Dietary Recommendations for Diarrhea in Gastric Cancer
Diarrhoea is defined as an increase in stool frequency accompanied by a decrease in stool consistency. It may occur due to chemotherapy or the administration of certain drugs or antibiotics. It usually comes after treatment and lasts a few days. If it lasts longer, check with your referring medical team.
WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?
Maintain proper hydration.
Because diarrhoea can cause dehydration, you should drink plenty of fluids (water, herbal tea, mild broth, isotonic drinks with low sugar content) in small sips throughout the day.
Home-made isotonic drink
In one litre of water mix the juice of two lemons, a tablespoon of honey, a teaspoon of sea salt and a teaspoon of baking soda (3-5 g). When these ingredients are dissolved, leave the dish in the refrigerator until it is cool and sip it throughout the day.
Eat frequent meals throughout the day in small amounts.
In case of severe diarrhoea, eat more as the stools improve.
Start with a liquid diet, such as water with rice, and when well tolerated introduce easily digestible foods, such as mashed potatoes and carrots, boiled rice, white fish or boiled chicken and baked or grated apples.
Rice water recipe
Cook the rice (1 cup) in 1.5 litres (6-7 cups) of mineral water for 25 minutes over medium heat in a covered pot to ensure as little liquid as possible evaporates. Let it stand and cool off. Then strain and store the water in a container or bottle in the refrigerator. Consume hot or cold, as preferred. Add salt to taste.
Introduce other foods according to stools and tolerance.
Toasted biscotti-style bread; breadsticks; meat, fish and eggs cooked mildly (omelette, grilled chicken, fish en papillote); pasta; rice; potato; rice, wheat and tapioca grits; Maria-style biscuits.
Use simple cooking techniques.
Boiling, grilling, steaming and baking are the easiest to digest cooking methods.
Avoid cooking with fats.
Avoiding high-fibre foods.
- Whole grains and by-products, raw fruit, vegetables, legumes and nuts are not recommended.
- Choose fruit that is peeled, cooked, baked, microwaved, stewed, in its juice, in syrup (apple, pear and peach) or in strained juices, and ripe quince, banana and pear.
- Low-fibre vegetables can be consumed in small amounts (check tolerance), always without skin or seeds and well-cooked, or in the form of creamy soup or strained broths (squash, courgette).
- Check tolerance to fruit and vegetable smoothies, since all the fibre is eliminated in the process.
Limit dietary sources of fat.
The consumption of butter, margarine, lard, mayonnaise, cream, milk cream, pastry products, fatty cheese, sausages and pâté, among others, is not recommended.
Avoid milk or lactose-containing products.
Use lactose-free milk, and try yoghurt or fresh cheese, depending on tolerance. Avoid dairy dishes such as flan, custard, mousse, etc.
Avoid coffee, chocolate, strong tea, alcohol and irritating and spicy condiments such as pepper.
Avoid foods rich in simple sugars or sweeteners.
The consumption of candies or sweets, fruit nectar, simple sugar or honey, chocolate, sweetened beverages, xylitol and sorbitol, among others, is not recommended.
Table summarising recommended foods and sample menu.
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