What is the BRAT diet? Usefulness, limitations, and current recommendations

Once upon a time, BRAT diet was a common recommendation for a child with an upset stomach. What foods constitute this diet? Is it effective and most importantly is it safe? Do doctors advise it these days?

BRAT diet

BRAT diet was a diet that was popular in the past. Pediatricians used to recommend this diet for children who were sick and had an upset stomach. The term BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast. It was believed that these foods are bland and can give rest to the ailing stomach. And help it to recover.

These four foods are to be eaten in this diet. They are easily digestible and reduce the bulk of stools. They are all low fiber foods and heal the damaged mucosal lining of the gut. Moreover, they are effective to relieve nausea, vomiting and loose motions. And the person and child feel better with them. But these days, this diet has gone out of favor. Doctors no more advise it since it is low in proteins, fats and dietary fiber. And in the long run the diet could lead to nutritional deficiencies.

Key components

Though many also call this diet as bland diet, others believe that the two are different. In a bland diet, you can eat everything that is gentle on the stomach. Whereas in BRAT diet, only the four foods are allowed. But some argue that one can eat any soft and gentle foods on the BRAT diet too.

These bland foods are binding foods with low fiber. They reduce stool bulk and provide rest to the gut and bowels. Other foods that are bland include baked or boiled potatoes, crackers, cooked cereals (oatmeal or cream of wheat), apple juice, weak tea, soda, and broth.

On this diet, avoid milk and milk products, spicy foods, fatty foods, protein rich foods, raw vegetables, acidic fruits, very hot or cold drinks, alcohol and caffeinated drinks.

The typical 3-day plan

There is limited research on this diet. Hence guidelines are not extensive. The 3-day plan advises no food in the first six hours of the diet. One has to skip foods completely. This will reduce vomiting and diarrhoea. But during this wait period, you can suck on ice popsicles, and sip plain water and sports drinks. The latter contain electrolytes that need replenishment at this stage.

In the next 24 hours, reintroduce clear liquids such as apple juice, vegetable broth, chicken broth. If symptoms return, wait for a couple of hours before reintroduction of above. And in day two if all is well, start bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast along with other bland foods.

And on day three, try to step up and have normal foods into your daily diet. These can be soft cooked eggs, cooked vegetables, cooked fruits, and white lean meat (chicken or turkey).

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Though used in the past, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) no more recommends this diet. The reason is that it is not nutritious and can cause problems in the long run. Instead, start normal foods at the earliest after the sickness. And do not use this diet for weight loss.