Can I drink kefir with diarrhea? This question is of interest to many patients suffering from disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Kefir is a useful product, it is often included in the diet menu for gastrointestinal pathologies. This sour-milk drink normalizes the intestinal microflora. However, with diarrhea, you can not always drink it.
Composition of the product
Before answering the question "Is it possible to drink kefir with diarrhea for an adult or a child?", You need to understand the composition of the product. This fermented milk drink contains:
- proteins;
- fats
- vitamins.
To obtain kefir, special fungi are used for yeast and lactobacilli. They help maintain an optimal balance of microorganisms in the intestines.
Kefir fat
Is it possible to drink low fat kefir with diarrhea? Gastroenterologists do not recommend using such a product for gastrointestinal disorders. It is better to opt for a medium and high fat drink (at least 2.5%).
Fatty kefir contains a large amount of milk sugar. This substance normalizes intestinal motility and promotes the growth of beneficial bacteria.
Contraindications
The answer to the question "Can I drink kefir with diarrhea?" will depend on the general state of human health. There are chronic diseases in which doctors recommend completely eliminating dairy products from the diet. Such pathologies include:
- Lactose intolerance. Like all other dairy products, kefir contains lactose. If the patient suffers from enzymatic disorders, then it is impossible to drink a sour-milk drink. For diarrhea, medications containing lactobacilli should be used.
- Gastritis with high acidity and ulcerative processes in the digestive tract. With such diseases, nutritionists do not recommend drinking kefir. This drink irritates the gastric mucosa. It is better to replace it with low fat yogurt, cooked at home.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). This disease is accompanied by severe diarrhea. However, the etiology of the syndrome is associated with autonomic-vascular and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this case, kefir will not bring any benefit, and may even increase diarrhea.
- Infectious diseases. Do not forget that diarrhea can be caused by pathogens. Diarrhea is often a sign of dysentery, salmonellosis, giardiasis and many other diseases. With such pathologies, a strict diet is necessary, and sour-milk drinks are prohibited products.
Is it possible for children and adults to drink kefir with diarrhea if the cause of an intestinal upset is not established? Doctors give a clear negative answer to this question. After all, diarrhea can be associated with intestinal infections or IBS, and in these cases, the use of sour-milk drinks is contraindicated. With persistent violation of the stool, you must visit a doctor. Only a specialist can determine the cause of diarrhea and prescribe the right diet.
Benefit and harm
Diarrhea can be accompanied by fever and severe malaise. Patients with such symptoms often ask doctors the question: "Is it possible to drink kefir with diarrhea?". The recommendations of experts in this regard are unequivocal - dairy products are strictly contraindicated in cases of suspected bacterial, viral and protozoal diseases of the digestive tract. If the patient has fever, weakness and vomiting, then this may be a sign of an infectious pathology.
Kefir is not recommended for chronic diarrhea. Permanent diarrhea can be a sign of colitis or gastritis. And with these diseases, sour-milk drinks are not always allowed.
Kefir can only be beneficial for mild diarrhea caused by poor nutrition, dysbiosis, medication, or poor-quality food. In these cases, the product will help restore intestinal microflora and stop diarrhea.
How to drink
Is it possible to drink expired kefir with diarrhea? In no case should this be done. There is a misconception that old kefir is even more useful. In fact, an expired product can cause poisoning even in a completely healthy person. And with diarrhea, such a drink is even more capable of causing great harm to the body.
It is important to remember that kefir and first freshness can be harmful. Such a drink enhances the fermentation processes in the digestive tract, which leads to intestinal irritation.
If 3 days have passed from the date of manufacture of the product, then such a drink is optimal for the treatment of diarrhea. It retains all the beneficial lactobacilli, but it does not contribute to the strengthening of fermentation processes. In no case should you drink kefir, which stood in the refrigerator for more than 7 days. This drink can be poisoned.
It is necessary to observe the following rules for the use of kefir:
- Drink can be drunk only if the cause of diarrhea is known.
- It is better to start kefir on the second day after the onset of diarrhea. In the first day, it can irritate the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, which will lead to aggravation of diarrhea.
- 2 cups of kefir should be consumed per day. The first portion is taken in the morning on an empty stomach, and the second - in the evening (preferably before dinner). This method of consumption will help normalize digestion.
- Treatment is carried out until the diarrhea is completely stopped. If within three days the diarrhea does not decrease, then you need to see a doctor.
It is very important not to exceed the allowable amount of the product. No more than 400 - 500 ml of kefir can be consumed per day.
Kefir on the menu for diarrhea
When treating mild diarrhea with kefir, it is very important to combine this product with other dishes. Sour-milk drinks do not combine well with the following products:
- grapes;
- mushrooms;
- cucumbers;
- Tomatoes
- exotic fruits;
- canned food;
- bean dishes;
- fish.
Such food should be completely excluded from the diet during acute manifestations of diarrhea.
The use of kefir can be beneficial only if the following nutritional rules are observed:
- restrictions on carbohydrate and fatty foods;
- exclusion from the diet of citrus fruits, pears and vegetable oils;
- refusal of spicy food.
During treatment of diarrhea, it is very important to eat fractionally. It is also necessary to drink at least 2 - 2.5 liters of water per day. This will help to avoid dehydration.
Kefir for children
Can a child drink kefir with diarrhea? It is important to remember that to babies under the age of 1 year this product is generally contraindicated. Sour-milk drink contains protein - casein. Many babies are allergic to this substance.
In the absence of contraindications, children over 1 year old with diarrhea can be given kefir cooked at home. To do this, you need to purchase a special leaven in the pharmacy. Such a drink will be much more beneficial for the child's body than kefir bought in a store.
You need to boil 1 liter of milk and pour into a sterile glass dish. Add 2 tablespoons of sourdough to the liquid. Let it brew for 8 to 10 hours in a warm place. Then the dishes with the product are placed in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours. After that, kefir is ready for use, it is given to the child slightly warm.
Is it possible to cure diarrhea with kefir
Some patients prefer to treat diarrhea only with diet and folk remedies. They often ask doctors the question: "Is it possible to drink kefir with diarrhea?" The effect on the body of this drink cannot be compared with the effect of drugs. Dairy products containing beneficial lactobacilli can only help with mild gastrointestinal upset.
If diarrhea lasts more than 2 to 3 days, then you need to visit a doctor. Prolonged and profuse diarrhea can be a sign of serious poisoning and infectious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In these cases, it is impossible to do without drug therapy.
Kefir after diarrhea: reviews
Can I drink kefir after diarrhea? Testimonials from patients indicate that this product helps prevent dysbiosis after poisoning. Sour-milk drinks can be consumed by people who have had gastrointestinal infections, but only after full recovery.
Patients report that regular use of kefir after diarrhea helps to avoid relapse of intestinal disorders and helps to improve the digestive tract. However, it is very important not to abuse fermented milk products. If you drink a liter packet of kefir at a time, then this will not bring any benefit, but only provoke diarrhea.
You need to use kefir after diarrhea very carefully. You can drink no more than 0.5 liters of drink per day. Within 10 to 14 days after the disease, you must continue to adhere to a sparing diet. It is important to remember that if you violate the rules of nutrition, symptoms of intestinal upset can recur.