What kind of diet can help decrease problems with diarrhea after radiation therapy to the abdomen?
Radiation therapy is targeted to destroy rapidly reproducing cells, unfortunately including the normal healthy cells of our digestive system. Function of the digestive tract can be disturbed, resulting in diarrhea. Normally, a high-fiber diet is recommended for good health, but not right after radiation treatment to this area. Even if you usually digest milk products well, when digestive tract function is impaired, undigested lactose in milk can cause diarrhea, so it usually makes sense to avoid or carefully limit dairy products for a while. Greasy foods may also lead to diarrhea, as can products sweetened with the artificial sweetener called sorbitol (which may be listed on the Nutrition Facts panel as a “sugar alcohol”). Nicotine and caffeine are stimulants that also stimulate muscles of the digestive system; avoiding them can also help reduce diarrhea. While avoiding these foods that can worsen diarrhea, you also should make sure to get plenty of liquids to replace losses. Soup and
