Diarrhea After Breaking Intermittent Fasting: Causes, Prevention and Management
Fasting does not cause diarrhea in and of itself. Diarrhea is not a side effect of fasting. But diarrhea or nausea during intermittent fasting is possible. However, it is essential to know that intermittent fasting in itself does not cause diarrhea. It usually happens due to the wrong way of breaking your fast. Usually, fasting doesn’t cause diarrhea on its own. In fact, you’re more likely to get diarrhea from breaking your fast than you are while fasting.
Diarrhea After Breaking an Intermittent Fast: What Is It?
Diarrhea is rare when fasting, but some people may experience bowel issues after breaking a fast. This is because your bowels are inactive while fasting, so when you reintroduce food into your system, your body needs time to get used to digesting food again. As a result, some people may experience cramping, nausea, and diarrhea after breaking a fast.
People who experience diarrhea or watery stools often start to feel symptomatic of low sodium levels. Make sure you drink an extra cup of broth or pickle juice to replenish sodium levels as soon as possible.
Why Does Intermittent Fasting Cause Diarrhea?
Sometimes you can experience diarrhea after breaking your fast because you added high-fat meals to your diet plan. Diarrhea happens when your body cannot digest the high-fat meals quickly enough, so it passes through the digestive system quickly, leaving you with watery stools.
Diarrhea happens when the food you eat passes through your gastrointestinal, or GI tract too quickly, resulting in loose stools. This is why it is important to break your fast with light, easy-to-digest foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
How to Prevent Diarrhea After Breaking an Intermittent Fast
Nevertheless, it’s likely to happen if you break your fast with the wrong foods or take too many electrolytes. The good news is—you can manage and prevent diarrhea after breaking an intermittent fast. Here is what you can do:
- Start with light, easy-to-digest foods like fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.
- Drink plenty of fluids, like water and broth, to stay hydrated.
- Avoid caffeine, zero-calorie sweeteners, and electrolytes on an empty stomach.
- Eat smaller meals throughout the day and avoid high-fat foods.
- Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly.
Usually, diarrhea during fasting comes from caffeine, zero-calorie sweeteners, or taking electrolytes on an empty stomach. It’s typically not dangerous as long as you stay hydrated and keep an eye on your sodium levels.
Conclusion
No fasting method leads to diarrhea; instead, it usually results from breaking a fast inappropriately. A fasting window slows down your digestive system, so when you break a fast, your body needs time to adjust. By choosing the right foods, staying hydrated, and avoiding caffeine, zero-calorie sweeteners, and electrolytes, you can prevent diarrhea after breaking your intermittent fast.
Can interrupting intermittent fasting lead to diarrhea?
Fasting typically does not cause diarrhea in and of itself. In fact, it is more likely for diarrhea to occur when you break the fast than while you are actively fasting since the bowels may not be functioning properly due to lack of use.
Does intermittent fasting have an impact on the digestive system?
Yes, it is possible that intermittent fasting can affect your bowel movements. Some people may experience constipation, while others may suffer the opposite issue, such as diarrhea. If this happens, don’t worry as it is not unusual.
Does consuming food quickly lead to diarrhea?
Consuming foods that your body is sensitive to, or simply overeating or eating too rapidly, can all be contributing factors to getting diarrhea.
Does not having anything to eat lead to diarrhea?
When your digestive system moves too quickly, large amounts of undigested food reach your small intestine, resulting in unpleasant symptoms such as nausea, bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhea.
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