Why You Shouldn’t Follow a Strict BRAT Diet When You’re Sick

When you’re in the thick of the stomach flu, you need foods that won’t make things worse. You’ve probably heard that the so-called BRAT diet can ease symptoms like nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

But this temporary diet, which was once considered the go-to for an upset stomach, lacks essential nutrients and is no longer recommended. Family medicine specialist Sarah Pickering Beers, MD, explains.

What is the BRAT diet?

BRAT is an acronym that stands for:

• Bananas
• Rice
• Applesauce
• Toast

All four of these foods are soft, bland and low in fiber, which may help settle your stomach for a day or two when you’re dealing with gastrointestinal issues like:

• Viral gastroenteritis, aka “stomach flu”
• Food poisoning
• Traveler’s diarrhea

“Those foods tend to be pretty gentle on the GI tract,” says Dr. Pickering Beers, “but they really won’t improve your nausea. It’s just a way to get some nutrients into your system when you’re having trouble keeping anything down.”

BRAT is a handy way to help you remember a few of the foods you can turn to when you’re sick. But bananas, rice, applesauce and toast aren’t the only foods that can help when you’re dealing with an upset stomach.

“You don’t necessarily need to stick to those four foods,” Dr. Pickering Beers clarifies. “Other soft, bland foods can be helpful, too.”

What other foods can you eat?

When you have diarrhea and vomiting, other mild foods may also be gentle on your stomach, like:

• Brothy soups
• Dry cereal
• Oatmeal
• Boiled potatoes
• Saltine crackers

When your stomach is starting to feel evened out a bit, you can start adding in foods that are still soft and bland but a bit more nutritious, like:

• Scrambled eggs
• Skinless chicken or turkey
• Cooked vegetables

Just be sure to take it slowly.

“Typically, people are encouraged to eat as tolerated,” Dr. Pickering Beers says. “Your stomach tends to handle smaller meals better.”

Foods to avoid

While you’re sick, it’s smart to avoid foods that could make you more dehydrated, contribute to your nausea or cause you to vomit more. When you’re at your sickest, steer clear of:

• Acidic foods
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Dairy products
• Fried foods
• Spicy foods
• Sugar

What if you can’t keep anything down?

The hope of the BRAT diet is that these bland foods will be easy enough on your stomach that you’ll be able to tolerate them when sick. But when you’re in the throes of a stomach illness, you may not be able to eat anything at all for a few hours.

“If you’re actively vomiting, then you need to stick to liquids,” Dr. Pickering Beers advises. Plus, when you have vomiting and diarrhea, it’s extra important to make sure you’re replacing lost fluids. Liquids to drink include:

• Water and ice chips
• Broth
• Diluted fruit juice
• Electrolyte drinks
• Popsicles
• Weak, uncaffeinated tea

“If you’re vomiting or having diarrhea for more than a day or two and aren’t feeling any better, it’s time to contact a healthcare provider for medical advice,” Dr. Pickering Beers stresses.

Should you really follow the BRAT diet when you’re sick?

For adults, the BRAT diet is OK for a day or two when you’re at your sickest. But you shouldn’t follow it for longer than that because it lacks vital nutrients like:

• Calcium
• Vitamin B12
• Protein
• Fiber

“In the short term, when you’re sick, the BRAT diet can be a means to an end,” Dr. Pickering Beers acknowledges. “But you’re not getting any great nutritional value from it, and you’re not going to get everything that you need if you use it long term.”

What about children? Following a strict BRAT diet is no longer recommended for kids with diarrhea, as the American Academy of Pediatrics says it’s too restrictive and doesn’t have enough nutrients to help your child’s gastrointestinal tract recover. In fact, following the BRAT diet for more than 24 hours may even slow down your child’s recovery.

Ultimately, BRAT is just a handy acronym for remembering the types of foods that are gentle on an upset stomach. During or after an acute stomach illness, you can eat other soft, bland foods, too — and as soon as you’re feeling well enough to eat more, you should. Your body needs the nutrients to help you get back to full strength.