BRAT diet

Diet for patients with gastrointestinal distress

The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast) is a restrictive diet that was once recommended for people, particularly children, with gastrointestinal distress like vomiting, diarrhea, or gastroenteritis. Evidence, however, does not support a benefit. The diet was first discussed in 1926. Severe, untreated salt imbalance can result in "extreme weakness, confusion, coma, or death."

The BRAT diet is no longer generally recommended. The BRAT diet is no longer routinely recommended to those who have had stem cell transplants and have diarrhea due to graft versus host disease, as long term use can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Adding rice, bananas, or pectin to the diet while suffering from diarrhea may be beneficial, but physicians Debora Duro and Christopher Duggan point out that the diet is not nutritionally complete and may be deficient in energy, fat, protein, fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B12, and calcium. Duro and Duggan also say that food restriction does not alleviate diarrhea and actually causes individuals to have diarrhea for longer periods, according to randomized clinical trials. Medical attention is required when on the BRAT diet if any blood or mucus is present in the diarrhea, if the diarrhea is severe, or if it lasts longer than 3 days.

Variations include the BRATT diet, which adds tea, and the BRATTY diet, which adds tea and yogurt, to the four foods which are part of the BRAT diet. An alternative is the CRAM diet. This diet is nutritionally superior, due to having more complete protein and fat, and allows for a wider range of food options. Medical professionals advise first aid treatment for gastroenteritis by briefly limiting the diet to bland, easy to digest foods (similar to those of the BRAT diet or the CRAM diet) and plenty of liquids (including oral rehydration therapy, e. g. oral pediatric electrolyte solutions sold at retail).