This diet is recommended to treat gastrointestinal problems. It has less fiber content and like most diets, un-tasty.
Brat diet is a bland-food diet often recommended for children and adults suffering with gastrointestinal problems. These include ailments like dyspepsia, diarrhea and gastroenteritis.
The brat is a mnemonic for Banana, Rice, Applesauce and Toast -- or foods that are un-flavorful and have low fiber content. These foods will help a person recover from gastrointestinal upset. Extension of this diet includes tea, yogurt, boiled chicken and tapioca.
Other bland foods can be added to the diet like the saltine crackers, boiled potatoes or clear soups. Dairy products, sugary and fatty foods should be avoided immediately after vomiting and diarrhea as they trigger more of the latter, and even nausea.
This diet includes "binding" foods that are low in fiber and can help make stools firmer. Low fiber foods are recommended since foods high in fiber are believed to cause gas and may worsen the gastrointestinal upset. Bananas which are high in potassium help replace nutrients that a body has lost due to vomiting or diarrhea.
The Brat diet lacks many nutrients that the body needs to work properly. It specifically lacks the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fat, calcium and vitamins. However, it can also serve as a test diet. If symptoms worsen or return, it is a sign that the diet was advanced too soon. Studies found that incorporating foods from the diet may reduce the severity of diarrhea.
The Brat diet should be followed right after having diarrhea or vomiting. This will help a person ease his or her body back into normal eating. The diet also helps women ease nausea and vomiting during their pregnancy.
But, the diet is not recommended for adults who are actively vomiting. If this is the case, one must take clear liquids or an electrolyte beverage until he or she can eat solid foods without vomiting. This will also protect a person from dehydration or salt imbalance, which, if became severe and untreated, can result to life-threatening weakness, muddling, coma and even death.
The diet should be followed for only a short period of time as this does not provide all the elements of a healthy diet. Following it for too long can cause malnutrition because one is not getting enough of the many important nutrients. Recovery is hard for a malnourished person.
A person should be able to start eating a more regular diet, fruits and vegetables included, within a day or two after vomiting or diarrhea.
Health professionals advise first-aid treatment for gastroenteritis by shortly limiting the diet to bland, easy-to-digest foods and plenty of liquids.
An alternative diet is also being researched, hoping it will add more complete protein and needed fat in the diet. This is called Cram diet which stands for cereal, applesauce and milk.
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