The CRAM diet (cereal, rice, applesauce, and milk) is a short term dietary treatment for

diarrhea Diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having at least three loose, liquid, or watery bowel movements each day. It often lasts for a few days and can result in dehydration due to fluid loss. Signs of dehydration often begin ...

and

gastroenteritis Gastroenteritis, also known as infectious diarrhea and gastro, is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract including the stomach and intestine. Symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Fever, lack of energy, and dehydrat ...

. The CRAM diet has more complete protein and fat content than the

BRAT diet The BRAT diet is a restrictive diet that was once recommended for people, particularly children, with gastrointestinal distress like vomiting, diarrhea, or gastroenteritis. Evidence, however, does not support a benefit. As of the 21st century, is ...

Recent research

The use of cereals, rice and milk as a stop-gap eating plan for stomach upset, has been validated as a more effective remedy to manage diarrhea than BRAT by recent research in hospitals in South America and Asia. According to John Snyder, M.D., professor of pediatrics at the

University of California at San Francisco The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is a public land-grant research university in San Francisco, California. It is part of the University of California system and is dedicated entirely to health science and life science. It condu ...

Medical Center and a member of the

American Academy of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is an American professional association of pediatricians, headquartered in Itasca, Illinois. It maintains its Department of Federal Affairs office in Washington, D.C. Background The Academy was found ...

subcommittee on treating acute diarrhea:

Need for additional hydration

Due to severe dehydration caused by both diarrhea and gastroenteritis, the CRAM eating plan should be combined with

oral rehydration therapy Oral rehydration therapy (ORT) is a type of fluid replacement used to prevent and treat dehydration, especially due to diarrhea. It involves drinking water with modest amounts of sugar and salts, specifically sodium and potassium. Oral rehydra ...

(ORT) through the administration of liquids (e.g.

Gatorade Gatorade is an American brand of sports-themed beverage and food products, built around its signature line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo and is distributed in over 80 countries. The beverage was first develope ...

Pedialyte Pedialyte is an oral electrolyte solution manufactured by Abbott Laboratories and marketed for use in children. It was invented by Dr. Gary Cohen of Swampscott, Massachusetts. Description Pedialyte is designed to promote rehydration and elec ...

) or food-based fluids (such as

broth Broth, also known as bouillon (), is a savory liquid made of water in which meat, fish or vegetables have been simmered for a short period of time. It can be eaten alone, but it is most commonly used to prepare other dishes, such as soups, ...

gruel Gruel is a food consisting of some type of cereal—such as ground oats, wheat, rye, or rice—heated or boiled in water or milk. It is a thinner version of porridge that may be more often drunk rather than eaten. Historically, gruel has been a st ...

s) to replace loss of fluids. According to John Snyder, it's essential to combine the CRAM diet with an electrolyte-replacement drink. In addition, contact your doctor immediately if the diarrhea symptoms remain severe or if your child exhibits any symptoms of

dehydration In physiology, dehydration is a lack of total body water, with an accompanying disruption of metabolic processes. It occurs when free water loss exceeds free water intake, usually due to exercise, disease, or high environmental temperature. Mi ...

, such as

dry mouth Xerostomia, also known as dry mouth, is dryness in the mouth, which may be associated with a change in the composition of saliva, or reduced salivary flow, or have no identifiable cause. This symptom is very common and is often seen as a side e ...

, lack of urination,

listlessness In conventional usage, boredom, ennui, or tedium is an emotional and occasionally psychological state experienced when an individual is left without anything in particular to do, is listlessness and dissatisfaction arising from a lack of occu ...

, and rapid heart rate.

Alternatives

An alternative to the CRAM diet is the

, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, the BRATT diet, which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and tea, and the BRATTY diet which consists of bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, tea, and yogurt.

References

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External links

CRAM Diet
- Fitness website Diets