Whether you are experiencing nausea, diarrhea or recovering from the stomach flu, it can be difficult to know what to eat when you have an upset stomach. The BRAT diet was once a popular remedy recommended by health care professionals for people recovering from a stomach virus. But now, more that suggests the diet does not provide adequate nutrients as the gut heals.
Is it safe to ever follow the BRAT diet? Here's what experts say. “The BRAT diet is an acronym that stands for banana, rice, applesauce and toast,” , registered dietitian in Ontario, Canada, tells TODAY.com It’s rooted in the principle that these bland, easily digestible foods can help soothe the digestive system, firm up stools and reduce the frequency of bowel movements, adds Jen Messer, president of the New Hampshire Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and registered dietitian at .
“The BRAT diet’s effectiveness is debated,” Messer notes. There are a limited number of studies that suggest that and may be effective in reducing diarrhea, but there have been no clinical trials to investigate the diet’s effectiveness in treating diarrhea or gastrointestinal illnesses, she adds. The diet is unnecessarily restrictive and lacks many nutrients needed for a speedy recovery, including protein, fiber, fat and numerous vitamins and minerals, Jamie Mok, registered dietitian nutritionist and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells TODAY.
com. The (AAP) recommends against the.
