeds up recovery.
For more interesting stories, visit our Health page. Read more about Natural Remedies here.
Read More:
Soothe Diarrhea With These 4 Power Herbs
Ease Your Digestion With These 5 Home Remedies
Quick Fix: Prunes For Constipation
References:
1. Rabbani GH, Teka T, Saha SK, Zaman B, Majid N, Khatun M, Wahed MA, Fuchs GJ. Green banana and pectin improve small intestinal permeability and reduce fluid loss in Bangladeshi children with persistent diarrhea. Dig Dis Sci. 2004 Mar;49(3):475-84. PubMed PMID: 15139502.
2. Emery EA, Ahmad S, Koethe JD, Skipper A, Perlmutter S, Paskin DL. Banana flakes control diarrhea in enterally fed patients. Nutr Clin Pract. 1997 Apr;12(2):72-5. PubMed PMID: 9155405.
