While some people might consider diarrhoea after eating a normal thing, it can be much more severe, keeping in mind the factors leading to it. diarrhoea after eating, also known as Postprandial diarrhoea can happen unexpectedly while causing intense pain in the stomach until a bowel movement happens.

While it can be due to simple reasons, such as food poisoning or infection, there can be some serious reasons, too, including IBD or colon cancer. Let’s read ahead and read about food intolerance and diarrhoea after eating.

A Brief Overview of Diarrhoea After Eating!

Diarrhoea may seem like a normal thing, but it can be far more deadly if there are serious reasons behind it. Diarrhoea after eating is a condition that can be either acute or chronic based on the factors affecting it.

If the person witnesses loose, watery stools during a bowel movement, it is probably diarrhoea, and if this happens after food intake, it is diarrhoea after eating.

There are several digestive disorder symptoms of diarrhoea!

Belly cramps
Abdominal pain
Vomiting
Nausea
Mucus and blood in stool.

Primary Causes of Diarrhoea After Eating

Here are some of the primary Postprandial diarrhoea causes!

Food poisoning: The first initial factor that can lead to diarrhoea after eating is food poisoning. There are several bacteria contaminating the food that can lead to food poisoning, such as Shigella, Campylobacter, Salmonella, etc.
Lactose Intolerance: People who are lactose intolerant are likely to experience diarrhoea after eating if they consume any dairy product. People with lactose intolerance miss an enzyme in their body that helps in breaking down the sugar in dairy products.
Sugar Malabsorption: In this condition, a person’s body cannot absorb sugars, such as fructose and sorbitol. This can be a serious situation as many products out there contain fructose and sorbitol sugars. Consuming products like fruits and those with artificial sweeteners may lead to diarrhoea after eating.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): There are two types of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. This chronic inflammation happens due to the immune system attacking the required bacteria in the intestine. Those who have IBD tend to experience pain, fever, cramping, and a frequent need to use the washroom.
Bile Acid diarrhoea: This type of diarrhoea is caused due to the excess production of digestive fluid, bile. It helps in breaking down the fat in the food. However, if it is released more than required and is not reabsorbed by the body, it can affect the intestines and lead to diarrhoea. Bile acid diarrhoea can happen due to an illness related to the small intestine, pancreas, and gall bladder.
Colon Cancer: It is said that if a person has chronic diarrhoea, it can be due to colon cancer. It is not always true, but there is a situation that acts as an indication. If, in any case, the person experiences intermittent bouts of constipation followed by explosive diarrhoea, it can be a sign of colon cancer. There are other collective symptoms, too, that include mucus in stools, bloody stools, and unintended weight loss.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): This can be a cause of diarrhoea, but only in some cases. For example, if a person experiences abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements after eating, it can result in diarrhoea or constipation. The diarrhoea, in this case, is due to irritable bowel syndrome. It is interesting to note that when there is diarrhoea due to IBS, there are no signs of any issue in the digestive tract.
Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency: This is a condition where the pancreas does not produce ample pancreatic enzymes that aid in digestion of food. This can further lead to diarrhoea, abdominal pain, loss of weight, and appetite.

An Insight into the Diarrhoea Treatment Options!

A good thing about diarrhoea is that if someone carefully takes some home remedies, it is possible that they can treat it at home. So, let’s check out those treatment options.

Hydration: As diarrhoea is all about watery stool, it is surefire that the body will lose essential minerals via liquids. Hence, it is crucial to hydrate the body with liquids with minerals. A person can take ginger tea, fruit juice, water, soup broth, and even apple juice in moderation.
Bland foods: Bland foods are the ones that are rich in starch which helps in binding the loose stools. Furthermore, bland food options like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are also easy to digest as they are low in fibre.
Probiotics: The primary job of a probiotic is to restore the balance of gut bacteria in the body. There are several ways to do it, such as via probiotic supplements or probiotic-rich foods, such as yoghurt, kimchi, sourdough bread, etc.
Medications: Apart from these home remedies, a person can also choose to go for medication that includes over-the-counter medications. Make sure to consult a healthcare professional before taking the medicines.

If a person witnesses the symptoms of diarrhoea, such as bloody stools, high fever, frequent vomiting, and faeces like coffee grounds, they should immediately see a healthcare professional.

Conclusion

Usually, diarrhoea after eating is not a serious issue; if a person takes care of their body while taking home remedies, they can simply beat it in a few days. However, if the symptoms are more severe, such as bloody stools, vomiting, etc., the patient should see a medical professional for advice.

Frequently Asked Questions About diarrhoea After Eating!

Q. How to stop diarrhoea after eating?
A. The person can focus on taking a low-fibre diet, starchy foods, more hydration and medication as per the medical professional to stop diarrhoea after eating.

Q. How to stop diarrhoea quickly?
A. Probiotics and bland foods like bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are the best options to stop diarrhoea faster.

Q. Why do I get diarrhoea right after I eat?
A. There can be several reasons to get diarrhoea after eating, such as food poisoning, allergies, food intolerances, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.

Q. Are there any drinks to stop diarrhoea?
A. Yes, there are several drinks to stop diarrhoea, such as clear water, electrolyte drinks, soup broth, apple juice, etc.

Q. Is diarrhoea after eating a sign of cancer?
A. In rare cases, diarrhoea can be a sign of colon cancer if you experience watery stools following multiple bouts of constipation.

References

https://www.health.com/diarrhea-after-eating-7554490.
https://www.healthline.com/health/digestive-health/diarrhea-after-eating