The BRAT Diet

We have all heard of rice and gravy, rice pudding, and the custom of tossing rice at the end of a wedding reception; but rice and diarrhea? Surprisingly enough rice is an excellent cure that has been used to cure GI upsets involving members of the canine family. And I serve my own dogs rice for dog diarrhea, matter o’ fact.

And of course, although obvious I’d hope, I am not a licensed veterinarian, thus although this is my experience with my dogs through the years, be wise about it and smartly consult your own dog’s vet prior to changing your dog’s diet.

For a dog having a case of diarrhea often is nature’s way of helping them eliminate something disagreeable from their intestinal tract. This is especially true if you have a normally healthy dog that seems to be his usual happy self except for the loose, watery stools. Adding some rice to their meals might just provide your pet with a quick, healthy fix. Ironically, although this post does discuss dogs, the similarities between dogs and people in this case – - and why it is relevant on the brat diet site – - including those who feed Immodium to their pet, are strikingly similar.

Of course if you have a young puppy or an older dog with chronic health problems you should take them in to be checked by a vet because they are at higher risk from developing dehydration as a result of the diarrhea

The basic diet of a dog with GI upsets should focus on replacing proteins that they are losing through their loose stools. Providing your pet with a meal that contains equal amounts of cooked meat and rice can help soothe the irritable digestive tract while giving the animal bulk and fiber. If it seems as though you have a dog with an irritable bowel disease some ground flaxseed mixed with regular food will also prove helpful.

The Easy 5 Day Diet: Rice for Dog Diarrhea:

Day 1 – Provide your dog with plenty of water, but no food because it would only irritate his digestive system even more.

Day 2 – Cooked Rice can be given to your dog to eat and they are also allowed water to drink. In fact, make sure they have plenty of water, as rice absorbs it, and the point here is to push “the bad” out of your dog, regulating their upset stomach and diet.

Day 3 – Your dog’s meals should consist of equal portions of baked, stewed or grilled chicken (skinned) and cooked rice. Provide a portion that’s a bit less than their normal meal.

Day 4 - You can now feed your pet a meal that is made with equal portions of cooked rice and the regular dog food that you purchase. Dry is better than wet or soft. Serve mixed, so they don’t just eat one or the other. Rice is sticky, so mixing should be easy.

Day 5 – Advance your pet’s diet so that he is now restarted on his normal meals.

*If your dog is better by the beginning of the 3rd day, and the GI problems seem under control, you can skip the meal plan listed for Day 3. This changes the Rice Diet for Dogs to a 4 day plan instead.

You can make healthy, easy to digest doggie meals at home. Here are some good recipes to use that include meat, rice and yogurt. These are simple and easy to prepare and they promote better digestive health for your pets, but in my experience, this is an especially advanced treatment that honestly I don’t do. I have found that herbs, although o.k. for people, often have adverse effects with my own dog. Even a chicken or beef broth with herbs, although not turned away by most dogs goes down easy, but the side effects can make it not worth their initial pleasure.

I’ll be adding some more rice recipes for your dog’s diarrhea in future posts, or as you let me know. This should give you a good place to start, however.

Sandy

Hello readers,

I’ve been getting some questions as of late that have focused around “dog diarrhea” and how it relates to using the same healthy balance approach that we humans have (I’m assuming you are not a dog reading on your Master’s computer) with the B.R.A.T. Diet.

The fact of the matter is that when my dog is sick, (I have a Terrier that often eats anything and everything”) I use the same basic principals as expressed with the BRAT Diet, but do so with a couple added precautions that are dog-specific, dangers or warnings that people don’t have to worry about.

Of course, I am not a licensed vet, but do feed my dog human grade food and successfully can and do adjust his diet whenever his stomach is upset, or his mood is less than ideal, or he just is not behaving like himself. I’ll work on a couple dog specific BRAT Diet health articles to address some of your concerns. Give me a day or two and I’ll post them when they are ready.

Thanks for your Brat Diet questions – keep ‘em coming.

Sandy

The B.R.A.T. Diet is recommended by many health experts and is proven to be effective, but why does the BRAT Diet work exactly?

First, understanding diarrhea: If you were to ask your doctor, they would characterize diarrhea as a noticeable increase in the passing of stools, usually on terms of weight. Between those who suffer from it, the increase in stools is on the right lines, but we may wish to add the urgency of needing the toilet and that our stools are very loose and more liquid as opposed to solid.

If caused by the onset of other illnesses, going without treatment can lead to dehydration, which is more serious than it initially sounds. In poorer countries where the necessary medication is less available, diarrhea and dehydration could and does lead to premature deaths.

You might get an upset stomach and diarrhea from simply eating something that didn’t agree with you. Your suffering may last a couple of days or weeks but it is highly likely that you will recover from it. This type of short-term diarrhea is commonly referred to as ‘acute’ diarrhea. On the other hand ‘chronic’ diarrhea may be the sign of other illnesses or diseases within the body. If you notice that loose stools is becoming all too consistent, a trip to the doctors would be advised to determine the rudimentary problem.

There can be many causes to diarrhea, but the most likely of these causes are infections such as the virus ‘rotavirus’, bacterias including E. coli, salmonella and clostridium, not to forget several parasites. Some causes will be transferred from another infected person or even food and drinking supplies that have been in contact with any bacterias. Food poisoning can be brought on by consuming food that has been undercooked or contaminated, leading to the problem of diarrhea.

If its not an infection that has occurred, there are still other conditions that can bring on loose stools. Consider the following:

• An inability to digest some foods such as lactose products or an intolerance to wheat.
• If you have ’short-bowel syndrome’, a condition where a portion of your intestine had to be removed.
• If you have gone through surgery to take away the gallbladder.
• If you have any diseases linked to the hormonal system such as diabetes or adrenal disease.
• Inflammatory bowel disease or bowel cancer.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Alcoholism.

So whats the science behind it all? We are aware of some of the causes, but what actually makes a watery stool a watery stool? It is quite natural for the bodies digestive system to break down food into a more liquidized form in order to pass it out of the stomach and into the intestines. However, on reaching the lower part of the small intestine and colon, our body will start to reabsorb some of the water, forming the stool we are most used to.

When our bodies recognize a toxin, they pump more water through the body to get rid of it as quickly as possible. The excessive amount of water within the stool cannot be completely reabsorbed by the body and that folks – is why we get diarrhea.

A Simple BRAT Diet For Toddlers:

Taking care of a sick child can be very frustrating. Not only are children unable to tell you what is wrong with them but they can become very ill in a short time. Infants and toddlers are more prone to sudden illness than older children. For this reason it is imperative that small children that become ill with the flu or stomach bug receive the right treatment. High temperatures and frequent vomiting will cause dehydration in a small child within hours. When the stomach is involved it is hard for toddlers to eat or drink. Depending on the age of the child, offering fluids and use of the Brat diet is often suggested by the pediatrician.

The BRAT diet has been recommended as the number one home treatment for small children suffering with stomach issues. BRAT (B.R.A.T.) stands for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Used for years to help those recovering with an upset stomach, it has proven to be well tolerated. This bland, low-fiber diet seems to help infants and toddlers reintroduce solid foods into their ailing digestive system.

Following the BRAT diet can help stomach problems for some medically sound reasons. Low fiber foods that have binding properties, help the stools to firm up. This is important when diarrhea has been an issue for days. Nutrients are lost during vomiting and bouts of diarrhea. Potassium is just one of those frequently lost nutrients. The bananas in the BRAT diet help to replace the potassium in the body.

Older children and toddlers alike can be fussy eaters even in the best of times. A sick child can bring this out causing great frustration to moms or caregivers. It is best to remember that keeping what is offered to the child on the bland side. Some extensions to the BRAT diet are the BRATY diet. This is thus named because of the addition of yogurt to the list of BRAT diet foods. The BRATY diet would suggest bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and yogurt. Another one is called the BRATT diet. It consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast and tea. That would be the addition of sugarless tea as sugary foods eaten too soon after the symptoms have stopped, can cause the upset to return.

Transition back to a normal diet slowly after the stomach symptoms have stopped. Continue on a bland diet for the next couple of days. During this time, try to avoid dairy products, fried or greasy foods, rich desserts, raw foods, citrus and caffeinated drinks. The addition of these foods too early in recovery can renew the symptoms.

During the time of illness, remember to frequently offer water or ice chips to avoid dehydration. Pedialyte can help replace the lost electrolytes. It comes in a variety of flavors to entice the child to drink. Stomach viruses can get out of hand quickly in small children. Remember to contact your pediatrician if the diarrhea last for more than 3 days, the temperature reaches 102 or above, urine output stops or the child cries with no tears. Follow these few rules when dealing with infant, toddler stomach issues and your child will recover in haste.

It’s no wonder so many men, women and parents constantly ask “what does the BRAT diet consist of”, the BRAT diet has adapted to include more ingredients and variations than the original version.

Don’t Be a Brat, Follow the BRAT

A number of doctors recommend a BRAT dietary regimen to their patients who are experiencing GI complaints such as vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhea or even gastroenteritis. When your nausea and vomiting are at their very worst it is best to forego food of any type. Only use some Pedialyte, Gatorade, water or a little ginger ale to quench your thirst and prevent dehydration. Some doctors prefer their adult patients to just suck on a few ice chips for at least 24 hours so that your queasy stomach has a chance to settle down.

If you are suffering through the unpleasant symptoms created by viruses or an irritable digestive system food is not going to be one of your top priorities but the BRAT plan is a gentle, soothing bridge that makes it easier for your stomach to accept the re-introduction of food.

What is the BRAT Diet?

When you are given a BRAT meal plan you can only eat the following foods. It is a widely recognized acronym that is used by medical professionals, but also used so often to remedy troubled stomachs and sick kids that even stay at home moms and dads are familiar.

In short, what does the BRAT diet consist of? Bananas; Rice; Apples; and dry Toast, or if you take the first letter of each essential ingredient, you get the original root word: BRAT – a little trick to ensure the general public remembered this simple, but proven effective diet plan.

These 4 items are all easily digestible, bland food choices that can stop diarrhea and other unsettling GI upsets. Now there are 2 additional versions of the popular and effective BRAT regimen. One is the BRATY diet and the other is called the BRATT

What is the BRATY Diet?

Patients who are requested to follow the BRATY plan add yogurt to the usual bland meal of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. The yogurt is packed with pro-biotic bacteria that helps restore normal GI function

What is the BRATT?

Someone who is given the BRATT dietary regimen to follow will be using a meal plan that is almost identical to both the BRAT and the BRATY. They are allowed to eat the bananas, rice, applesauce and toast that are included in the original BRAT diet but they also get to add tea to their meals. The tea acts as a natural diuretic and tea contains anti-oxidants that can help repair and strengthen the cells that line the GI tract. Green tea is very soothing to the stomach and it has some extremely high levels of anti-oxidants.

Even if your unpleasant GI symptoms are resolved in 12 hours or less you should continue with the BRAT, BRATY or BRATT meal plan for at least 48-72 hours. At the end of this time your digestive system should be able to comfortably handle a more normal dietary regimen. As you begin to select a wider variety of foods to try there are some that could be problems to your still sensitive digestion

Try to avoid milk/dairy items, fried or spicy food, raw fruits and veggies and acidic citrus fruit for an additional 2 or 3 days because these are all food items that can irritate your digestive system before it has a chance to completely return to its normal level of function.

Personally, the only version of the Brat diet I recommend, endorse and practice is the original version. Adding yogurt is not an option; in fact, my kids or aging parents receive no dairy of any kind when they are sick, as I find it harms more than it benefits.

Here’s how to contact us (me: Sandy) at this website, if you ever need to.

If you have any questions regarding the content on this, my website, about the products that I mention, or just any questions about the brat diet, related digestive disorders, cold and flu stuff, or even what some think might be odd to discuss, but so many suffer from at one point or another: diarrhea etc., please don’t hesitate to contact me at the following address.

I’d also appreciate and would enjoy hearing any feedback regarding this site, if you have found it helpful or have some better ideas about how I can improve this website in some way to add even more value to you, the reader.

Please contact me at this email address:  sandy [AT] thebratdiet.com!  (Just replace the AT in my contact email address, with a “@”, so I know you are a real human at not some automated machine or something…

I will reply to all messages as soon as possible.

Thanks a lot,

Sandy