Is brown rice a good choice for someone with diarrhea?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Is brown rice good for diarrhea? Brown rice is generally not the best choice when you have diarrhea. Unlike white rice, brown rice is high in insoluble fiber, which can be harder to digest and may worsen loose stools. Bland, low-fiber foods are typically recommended during a bout of diarrhea to help firm stools and ease digestion.

Because diarrhea can stem from many different causes—ranging from mild dietary triggers to infections or underlying conditions—it's important to understand what may be driving your symptoms before deciding on the right diet or treatment. A free, instant, online symptom check can help you identify possible causes in minutes and guide you toward the most appropriate next steps.

Reviewed for medical accuracy: 07/14/2026

Important Next Steps

Discover if brown rice causes your diarrhea Learn why brown rice may trigger diarrhea See if your diarrhea needs care today Find OTC options for diarrhea relief Find a doctor for diarrhea concerns Discover home remedies for diarrhea Understand likely causes of brown rice diarrhea

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Explanation

Brown rice is a whole grain, and while it is generally healthy, the studies provided do not specifically support its use for diarrhea.

Rice-Based Diets: One study compared rice-based diets to lactose-containing diets, but it didn't focus on brown rice specifically.
Beans in Diet: Another study looked at adding beans to diets for treating diarrhea, without mentioning brown rice.
Fermented Brown Rice: The third study explored fermented brown rice extract, which is different from regular brown rice, and did not link it to diarrhea treatment.

In conclusion, these studies do not directly recommend brown rice for diarrhea. If you're experiencing persistent digestive symptoms, you can check your symptoms with our free AI symptom checker or consult a healthcare provider for personalized advice.

(References)

Maulén-Radován I, Brown KH, Acosta MA, & Fernandez-Varela H. (1994). Comparison of a rice-based, mixed diet versus a lactose- .... The Journal of pediatrics, 7965421.
Alarcon P, Montoya R, Rivera J, Perez F, Peerson JM, & Brown KH. (1992). Effect of inclusion of beans in a mixed diet for the treatment .... Pediatrics, 1614781.
Ochiai M, Shiomi S, Ushikubo S, Inai R, & Matsuo T. (2013). Effect of a fermented brown rice extract on the .... Bioscience, biotechnology, and biochemistry, 23391910.

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