How to Have Firmer Stool: Diet, Lifestyle and Medical Options

Loose stools and diarrhea are inconveniences that everyone experiences from time to time. The problem almost always clears up on its own, but that doesn’t make it any less annoying to deal with. Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to get firmer stool and overcome a bout of diarrhea. Some simple dietary and lifestyle changes can fix the problem easily. If these don’t work, then see your doctor to discuss some further treatment options and get back to your normal life.

Things You Should Know

  • Eating healthy, low-fat foods can help prevent loose stool.
  • Lean meat, fish, low-fat dairy, and whole grains are great options.
  • Limiting added sugars and artificial sweeteners will also help.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

The Right Diet

  1. 1
    Try going on a BRAT diet. If you have diarrhea or loose stool, try having foods that help solidify your stools, such as bananas, rice, apples, and toast (BRAT). You can also try to incorporate other foods like oatmeal and potatoes to add more bulk to your stool. Do what you can to avoid foods that are spicy, high in fat, or contain artificial sweeteners since they can make your symptoms worse.[1]
  2. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 1
    2
    Limit your fiber intake to 13 grams per day. Your body will tolerate a low-fiber diet better if you have diarrhea since it won’t stimulate your bowels. Since too much fiber can cause loose stools, you may want to reduce your intake down to 13 g a day to help manage your symptoms. Talk to your doctor and ask them for recommendations.
    • Getting more fiber is a treatment for chronic diarrhea or soft stools. If you’re having acute diarrhea, like from a stomach bug, then cutting out some fiber until the diarrhea stops is a better option.
    • It’s possible to have too much fiber. Eating more than about 38 g per day could cause gas, bloating, and cramps. Keep track of your fiber intake so you don’t have too much.
    Advertisement
  3. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 2
    3
    Have smaller meals so your digestive system doesn’t get overwhelmed. You might not think the size of your meals has anything to do with loose stools, but large meals can actually trigger diarrhea.[2] Rather than 3 large meals, try having more small meals throughout the day. This way, your body can digest more effectively.
  4. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 3
    4
    Eat low-fat foods that are easy to digest. Fat is harder to digest, so a high-fat diet could cause loose stools. It’s best to switch to low-fat foods like white meat poultry and lean meat, low-fat dairy, fish, and whole grains. This way, your meals will be easier to digest and you can avoid more diarrhea in the future.[3]
    • Fried, greasy, and oily foods are high in fat too, so avoid these items.
    • Also watch out for creamy sauces and condiments. These can add a lot of fat to your meal without you realizing it.
  5. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 4
    5
    Cut added sugars and artificial sweeteners out of your diet. Sugars can aggravate your colon and cause loose bowel movements. If you often have a lot of sugary foods, desserts, or drinks like soda, then cut these out of your diet to get firmer stools.[4]
    • Get into the habit of checking nutrition labels to see how much sugar is in the food you eat. You might be surprised about how much sugar you’re actually eating every day.
    • If you’re having a bad bout of diarrhea, then a bit of sugar might actually be helpful. Sugar can help you absorb salt and prevent dehydration. Just cut back once your diarrhea clears up.[5]
  6. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 5
    6
    Eat more binding foods if you’re having a bout of diarrhea. If you’re having multiple loose bowel movements per day, then you probably have a moderate case of diarrhea.[6] In this case, switch over to some binding foods to tighten your bowel movements and prevent more diarrhea. Good choices include rice, potatoes, bananas, apples without the skin, toast, noodles, and eggs. See if having more of these foods helps.[7]
  7. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 6
    7
    Avoid foods that act as natural laxatives. Some foods stimulate bowel movements, which could cause loose stools. If you regularly eat any of the following foods, then cut back to avoid overstimulating your digestive system.[8]
    • Prunes and prune juice, beans, figs, bran, licorice, and berries are all known as natural laxatives.
    • Spicy foods can also trigger loose stools. Try to reduce the amount of spice you use in your cooking.[9]
    • You might not have to avoid these foods forever. Once your stool gets firmer, try slowly reintroducing these foods to see what you can tolerate.
  8. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 7
    8
    Drink 8-10 cups of liquid each day. This is important for having normal bowel movements, but also for avoiding dehydration during a bout of diarrhea. Keep yourself hydrated with 8-10 cups of liquid each day to see if this helps make your stools more regular.[10]
    • Water is a great choice, but you can also have soup or broth, weakly brewed tea, electrolyte replacement drinks, and fruit juices (except prune).
    • If you’ve had a bad bout of diarrhea, then an electrolyte replacement drink like Pedialyte is a good choice as well. This can help you avoid dehydration.[11]
    9. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Lifestyle Changes

  1. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 8
    1
    Reduce or cut the amount of caffeine you drink. Caffeine is a stimulant and diuretic that can trigger soft stools and worsen dehydration. If you regularly drink a lot of caffeine, then cutting back might help.[12]
    • Remember that other drinks besides coffee have caffeine in them. Tea, soda, and energy drinks could have high doses too.
  2. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 9
    2
    Stop using medications that can cause diarrhea as a side effect. Certain medications like antibiotics and some antacids can trigger diarrhea or loose stools. Review any medications you take to see if diarrhea is a side effect. Stop taking the ones that can cause diarrhea if your doctor approves.[13]
    • If you’ve taken a lot of laxatives in this past, it could trigger prolonged diarrhea. Stop using laxatives and speak to your doctor about this.
    • Never stop taking medications without asking your doctor first, especially if they’re prescribed.
  3. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 10
    3
    Try taking probiotics if you often have diarrhea. This isn’t a proven remedy, but some people find it helpful. Probiotics can balance your gut bacteria and might prevent loose stools in the future. Try taking a daily probiotic supplement to see if this works for you.[14]
    • Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are the two most common probiotics that come in supplements. Try getting one of these varieties.[15]
    • You can also get more probiotics from your regular diet. Try eating more fermented foods like sauerkraut, kombucha, miso, tempeh, kimchi, pickles, and yogurt.
  4. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 11
    4
    Cut out alcohol so you don’t get dehydrated. Alcohol is a bad choice if you’re having loose stools or diarrhea. It can irritate your bowel and also cause dehydration during a bout of diarrhea. It’s best to avoid drinking until your loose stools pass.[16]
    • If you regularly have diarrhea after drinking, then you might want to quit altogether. Some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others.
    5. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Medical Treatments for Acute Diarrhea

  1. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 12
    1
    Cut your fiber intake for serious diarrhea. While fiber can help with occasional soft stool, it's actually bad if you're having a serious case of diarrhea. Try cutting back on fiber and having 13 g per day instead of the recommended 25-35 g. This can help slow your bowel movements and might improve your diarrhea.[17]
    • Continue avoiding foods that work as natural laxatives like prunes and prune juice, beans, figs, bran, licorice, and berries.
    • Go back to a normal daily serving of fiber as soon as your diarrhea clears up. Otherwise, you could end up constipated.
  2. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 13
    2
    Drink electrolyte replacement formulas to replace lost nutrients. If you have serious diarrhea, then you're at high risk for dehydration. Replace lost salt and electrolytes with an electrolyte replacement drink like Pedialyte. This can help you avoid dehydration during a bout of diarrhea.[18]
    • Also drink regular liquids like water and juice. You can also eat soup, chicken broth, or bone broth for extra fluids.
    • Avoid very sugary drinks like soda. This can make diarrhea worse.
  3. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 14
    3
    Ask your doctor about taking antidiarrheal medicine if you have serious diarrhea. If you have diarrhea that’s caused by a stomach bug, you may want to clear it out of your system rather than using antidiarrheals. However, sometimes medication is an option if no other steps help treat your loose stools. These are over-the-counter medications, so you can get them at any pharmacy without a prescription. Popular ones are Pepto Bismol and Imodium. These come in liquid and tablet form, so take the type that you prefer.[19]
    • Always check with your doctor before taking antidiarrheal medications. If you have a virus or parasitic infection, then the diarrhea is actually helping flush it out of your body. Your doctor might want to let the infection run its course instead of trapping it inside you with anti-diarrheal medications.
  4. Image titled Have Firmer Stool Step 15
    4
    See your doctor if the loose stools last more than a few days. Everyone experiences diarrhea from time to time, and it’s usually not a problem. However, if it continues for more than a few days, then you might have an infection or other health condition that’s causing it. In this case, schedule an appointment and see your doctor to get to the bottom of it.[20]
    • You should also see your doctor right away if you have a fever, bloody stool, or dehydration. These could be serious issues that need medical attention.
    5. Advertisement

You Might Also Like

Hold in Your Poop in Embarrassing Situations
How to
Hold in Your Poop in Embarrassing Situations
Take a Stool SampleHow to Take a Stool Sample with a Stool Collection Kit
Make Yourself Poop
How to
Make Yourself Poop
Position a Bedpan
How to
Position a Bedpan
Poop While Standing up at a Toilet
How to
Poop While Standing up at a Toilet
Do You Use a Bidet Before or After WipingDo You Use a Bidet Before or After Wiping? The Beginner's Guide to Bidets
Hold Your Poop
How to
Hold Your Poop
Soften Hard Stools
How to
Soften Hard Stools
Poop Less Often
How to
Poop Less Often
Make a Poop Tube
How to
Make a Poop Tube
Poop at Work
How to
Poop at Work
Poop More
How to
Poop More
Use the Bathroom Outdoors
How to
Use the Bathroom Outdoors
Analyze Poop
How to
Analyze Poop
Advertisement

References

  1. ↑ https://familydoctor.org/brat-diet-recovering-from-an-upset-stomach/
  2. ↑ https://badgut.org/information-centre/health-nutrition/diarrhea-and-diet/
  3. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-something-in-your-diet-causing-diarrhea
  4. ↑ https://badgut.org/information-centre/health-nutrition/diarrhea-and-diet/
  5. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/moms-advice-is-still-the-best-for-treating-diarrhea/
  6. ↑ https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/sig18272
  7. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000121.htm
  8. ↑ https://www.northdevonhealth.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/faecal_incontinence_and_loose_stools.pdf
  9. ↑ https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/is-something-in-your-diet-causing-diarrhea
  1. ↑ https://badgut.org/information-centre/health-nutrition/diarrhea-and-diet/
  2. ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/moms-advice-is-still-the-best-for-treating-diarrhea/
  3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4108-diarrhea
  4. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000293.htm
  5. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4108-diarrhea
  6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14598-probiotics
  7. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000121.htm
  8. ↑ https://www.uwhealth.org/healthfacts/nutrition/323.pdf
  9. ↑ https://medlineplus.gov/diarrhea.html
  10. ↑ https://familydoctor.org/antidiarrheal-medicines-otc-relief-for-diarrhea/
  11. ↑ https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/symptoms-causes
  12. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544337/
  13. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4342-irritable-bowel-syndrome-ibs
  14. ↑ https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/food-water-safety

About This Article

Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Medically reviewed by:
Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS
Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner
This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from the University of Tennessee in 2006. This article has been viewed 47,037 times.
2 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 5
Updated: October 25, 2022
Views: 47,037
Categories: Defecation (Bowel Movements)

Medical Disclaimer

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.

Advertisement