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Why Experts No Longer Recommend the BRAT Diet for Diarrhea and Nausea
The New York Times • • health
Key Points:
- The BRAT diet, consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, was once commonly recommended for treating diarrhea and nausea from stomach bugs, especially in pediatric care.
- By the 1990s, the American Academy of Pediatrics stopped endorsing the BRAT diet due to lack of clear evidence supporting its effectiveness and concerns that prolonged use might hinder recovery.
- Experts now agree that while bland foods may be tolerated on the first day of illness, there is no scientific proof that the BRAT diet improves symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea.
- Current medical advice suggests eating whatever bland foods can be kept down, but there is no need to strictly follow the BRAT diet for gastrointestinal ailments.
