How To Prevent Diarrhea

If  you have ever experienced diarrhea, you've probably wondered how to prevent diarrhea. Diarrhea is defined as loose, frequent bowel movements, often including upset stomach and discomfort. Although it is hard to completely avoid ever having diarrhea it is possible to greatly reduce the risk of having in the future through a few simple steps.

1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. This helps kill any germs, bacteria or viruses. Hands touch everything and pick up these things. When you eat without washing your hands, you are putting all those germs straight into your mouth and into your body. These germs can lead to stomach upset and diarrhea or even a diarrhea-causing virus.
   
2. Certain foods can cause diarrhea. Spicy foods are a common culprit. Add new foods to your diet slowly to see how it affects your bowels.
3. Ignore the three-second-rule food. Food is not safe if has fallen on the floor for one second or 5 minutes. The floor and ground are covered in stomach upsetting bacteria.
4. Wash all fruits and vegetables. The chemicals, sometimes used by farmers, cover the fruit bought at a grocery store. Properly washing produce will get rid of the chemicals making them safer to eat.
5. Do not eat raw or uncooked meat. Meat should be fully cooked and not pink in the middle. Uncooked meat can make a person sick and cause diarrhea.

Taking extra care with personal hygiene and food handling should greatly decrease the chances of having diarrhea.  Following these steps can also prevent the spread of other illnesses.