If you're suffering from diarrhea, consider your diet. Foods that stop diarrhea include those in the "BRAT" diet: bananas, rice (white), applesauce, and toast.

Fatty, fried, and greasy foods</li> <li>Fructose-containing products

Diarrhea is not a topic of choice at the dinner table. Nonetheless, it is a common condition that affects many people. An estimated 179 million acute cases occur each year, and 5 percent of the U.S. population suffers from chronic diarrhea. Diet may help control this condition, as we’ll discuss below in the section titled “Foods That Stop Diarrhea: Diet Therapy.”

Whether acute or chronic, diarrhea, as defined by the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, is “loose, watery stools three or more times a day.” Acute diarrhea can last a day or up to a week, while chronic diarrhea continues for four weeks or more.

Culprits? Here’s What Causes Diarrhea

Common causes of acute diarrhea include infections that are viral (such as viral gastroenteritis), parasitic (including Giardia lambia), or bacterial (like Salmonella), as well as medication side effects (i.e., antibiotics, magnesium-containing antacids). Over-the-counter medications containing bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) or loperamide (Imodium) are usually effective in treating acute diarrhea.

Causes of chronic diarrhea are numerous. The condition can be initiated by similar viruses, parasites. and bacteria, but the infection may persist and alter the gut’s ability to digest proteins and carbohydrates, thus prolonging diarrhea. Abdominal surgeries, digestive diseases (i.e., Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome), food intolerances and allergies, compromised immunity, and prolonged use of some medications are among the many perpetrators of chronic diarrhea. Identifying the cause determines the treatment needed.