Updated

Updated · WBKR · Aug 12

Experts Discourage BRAT Diet Beyond 2 Days as Kentucky Cyclosporiasis Cases Reach 735

Updated

Updated · WBKR · Aug 12

Experts Discourage BRAT Diet Beyond 2 Days as Kentucky Cyclosporiasis Cases Reach 735

Q: If the traditional BRAT diet hinders your recovery, what surprising foods should you actually eat to fight this severe stomach bug?

Don’t stick to bananas, rice, applesauce and toast for more than a day or two. Experts say the better recovery diet for a severe stomach illness like cyclosporiasis is to quickly expand to bland but more nourishing foods — including crackers, boiled potatoes, unsweetened dry cereal, oatmeal and brothy soups — and then move on to mild protein- and nutrient-rich foods such as cooked carrots, squash, fish, skinless poultry, eggs, avocado and skinned sweet potatoes. That advice may sound surprising because older guidance often treated the BRAT diet as the standard. But doctors now say BRAT alone is too low in protein, fat, vitamins and calcium to support recovery if diarrhea continues. Cyclosporiasis can last for days or weeks and can cause significant dehydration and nutrient loss, so people need more than just binding foods. Hydration is just as important as food. Water, clear broths, oral rehydration solution, sports drinks or other electrolyte-containing fluids can help replace what is lost through frequent diarrhea. Small, bland meals are usually easier to tolerate than heavy foods. Experts also advise avoiding greasy, spicy or high-fat foods, alcohol, and too much raw produce while symptoms are active. If diarrhea is severe, lasts more than a few days, or comes with blood in the stool, trouble keeping fluids down, intense weakness or signs of dehydration, medical care is recommended.

3 articles · Updated · WBKR · Aug 12

Harvard-linked experts say the BRAT diet should be only a short-term starting point for diarrhea or stomach illness, not a longer recovery plan.
Protein, vitamins, fat and calcium are largely missing from bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, leaving the diet too thin to support healing and stomach-lining repair.
After a couple of days, they recommend expanding bland foods to include crackers, boiled potatoes, oatmeal and brothy soups, then adding cooked vegetables, eggs, fish, avocado and skinless poultry.
Kentucky has reported 735 cyclosporiasis cases and 30 hospitalizations, with Jefferson, Madison and Fayette counties hardest hit, sharpening demand for advice on hydration and stomach-friendly meals.