Eat low-fiber foods. Low-fiber foods include white bread, white rice or noodles, creamed cereals, ripe bananas, canned or cooked fruit without the skin, pureed vegetables, fish, chicken or turkey without the skin. To let your bowels rest, avoid milk products, and foods difficult to digest such as cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, corn and spicy foods. Also avoid fried, greasy foods. Eat bananas, potatoes, oranges and other potassium-rich foods because diarrhea causes a loss of this mineral in the body.
Potassium is needed for muscles to function properly.
If you experience low-potassium symptoms such as an irregular heart beat or leg cramps, call your physician. Avoid coffee, tea, alcohol and sweets. Keep area around the rectum clean and moist to prevent skin irritation. Use a sitz bath after every bowel movement and apply a cream to the area. The physician can prescribe a medicated cream if necessary.