The Best Treatment for Bloating & Diarrhea After Eating

You've just finished a delicious meal at a great restaurant and now there's a rumbling in your gut and your belly is distended with gas. Take an over-the-counter medication like Peptol-Bismol, or explore some other treatments.

Expert Insight

• According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), the best treatment for diarrhea and bloating after eating is to drink water to prevent dehydration. Replace electrolytes (salts and minerals) right away by eating soup containing sodium, "fruit juices, soft fruits, or vegetables that contain potassium..." Give your child an over-the-counter electrolyte and rehydration fluid like Pedialyte.

Medication

• You may find relief from diarrhea with over-the-counter medications like Pepto-Bismol, but avoid them if the cause is a parasite or bacterial infection or if you take blood thinners like warfarin (Coumadin).

Causes

• Bloating and diarrhea after eating can be caused by overeating, lactose intolerance, food intolerances (like gluten), food or water contamination, or irritable bowel syndrome.

Prevention/Solution

• To prevent bloating and diarrhea, authors Mehmet Oz and Michael Roizen recommend you take probiotics (healthy bacteria) found in yogurt or in supplements. Exercise and drink plenty of water daily.

Future Treatment

• For lactose intolerance, eliminate all dairy. Food intolerances require identifying and avoiding all foods causing the bloating and diarrhea.

Warning

• While suffering from diarrhea, avoid caffeine, dairy, greasy foods, sweets and foods high in fiber.

  See a doctor if diarrhea lasts over three days or if there's blood in your stool.

  Call your doctor if your child is dehydrated from diarrhea.