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Update on the BRAT diet and much more for treatment of tummy trouble
#1 · July 22, 2003, 3:58 pm
Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>
Hello Hope Chest readers,
A few more notes on treatment for tummy trouble in regards to my last e-mail. Actually, this is almost a Hope Chest mini-issue in itself. All you wanted to know about treating the big D word -- which I still can bring myself to type out! Oh, my sense of humor has gotten a little warped this week.
First, to be official, the American Academy of Pediatrics no longer endorses the BRAT diet.
http://www.aap.org/policy/gastro.htm I don't have time to read their entire official statement in medical jargon, but I think their policy is to now reintroduce a regular balanced diet within 24 hours, except for spicy or fried foods. I would definitely agree that the BRAT diet is very short term -- just during the acute phase of tummy distress. Apparently, some parents continued it for weeks after the child improved, and then the nutrient balance got way off!
Second, I got the T in BRAT wrong. BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and TOAST, not tea, which can loosen you up. (Thanks, Linda Wisneski, for the correction.) I didn't try tea anyway, as I don't like it. These are the things you are supposed to eat when you digestive system is running a little too quickly, as they say. (Mine ran over 100 times in 38 hours, and that is no exaggeration. The unbuttered brown rice put an immediate halt to this.) Sorry to be so coarse and direct, but this may be of help to someone in the middle of the night! Keep the brown rice on hand.
Actually, before you get to the BRAT food diet, you have to offer drinks first. Pedialyte or Gatorade are probably the first things that a sick person (vomiting or runs) should try to sip slowly. Water is good, too, but the others help restore the electrolyte balance.
I think the BRAT foods should still be the first foods offered. BANANAS are good because they are mild and have good potassium content. RICE provides bulk to slow down a fast system. APPLE SAUCE should be unsweetened, but sometimes a little cinnamon may help. Don't use straight apple juice -- that can make it worse. The apple sauce has pectin, which helps bind things up. And the TOAST should preferably be whole wheat. All of these are pleasant tasting foods that are easy to go down.
Yogurt is another good choice because of the friendly bacteria used in culturing it. This is a good way to add some protein to the diet. Try not to get the overly sweetened stuff. Maybe a little plain yogurt mixed with apple sauce?
In her book Mommy Diagnostics, Christian home schooling herbalist Shonda Parker also recommends yogurt, potatoes, corn, wheat, carrots, or peas. She says to stay away from milk or clear broth. For herbs, she recommends fenugreek. I just found this out now, though I started taking it last night for my nasal congestion and to restimulate milk production. I guess it's really a multi-purpose herb. She recommended several other herbs, but I'm unfamiliar with them, so I won't list them here.
And finally, several suggestions from long-time Hope Chest friend Marilyn Moll, The Urban Homemaker, which I am putting in a different font.
~*~*~
From Marilyn Moll, The Urban Homemaker http://www.urbanhomemaker.com
Another helpful suggestion you might want to pass on is to use slippery elm. About a tsp stirred in water will do the same as the diet or in conjunction with the BRAT diet whether the problem is diarhhea or constipation. I have used it successfully for both.
I don't want to make an advertisement here, but I would recommend keeping the following two books on hand to also help with avoiding the unnecessary doctor and emergency room visits: SMART MEDICINE FOR A HEALTHIER CHILD and SMART MEDICINE FOR HEALTHIER LIVING. I ALWAYS consult these books before I call a doctor and see if I have some of the remedies on hand. Sometimes my kids think of consulting the books before I do. (My kids have not been to the doctor for many years now except for required physicals.) What I like about the books is that they are written by a medical doctor and naturopath, and registered nurse. They give you the traditional medical route, herbal remedies, dietary considerations, homeopathic info, etc. Although these books are expensive, roughly $20.00 each, they pay for themselves by avoiding just one unnecessary doctor/emergency room visit. With your large family, that could save you bundles. [Virginia's note: I second the recommendation -- I have consulted Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child for years and found it to be comprehensive and reasonable in its treatment. My children, too, often think to look things up in this book before I do.]
We learned a long time ago from Dr. Mendolsohn, who is now deceased, but author of HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN INSPITE OF YOUR DOCTOR that most illnesses will go away on their own given time, and if symptoms are not getting worse, wait, and the illness will probably resolve on its own. By following this principle alone I've saved thousands in doctor bills and been able to keep the kids off of antibiotics.
Also, I would suggest that you keep a little herbal "pharmacy" on hand for just such emergencies. We always have echinacea/goldenseal herbal tinctures on hand, and basic herbs such as throat lozenges, peppermint, garlic, etc. because when you need it, you need it and don't want to go running to the health food store all the time. [Virginia's note: we do the same -- usually have garlic, fenugreek, vitamin C, etc. on hand.]
Another excellent book that tells exactly what one would need to prepare your home for handling routine health issues is called MOMMY DIAGNOSTICS by Shonda Parker. She is a Christian mom and has done a beautiful job of showing you just what you will need and how to plan to spread out expenses over a year's time. [Virginia's note: I'm with you, Marilyn! I had my copy open on the desk already when I got your e-mail! You can contact Shonda at [email protected] for information on her e-mail list or her other resources. We also have Naturally Healthy Pregnancy.]
Shonda wrote the MOTHER'S GUIDE TO herbal remedies which is a free guide
published at my website: http://www.urbanhomemaker.com/items/herbal/mothersguide.htm This guide is very helpful in trying to figure out what herbs to use for what malady.
I hope this answer isn't overkill, and perhaps you might want to pass this on to other moms trying to avoid unnecessary medical expenses.
By the way, I have had plenty of sinus infections over the years and always found that the occurred when I was run down, frustrated, etc, and that if I rest and juice fast they go away better than an antibiotic can do. For a long period of time any time I ate my homemade yeast bread I could get sinus pressure so I gave up eating the bread, until recently when I discovered sour dough instead of commercial yeast and I'm back to eating my bread again.
I don't want to make an advertisement here, but I would recommend keeping the following two books on hand to also help with avoiding the unnecessary doctor and emergency room visits: SMART MEDICINE FOR A HEALTHIER CHILD and SMART MEDICINE FOR HEALTHIER LIVING. I ALWAYS consult these books before I call a doctor and see if I have some of the remedies on hand. Sometimes my kids think of consulting the books before I do. (My kids have not been to the doctor for many years now except for required physicals.) What I like about the books is that they are written by a medical doctor and naturopath, and registered nurse. They give you the traditional medical route, herbal remedies, dietary considerations, homeopathic info, etc. Although these books are expensive, roughly $20.00 each, they pay for themselves by avoiding just one unnecessary doctor/emergency room visit. With your large family, that could save you bundles. [Virginia's note: I second the recommendation -- I have consulted Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child for years and found it to be comprehensive and reasonable in its treatment. My children, too, often think to look things up in this book before I do.]
We learned a long time ago from Dr. Mendolsohn, who is now deceased, but author of HOW TO HAVE HEALTHY CHILDREN INSPITE OF YOUR DOCTOR that most illnesses will go away on their own given time, and if symptoms are not getting worse, wait, and the illness will probably resolve on its own. By following this principle alone I've saved thousands in doctor bills and been able to keep the kids off of antibiotics.
Also, I would suggest that you keep a little herbal "pharmacy" on hand for just such emergencies. We always have echinacea/goldenseal herbal tinctures on hand, and basic herbs such as throat lozenges, peppermint, garlic, etc. because when you need it, you need it and don't want to go running to the health food store all the time. [Virginia's note: we do the same -- usually have garlic, fenugreek, vitamin C, etc. on hand.]
Another excellent book that tells exactly what one would need to prepare your home for handling routine health issues is called MOMMY DIAGNOSTICS by Shonda Parker. She is a Christian mom and has done a beautiful job of showing you just what you will need and how to plan to spread out expenses over a year's time. [Virginia's note: I'm with you, Marilyn! I had my copy open on the desk already when I got your e-mail! You can contact Shonda at [email protected] for information on her e-mail list or her other resources. We also have Naturally Healthy Pregnancy.]
Shonda wrote the MOTHER'S GUIDE TO herbal remedies which is a free guide
published at my website: http://www.urbanhomemaker.com/items/herbal/mothersguide.htm This guide is very helpful in trying to figure out what herbs to use for what malady.
I hope this answer isn't overkill, and perhaps you might want to pass this on to other moms trying to avoid unnecessary medical expenses.
By the way, I have had plenty of sinus infections over the years and always found that the occurred when I was run down, frustrated, etc, and that if I rest and juice fast they go away better than an antibiotic can do. For a long period of time any time I ate my homemade yeast bread I could get sinus pressure so I gave up eating the bread, until recently when I discovered sour dough instead of commercial yeast and I'm back to eating my bread again.
~~
Thanks for your input, Marilyn!
Oh, and I wanted to commend Mary Lou Graham and Debbie Klinect for their kindness in providing our family with meals during my illness. These servant hearted ladies are busy home school mommas of many. They are both in our home group at church, though we have actually known them each in person or by e-mail long before attending Metro Life. They are just a few of the many ladies who have buoyed us up over the years.
A big thank you to ALL of you who have prayed for us, not just now, but for all the other times.
Well, that's all for now folks! Hope you all don't need this information any time soon! I promise that the next REAL Hope Chest issue will be on a much more pleasant topic!
Blessings,
Virginia Knowles