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The BRAT diet used to be popular, but doctors no longer recommend it. Here's why

Even within its original intended purposes, the diet is rarely suggested today the way it used to be. "Don't be surprised if you haven't heard of the BRAT diet, it's not commonly recommended anymore due to the lack of scientific evidence to support," explains Smith. Indeed, The American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recommend the BRAT diet, "but rather supports that a child with minimal or no dehydration (such as what happens when they are sick) should be encouraged to continue his or her usual diet and drink adequate fluids," says Messer.

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 Is the BRAT Diet Still Beneficial?

For decades, doctors have recommended that adults and children suffering from diarrhea resort to the BRAT diet while recovering. BRAT is an acronym for bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, a bland diet of easy-to-digest food. Now, doctors have moved away from that recommendation. Why is that and what do they recommend instead? The good news is that the newer recommendation for children with stomach issues is a lot simpler. Instead of sticking to a limited grocery list, children and adults can resume a normal diet once signs of dehydration are abated. "The recommendation is to rehydrate the child with something like Pedialyte," Dr. Fuchs says. (The AAP notes that you shouldn't try to substitute homemade salt-and-water solutions.) "Once they're no longer dehydrated let them eat. If they can tolerate it, they can eat it."

 Is the BRAT Diet Still the Best for Nausea?

Despite decades of practice, however, modern medical research has not been as kind to the BRAT diet. This culminated in 2012 when the American Academy of Family Physicians published guidelines on the prevention and management of gastroenteritis in children. According to their research, this diet was too restrictive, and these foods should not be included unless they are already a part of a child’s regular diet. In addition, the focus should be placed primarily on preventing dehydration in these cases, not consuming the BRAT foods.

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Everything you believe about the BRAT diet is wrong

If your kid is having tummy troubles, you don’t need to limit them to bananas and rice. Here’s why the BRAT diet for diarrhea isn’t the miracle fix your mom or doctor told you it was. “The BRAT diet is a terrible idea,” says Toronto paediatrician Rahul Saxena. “It’s a carb loaded diet and it’s been shown to increase the duration of diarrhea.” That’s because simple carbohydrates can stimulate your body to bring water into the gut and cause loose bowel movements. This is in contrast to the original thinking behind the BRAT diet—that the low-fibre, starchy foods would help bind together loose stool.

Everything you ever wanted to know about the BRAT diet

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the BRAT diet is no longer recommended for children experiencing diarrhea because of its focus on low-nutrient foods lacking in essential elements necessary for recovery. Prolonged adherence to the BRAT diet can result in poor nutrition, as it primarily relies on carbohydrates that draw water into the digestive tract, making diarrhea worse and potentially affecting gut health. A more beneficial approach is to consume a variety of gut-friendly foods while unwell. Incorporate oatmeal, sweet potatoes, low-fiber vegetables, and fruits such as berries and melons. Relying solely on the four choices allowed on the BRAT diet may not fulfill daily energy requirements — unless consumed in substantial quantities. Opting for meals that include all the major food groups is ideal — even during illness, as this ensures nutritional needs are met for proper recovery.

Here’s What You Need to Know About the BRAT Diet

The BRAT diet has lost some of its popularity in recent years. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with the foods, the diet is low in protein, fiber, and fat, which means even though it’s easy to digest, it doesn’t contain enough good nutrition to help your body recover from illness. But that’s not the only issue. The treatment of gastroenteritis in children should focus on preventing dehydration, according to a report published in the American Family Physician. A child who isn’t dehydrated should be encouraged to simply continue with his or her usual diet, while also drinking plenty of fluids.

Is the BRAT Diet Healthy?

As the acronym of its name suggests, the BRAT diet is one where an individual primarily eats a combination of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. This combination of foods might sound familiar to you as it was primarily recommended for children getting over stomach viruses. The original intention was for individuals to reduce symptoms of stomach illness such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting through eating only bland foods that are easy for the body to digest. The recommended use of the BRAT diet by medical professionals was once so commonly accepted that emergency department discharge instructions would contain suggestions/instructions for it. The widespread use of the BRAT diet was predicated on the idea that the impact a restricted BRAT diet had on gastrointestinal symptoms was better than unrestricted eating. Research has since learned that this is not the case and that “unrestricted diets do not worsen the course or symptoms of mild diarrhea.”

Key Ingredients of the BRAT Diet: Understanding What’s in BRAT Foods

It can prove challenging to know what exactly to eat when your stomach is throwing a tantrum. Usually, people fall back on the BRAT diet for that last little understanding of digestive distress and gentle approach to getting one’s tummy back on track. But what does the BRAT diet contain to help?

The BRAT Diet: Is It Really Healthy?

Rather than follow the BRAT diet when a stomach issue arises that involves vomiting and diarrhea, doctors now recommend focusing on hydration. Dr. Saxena suggests giving a little fluid — about an ounce at a time — every 20 minutes or so. Spacing out fluid intake like this gives the lining of the stomach time to absorb the fluids. Along with plenty of liquids, offering your child small amounts of nutritious food is fine.

The BRAT is a go-to for stomach bugs. But experts are recommending it less often — here's why

The BRAT diet has long been used to treat stomach bugs, but recent research shows it may not be as helpful as previously thought.

Understanding the BRAT Diet: Is It Suitable for Adults?

For generations, the BRAT diet has remained at the forefront of digestive disorder management as a simple, mild diet that is easy on the stomach. Traditionally indicated for children while recovering from gastroenteritis, the BRAT diet has also become quite popular among adults with similar symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea, and vomiting. But is the BRAT diet effective for adults, and is it truly the best option for managing digestive distress?

What is the BRAT diet and is it safe?

Spoiler alert: you should steer well clear.

What’s the BRAT Diet? Foods to Include & Avoid, According to a Dietitian

This simple diet is said to help your body recover after a bout of GI upset. It’s not meant to be followed long-term. Here’s why.

Why the BRAT Diet Is Outdated — and What to Do Instead for Diarrhea and Nausea

Despite being on doctors' radars since the 1950s, the BRAT diet is no longer recommended during recovery from vomiting or diarrhea, per a January 2004 article published in ​Emergency Medicine News.​ That update stated: "This dietary restriction is a suboptimal choice because it is low in protein, fat and energy content," which does nothing to strengthen the body's healing process or immune function.