How to Feed a Recovering Gut: A Smarter Way to Eat After a Stomach Bug

Your digestive system continues healing long after vomiting and diarrhea stop, so gradually returning to a varied, nutrient-rich diet supports recovery better than prolonged reliance on a few bland foods The BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast) lacks enough protein, healthy fats and several key vitamins and minerals to fully support recovery, making it better as a small part of your diet than your entire eating plan Temporary bloating or difficulty digesting milk and larger servings of starch after a stomach bug often reflects a healing digestive tract, not a lifelong food intolerance, and many people regain their normal tolerance over time Smaller, more frequent meals, easy-to-digest protein sources, thoroughly cooked foods and gradually increasing the complexity of your meals reduce digestive stress while giving your body the nutrients it needs to repair itself Every successful meal is a step toward recovery, so let your symptoms determine when to introduce new foods instead of rushing back to your usual diet or permanently eliminating foods that your gut simply isn't ready to handle yet