Did you know that the summer heat doesn’t just make you sweat; it also impacts your digestive system? High temperatures can reduce the secretion of digestive enzymes, leading to constipation. Conversely, many of us turn to cold beverages and foods to cool down, which can cause the digestive system to contract, resulting in cramping and diarrhea.
Cold foods and drinks can also divert blood away from the digestive system, further hampering digestion. Additionally, the summer heat fosters the growth of harmful bacteria and parasites, increasing the risk of food poisoning and gastrointestinal infections. Symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and dehydration are common.
How to stop loose motion via good home remedies?
Here are a few effective home remedies to stop loose motions, recommended by leading laparoscopic and abdomen surgeon Dr Amita Jain.
Hydration
Since during loose motions the body loses water and electrolytes through stools, maintaining hydration is essential. Drinking plenty of fluids, such as water, clear broths, and oral rehydration solutions, helps restore these lost electrolytes and prevents dehydration.
Consuming natural electrolyte-rich foods like bananas and salted cucumber can also aid in recovery. In fact, coconut water is an excellent option due to its natural electrolyte content, which helps replenish fluids and electrolytes efficiently.
BRAT Diet
The BRAT diet, consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, helps stop loose motion by providing easily digestible foods that can help stabilize the digestive system.
The fiber content in these foods aids in solidifying stool, making them effective for managing diarrhea. In addition to the BRAT diet, other mild foods such as saltines, oatmeal, and boiled potatoes can be consumed to further ease the gastrointestinal tract, ensuring a gentle recovery process.
Lemon Juice
Perhaps one of the most readily available remedies for loose motions is lemon juice. It possesses anti-inflammatory properties that soothe painful intestines and help relieve bloating and weakness while restoring the body’s pH balance.
Rich in minerals like magnesium and potassium, lemon juice aids in replacing nutrients lost due to loose motions. When combined with coriander, salt, and mint, it becomes even more effective; coriander leaves assist with indigestion, while mint, with its antiviral and antibacterial properties, increases the flow of digestive fluids, relaxing the stomach lining.
This combination can be consumed as juice or added to fruits and vegetables, offering a soothing effect, rehydrating the body, and alleviating intestinal pain.
Cumin Seeds
This valuable kitchen spice possess natural antifungal and antimicrobial properties. Its ability to inhibit harmful microbe growth in the digestive system normalizes bowel movements and alleviates diarrhea symptoms effectively.
Roast a teaspoon of cumin seeds, grind into powder, mix with water, and consume 2 to 3 times daily and say goodbye to loose motions.
Curd
Curd is a part of every Indian’s diet. Being a natural source of probiotics, it contains lactic acid bacteria that boosts lactose digestion. Thus it soothes an upset stomach.
The lactic acid bacteria present in curd shorten gastric transit time, expediting the elimination of undigested waste and easing symptoms of indigestion.
Its live cultures maintain gut health, supporting metabolism and treating stomach-related issues. Regular consumption of buttermilk, derived from curd, can effectively combat diarrhea by providing hydration and boosting energy levels.
Ginger Tea
This underground stem, a staple in all Indian kitchens, possesses natural anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that soothe the digestive system and alleviate loose motion. By adding a few slices of fresh ginger to hot water and letting it steep for 5 to 10 minutes before sweetening with honey, a potent ginger tea is created.
Consuming 2 to 3 cups daily aids in blocking toxic bacteria causing diarrhea, preventing fluid accumulation in the intestines, and calming an upset stomach. This antidiarrheal effect is attributed to ginger’s ability to combat harmful bacteria, thereby easing loose motion effectively.
In case you find yourself battling loose motions, these simple yet effective home remedies recommended by Dr. Amita Jain offer a holistic approach to easing discomfort. From hydration to BRAT diet, lemon juice to cumin seeds, these remedies prioritize gentle recovery and digestive wellness.
Dr Amita Jain is a surgeon with highest degree of professional competence, precision and surgical craftsmanship. Performed all complicated general surgery procedures with in depth knowledge of invasive and few minimal invasive and onco surgical techniques. Underwent special training in trauma, executed various trauma-related complex life-saving neurosurgical procedures, reconstructed injured mangled limbs and performed vascular and reconstructive procedures with critical care.
Dr Amita Jain holds 28 plus years of rich experience in Trauma and General Laparoscopic Surgeries (including Gallbladder stone removal, appendix removal, hernia repair surgery, piles and fissure surgeries). She was the Professor Surgery of at the Army College of Medical Sciences and Base Hospital Delhi Cantt. In 1994 she was commissioned as Surgeon under the United Nations Mission in Congo. From 2020 to 2022, she worked with Bansals Hospital. Currently, Dr Amita Jain is the Senior Consultant, (Speciality: General and Laparoscopic Surgeon) at Artemis Lite Hospital, New Delhi