Loose stool can be distressing if it happens suddenly and you don’t know what caused it.
The first thing you might assume is that it was something you ate.
Fructose
Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
This is calledfructose intolerance.
Coffee
Caffeine can increase the normal wave-like contractions of the intestines, calledperistalsis.
The result is a looser, more watery stool.
Some coffee drinkers are more vulnerable to this and may develop diarrhea after just a couple of cups.
Caffeine in tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and energy drinks can have the same effect.
Fried or fatty foods are not well-absorbed.
The fatty acids also irritate the intestines, causing stools to move faster through the system than normal.
Spicy Foods
Hot and spicy foods can irritate the intestinal lining and cause loose stools.
This is the body’s response to food that signals when and how fast the intestines need to move.
Not everyone who eats spicy food has loose stools.
If it happens to you, limit your intake of spicy food.
Eating yogurt, rice, or bread may help offset some of the intestinal irritation.
Alcohol
Ethanol in alcohol speeds up peristalsis, moving stools through your body faster.
With less time to absorb water, stools will become looser and more watery.
Certain alcoholic beverages are also more irritating to the intestines, including fermented beverages like beers.
Cutting back on your overall intake will almost certainly help.
To avoid food poisoning:
What Medications Cause Loose Stool?
Certain prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies can cause loose stools.
Some do this by affecting peristalsis, while others affect the absorption of food or directly irritate the intestines.
Others affect the normal bacterial flora of the intestines.
With antibiotics especially, the elimination of helpful bacteria can lead to the rise of harmful ones likeClostridioides difficile.C.
A different drug or formulation might be better for you.
Some research suggestsprobioticscan help prevent or manageantibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD).
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose is a natural sugar found in dairy products like milk and cheese.
Many adults have a low level of lactase, an enzyme that breaks down lactose.
If your body doesn’t digest lactose well, eating or drinking dairy products may give you diarrhea.
This is calledlactose intolerance.
it’s possible for you to avoid the symptoms of lactose intolerance by limiting your intake of dairy products.
There are also lactase tablets it’s possible for you to take before eating or drinking milk products.
Symptoms vary from person to person.
Some have loose stools or diarrhea, while others have constipation or both.
IBS is diagnosed when no other causes of your symptoms can be found.
Different foods can trigger IBS symptoms in different people.
IBS attacks can often be prevented with a high-fiber diet and the avoidance of fermentable foods calledFODMAPs.
Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, bloating, and cramping.
If left untreated, CD can severely damage the intestines and lead to extreme weight loss.
This includes processed foods like bread, pasta, cereal, and pizza.
you’re free to also find gluten in whiskey since components of rye are involved in fermentation.
Dumping Syndrome
People who have had abdominal surgery can sometimes developdumping syndrome.
Many of these conditions can be treated or managed.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Sometimes, a loose stool is due to something you ate.
In these cases, your stool will usually return to normal within two to three days.
If diarrhea persists, it may be due to something more serious.
Irrespective of the cause, it’s important to seek treatment for persistent or severe diarrhea.
Having three or more loose stools in a day means you have diarrhea.
Loose stools and diarrhea can be a temporary problem.
That’s especially true if they were due to something you ate or a medication you took.
They can also be sparked by illness, infection, or a long-term health condition.
Some of the conditions that cause loose stools can be serious, but many can be treated successfully.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of food poisoning.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About C. diff.
2016;31(4):502-13. doi:10.1177/0884533616639399.
Szilagyi A, Ishayek N.Lactose intolerance, dairy avoidance, and treatment options.Nutrients.
