Milk for Traveler’s Diarrhea

Nothing can take the “pleasure” out of a pleasure trip faster than a bout of traveler’s diarrhea. This common illness can strike anytime travel occurs to an area where sanitation practices aren’t as rigorous as the U.S.  This includes parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Taking measures like drinking bottled water can reduce the risk, but even with the best precautions, the threat of traveler’s diarrhea still exists. This condition usually lasts between two to five days and can cause a variety of symptoms including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and abdominal cramping – none of which make for a pleasant trip.

Traveler’s diarrhea is generally caused by an enteropathogenic strain of Escherichia coli. E. coli is normally resides in the intestines without causing harm, but illness can arise when a person is infected with a strain that their immune system doesn’t recognize – which is the case with traveler’s diarrhea. In most cases, the illness is allowed to run its course without antibiotics since antibiotics don’t appear to shorten the duration of the symptoms. Medications are sometimes given to slow down the diarrhea; but this is controversial. Some experts believe that slowing the diarrhea prolongs the symptoms by preventing bacterial toxins from being eliminated.

Fortunately, there may be an all-natural remedy for traveler’s diarrhea. According to a study published in Internal Medicine News, men with traveler’s diarrhea who were given a diet rich in milk products shortened the course of their illness by a day compared to a group given a low calcium diet. Although traditional thinking has been that milk products aren’t good for diarrhea, this seems to be an exception to that rule. The researchers believe the benefits come from the calcium in milk and that calcium supplements would have a similar effect. It’s thought that milk shortens the course of traveler’s diarrhea by increasing the number of lactobacilli in the gut. There “good bacteria” help to push out the pathogenic E. Coli by competing for food and other resources.

Of course, it’s best to prevent traveler’s diarrhea by taking efforts to avoid drinking the water when traveling to unsanitary areas. This includes not adding ice in drinks and using bottled water for tooth brushing. It also means not swimming in bodies of water that may be contaminated and not eating raw fruit that could have been washed with unsanitary water. If all precautions fail to prevent a case of traveler’s diarrhea, it may be helpful to take along calcium supplements to help shorten the duration of the symptoms. Sealed, packaged yogurt with active cultures is another good option since yogurt contains both calcium and gut friendly bacteria to help fight the bad bacteria. The bottom line? Take appropriate precautions and don’t let your trip be ruined by a bad case of traveler’s diarrhea.