{"id":3955,"date":"2022-05-13T02:06:09","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T02:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oncoalicia.com\/nutrition-during-head-and-neck-cancer-treatment\/diarrhea\/"},"modified":"2025-07-04T08:47:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T08:47:16","slug":"diarrhea","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/oncoalicia.com\/en\/types-of-cancer\/head-and-neck\/diarrhea\/","title":{"rendered":"Dietary Recommendations for Diarrhea in Head and Neck Cancer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Diarrhoea is defined as an increase in stool frequency accompanied by a decrease in consistency. It is not a common side effect of head and neck cancer, but it can sometimes appear after chemotherapy or the administration of certain drugs or antibiotics. It is usually occasional and lasts only a few days. If it is prolonged, consult your medical team.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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WHAT DO WE RECOMMEND?<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Keep well hydrated. <\/i>
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Because diarrhoea can lead to dehydration, drink plenty of fluids (water, herbal teas, weak broths, low-sugar isotonic drinks) in small sips throughout the day.<\/p>\n

Homemade isotonic drink:<\/b> Mix the juice of two lemons, a tablespoon of honey, a dessert spoon of sea salt and a dessert spoon of bicarbonate of soda in a litre of water. When these ingredients are dissolved, leave it in the fridge until it is cool.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Have small servings of food frequently throughout the day.<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Progress with your diet as stool output improves. <\/i>
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Start with a liquid diet, e.g., rice water, and once well-tolerated, incorporate easily digestible foods such as mashed potatoes and carrots, boiled rice, white fish, or boiled chicken and baked or grated apples.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Incorporate more foods into your diet according to stools and tolerance. <\/i>
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Toasted bread, breadsticks, meat, fish, eggs (French omelette, grilled chicken, fish en papillote), pasta, rice and rice soups, potatoes, wheat and tapioca, biscuit, crackers, etc.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n Some suggested recipes:<\/b>\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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Tortilla ‘Rolls’\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Potato gnocchi with carrot sauce\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Marinera rice noodles\n <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Use simple cooking methods. <\/i>
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Boiling, grilling, steaming, and baking in the oven are easier-to-digest cooking methods.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Avoid high-fibre foods. <\/i>
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