We do not experience loose bowel movements, or LBM, on a daily basis, but it’s uncomfortable when we do. There are many ways to treat the condition naturally. Drinking water is one of the best solutions, because it forces liquid through the body. If you want to learn more about this condition, keep reading.
What is LBM?
LBM (Loose Bowel Movement) or diarrhea is a gastrointestinal infection that causes stomach pains and loose, watery stool that’s usually expelled at least 3 times per day. Those affected will also feel stomach cramps, minimal chills and general discomfort.
Types of Diarrhea
Causes of Diarrhea
- Acute Diarrhea is most common diarrhea. Children under the age of 4 mostly develop the illness. Acute Diarrhea lasts less than 14 days.
- Chronic Diarrhea is when the illness lasts for than a month.
Diarrhea is the reaction of the bowel movement to the following:
- Dehydration
- Infection
- Toxins
- Bacteria
- Parasites
- Food allergy
The most common causes of LBM are overeating and eating spoiled foods, but it could also be that your body hasn’t digested the food you’ve eaten.
Causes of Acute Diarrhea
- Viral gastroenteritis
- Rotavirus
- Norovirus
- Lactose intolerance
Causes of Chronic Diarrhea
Chronic Diarrhea is when the fats are being poorly digested due to low levels of pancreatic enzymes. It can be caused by:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Endocrine diseases
- Infectious diseases
- Radiation therapy
- Colon cancer
- Severe constipation
- Carbohydrate and fat malabsorption
Risk Factors for Diarrhea
Risk Factors for Acute Diarrhea
The most common risks are being exposed to infectious agents, sudden changes in the diet and eating contaminated or raw food. There are certain absorbable sugars which should be avoided if you have or are trying to ward off acute diarrhea:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Cola
- Gum
- Mints
- Milk
- Dairy products
- Dietetic Foods
Symptoms of LBM
Acute Diarrhea/LBM Symptoms
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Bloating
- Stomach pain
Chronic Diarrhea/LBM Symptoms
- Weight loss
- Malnutrition
- Abdominal pain
Fiber Sources as Natural Treatments for LBM
Fiber helps regulate bowel movements, so adding it to your diet along with plenty of water can help treat LBM. There are two types of fiber:
- Soluble Fiber soaks up water and is sticky when wet. Excess fluid in your bowel can be absorbed by eating these soluble fiber sources.
| Oats | Lentils | Peas | Mangoes |
| Bran | Pears | Sweet potatoes | Berries |
| Barley | White rice | Apples | Peaches |
| Natural applesauce | Beans | Plums | Kiwi |
- Insoluble Fiber doesn’t absorb. It is recommended for patients suffering from constipation.
| Fruits | Nuts | Carrots |
| Vegetables | Seeds | Cucumbers |
| Ground flaxseeds | Beans | Celery |
| Whole wheat | Peas | Lettuce |
| Wheat bran | Brown rice | Zucchini |
| Whole-grain cereals | Broccoli | Tomatoes |
Soluble fiber is recommended for patients to treat LBM naturally. There are also fiber supplements you can buy at the pharmacy.
Natural Treatments for LBM
The following are the foods that may help your condition:
- Eat bananas. They have pectin, which reduces diarrhea.
- Drink apple juice every 30 minutes.
- Carrot soup’s antidyspeptic effect provides the nutrients that were lost during diarrhea.
- Eat starchy food like potatoes.
- Blueberries have antioxidant and antibacterial properties that help treat diarrhea.
- Drink a mixture of black seed oil and plain yogurt twice a day.
- Make fruit smoothies.
- Drink honey with ginger root.
- Drink buttermilk with dry ginger four times per day.
- Apple cider vinegar, distilled with water, is effective against the bacteria that causes diarrhea.
- Fenugreek seeds with yogurt have a mucilage content that treats diarrhea. Eat it three times a day.
- Peppermint oil helps with stomach cramps.
The following are the things you should avoid:
- Avoid conventional dairy.
- Avoid potential allergens.
- Avoid fats or oils.
- Minimize sugar intake and avoid artificial sweeteners.
- Avoid spicy foods.
- Avoiding tomatoes and citrus juice.
- Avoid caffeine and carbonated drinks.
- Avoid alcohol.
In addition, you can take supplements like probiotics, digestive enzymes, glutamine powder and aloe vera juice. It’s important to stay hydrated, drinking 8 glasses of water per day. You can also drink bone brother, which replenishes the salts and minerals you lost, or herbal teas, which stimulate the digestive system. The best teas to try are:
| Ginger Tea | Pomegranate Tea |
| Peppermint Tea | Orange Peel Tea |
| Oat Bark Tea | Caraway Tea |
| Licorice Tea | Raspberry Leaf Tea |
| Chamomile Tea | Blackberry Leaf Tea |
Treatments for LBM
Treating Acute Diarrhea
- Drink a lot of fluid.
- Stick to soups or broth.
- Imodium (Loperamide), and other medicines, can also help.
To treat chronic diarrhea, empiric treatment is recommended because of its symptomatic relief. Loperamide and other antimotility drugs can also reduce the symptoms of the illness.
