Control Chronic Diarrhea with Chocolate?

Diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose, watery, soft stools combined with bloating, pressure, and cramps, and gas. Diarrhea is usually a temporary condition brought on by a variety of causes. Anxiety, stress, and virus related diarrhea are common causes.

Diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses in all age groups and is second only to the common cold as a cause of lost days of work or school. It is estimated that there are almost 100 million cases in the adult population last year. (In the US.)

Chronic diarrhea is also a common condition and can be equally as frustrating and dangerous as constipation. Usually IBS with diarrhea is the result of a specific food allergy or intolerance, medications, or improper food combining. In rare instances, diarrhea is associated with a bowel obstruction and medical intervention should be sought immediately.

A new study found that dark chocolate, seems to help this condition and I'll get to that in a minute. First let consider some of the reasons you may have loose stools.

Cause of Diarrhea

Try limiting or eliminating certain foods from your diet in order to figure out which ones are aggravating your system. Many times chronic diarrhea is caused by a certain food you're eating.

Known aggravaters are wheat, whey, corn, and sucrose. Allergies to these foods can all contribute to this condition.

Dairy and excessive fatty foods can also aggravate this condition, especially if you have had your Gall Bladder removed.

Chronic diarrhea also seems to be a problem if you experience improper food-combining. Improper food-combining simply means that you are eating the wrong blends of food together.

It is suggested you try eating meat alone, vegetables alone, etc., if you feel that improper food-combining might be the source of your chronic diarrhea. Its this process of elimination that will help you find which foods are MOST contributing to your loose stools.

Treatment

If you have prolonged periods of diarrhea, then be sure to seek medical help, as your body will be heavily depleted of essential nutrients, especially your electrolytes.

Drinking Gatorade or other athletic drinks that don't contain the added sugar. Energy drinks can help restore your Electrolytes if you are having intermittent episodes of diarrhea. Pedialyte is something any mom has given her child for loose bowels. Pedialyte and Gatorade both contain the electrolytes your body needs to function normally.

Adequate levels of minerals such as magnesium, sodium, calcium and potassium are essential in maintaining your body at a cellular level. Disruption of your body's fluid and mineral levels can create a serious electrolyte imbalance.

Medicines that stop diarrhea should not be used for people whose diarrhea is caused by bacterial infection or a parasitic infection because they may prolong the infection. Bacterial infections must be treated with antibiotics. Most viruses that cause temporary diarrhea are either treated with diarrhea medication or left to run its course.

On the flip side, balancing electrolytes may actually help assist to control chronic constipation too.

Recent research has shown that dark chocolate may have some benefits for people who have chronic diarrhea. According to the report, the darker the chocolate the better.

There is something about the flavanoids contained in dark chocolate that cause the water levels in the bowels to calm. When there is too much water in the bowels, you can get diarrhea.

There have not been enough studies done about this yet to draw any clear conclusions, but it’s a great suggestion to try if you like dark chocolate:o)

Just remember if your diarrhea lasts for more than a few days to seek medical help. Diarrhea, just like constipation, is a reaction to something thats NOT NORMAL in your body.



Subscribe to my free newsletter. Get interesting facts and money saving tips to help conserve and improve your beauty and your health.

To go to the next Healthy Money Saving Tips page, here's the link: Easy Screening for Colon Cancer

To view the previous Healthy Money Saving Tips page, here's the link: Help for Chronic Constipation

Back to Top of Page Healthy Money Saving Tips Page Save Money Page Go from Chronic Diarrhea Back to Homepage