Healthy adults experience diarrhea several times a year. People with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis) may have near constant diarrhea when the disease is flaring. Some foods can contribute to diarrhea, making it worse. For very sensitive people, these foods may even cause diarrhea. Avoiding the foods below can be helpful in lessening the duration and severity of diarrhea.
1. Milk
Photo © Steve Woods
The sugar in milk, lactose, can cause diarrhea in some people. This is called "lactose intolerance," and it’s very common. Symptoms of lactose intolerance can include gas, diarrhea, bloating, cramps, nausea and very bad breath. Avoiding milk products is generally the way to prevent diarrhea caused by lactose intolerance. There are, however, over-the-counter products that can help with the digestion of milk sugar. There are even milk products that have had the lactose in it already broken down, which makes it easier to digest.
2. Hot Peppers
Photo © Petr Kratochvil
Hot peppers are a frequent offender, but they often don’t cause diarrhea until several hours after they are eaten. There is a substance called "capsaicin" in some peppers that can trigger diarrhea. Capsaicin is also used in ointments that treat arthritis. (Interestingly, casein, which is found in milk, can lessen the burning effect of capsaicin.) Aside from the capsaicin, some people may also find the seeds and skin of the pepper difficult to pass.
3. Caffeine
Photo © Ale Paiva
Coffee, tea and soda are common places to find caffeine, which can also be found in chocolate, gum and even some bottled water. Caffeine speeds up the body systems, including digestion. Some people are more sensitive than others, but too much caffeine can cause diarrhea.
