What to Eat During — Chemotherapy Diarrhoea
Loose stools during chemotherapy call for a specific diet. Plain Indian kitchen staples — curd rice, kanji and banana — are exactly what your gut needs right now.
Medically reviewed by Dr. N. Kiranmayee, Medical Oncologist · Last reviewed September 2026
- Start plain and bland — Curd rice, kanji and banana are your best starting point during chemotherapy diarrhoea.
- Curd yes, fresh milk no — Curd and buttermilk are usually well tolerated. Fresh milk often makes diarrhoea worse.
- Avoid fibre for now — Raw vegetables, pulses and whole grain roti speed the gut — switch to plain white rice until stools settle.
- Know when to call — Blood in the stool or worsening diarrhoea despite bland food means contact your team the same day.
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During chemotherapy diarrhoea, curd rice, banana, kanji and plain buttermilk are the most practical choices from the Indian kitchen. Avoid fresh milk, oily food, raw vegetables and pulses. Call your team the same day if the stool contains blood or you cannot keep fluids down.
Which foods help during chemotherapy diarrhoea?
Plain binding foods help most. Curd rice is a good first choice — the rice helps firm the stool, and the curd is usually tolerated even when fresh milk is not. A ripe banana also helps bind the stool and replaces potassium lost through loose stools.
Kanji — thin rice porridge — replaces fluid while giving the gut almost nothing to process. Diluted, lightly salted buttermilk has the same effect and also replaces electrolytes. Tender coconut water is another option, though it does not replace ORS solution if you are significantly dehydrated.
What should you avoid while you have diarrhoea on chemotherapy?
Fresh milk often makes chemotherapy diarrhoea worse. The gut's ability to process lactose is reduced when the lining is inflamed — this can happen even if you are not usually lactose intolerant.
Avoid oily and fried food, spicy curries, raw vegetables, salads, pulses and whole grain roti. All of these either irritate the gut or move it faster. Plain white rice, white bread and boiled potato are the right substitutes until your stool has settled for a day or two.
When should you call your team today?
- Blood or mucus in the stoolThis needs same-day contact — do not wait for your next appointment.
- You cannot keep fluids downDehydration during chemotherapy needs prompt assessment.
- Fever alongside diarrhoeaFever with gut symptoms on chemotherapy needs to be reported the same day.
- Diarrhoea worsening after a day of bland food and fluidsIf there is no sign of improvement, contact your team rather than continuing to wait.
- Dizziness, racing heart or very little urineThese are signs of dehydration that need same-day assessment.
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Indian kitchen foods and what each one does
- Curd rice
- Plain rice mixed with curd — rice helps firm the stool, curd is better tolerated than fresh milk.
- Kanji
- Thin rice porridge that replaces fluid with almost nothing for the gut to process.
- Banana
- A ripe banana adds bulk to loose stool without irritating it, and replaces potassium.
- Buttermilk
- Plain, diluted, lightly salted buttermilk replaces electrolytes and is tolerated where fresh milk is not.
- Tender coconut water
- Replaces sodium and potassium naturally — useful, but not a substitute for ORS when dehydration is significant.
Questions you may have
Is curd safe during chemotherapy?
Yes, plain curd is generally safe and often helpful. It differs from fresh milk because fermentation has already broken down most of the lactose. Room-temperature curd rice is usually better tolerated than cold curd straight from the fridge. Avoid curd in spiced or tempered dishes — the seasoning is the problem, not the curd itself. If your team has given you specific dietary guidance, follow that.
Can I eat dal or roti?
Avoid both during active diarrhoea. Pulses are high in fibre and can speed up a gut that is already moving too fast. Whole grain roti has the same effect. Plain white rice is a better choice for now. Once your stool has been firmer for a day or two, you can try moong dal — the easiest pulse to digest — in small amounts and see how your gut responds.
What if I have no appetite and cannot eat?
Small amounts frequently are better than waiting for hunger. Even a few spoonfuls of curd rice or a few sips of kanji every hour keeps the gut working without overwhelming it. Fluids are the first priority — sipping water, buttermilk, ORS or tender coconut water steadily through the day is more urgent than eating. Tell your team if you cannot eat or drink at all.
When can I return to my normal diet?
Most people can begin adding foods back once stools have been firmer for a day or two. Start with foods close to what you were eating — moong dal soup, soft cooked vegetables, plain chapati — before returning to oily, spicy or raw foods. Let your gut guide the pace: if a food causes loose stools again, go back to the bland diet for another day before trying again. There is no fixed number of days.
Did you know?
Some chemotherapy drugs damage the gut lining, which reduces its ability to absorb fluid and nutrients.
The simplest foods — plain rice, banana, curd — give the lining the least work to do while it recovers.
Source: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines — Supportive Care
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Frequently asked questions
What is the first thing to eat when chemotherapy diarrhoea starts?
Start with small amounts of the plainest food you have. Curd rice or kanji are good first choices. Do not eat a full meal immediately — small amounts let you check how your gut responds. In the first few hours, focus on fluids: sipping ORS, water, buttermilk or tender coconut water steadily is more important than eating.
Why is fresh milk a problem but curd fine during diarrhoea?
Chemotherapy can temporarily reduce the gut's ability to process lactose, the sugar in fresh milk. This can cause cramping and worsening diarrhoea even in people who are not usually lactose intolerant. Curd and buttermilk are different because fermentation has already broken down most of the lactose, making them much easier to tolerate. This is why curd rice and diluted buttermilk are recommended where fresh milk is not.
How do I know if I am getting dehydrated?
Watch for dizziness when you stand, a racing heart, very little urine, or urine that is dark yellow. A dry mouth is an early sign. These indicate that fluid losses are outpacing what you are drinking. Contact your oncology team the same day — do not wait and see. Dehydration during chemotherapy can worsen quickly and needs prompt assessment.
Can I eat egg or chicken?
Yes, if plainly cooked. Boiled or lightly stewed chicken without heavy spices or oil is gentle on the gut and provides protein. Fried chicken, heavily spiced curries and egg cooked in a lot of oil are not suitable while the diarrhoea continues. Boiled egg is also usually fine. If you are vegetarian, plain curd rice, banana and boiled rice provide what you need for a day or two.
Can I take anti-diarrhoea medicine on my own?
No — speak to your oncology team first. During chemotherapy, especially when your blood counts are at their lowest, diarrhoea can sometimes signal an infection rather than a side effect. Taking an anti-diarrhoeal medicine without assessment can mask a worsening situation. Your team will tell you whether it is safe to take one and which is appropriate for you.
Should I take a probiotic supplement?
The evidence is not yet consistent enough for ASCO or ESMO to recommend probiotic supplements routinely during chemotherapy. Plain curd and buttermilk provide similar live cultures and are available in every Indian kitchen. If you want to take a packaged probiotic, ask your oncologist first — some chemotherapy regimens affect the immune system in ways that change whether this is appropriate.
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