Carrot soup, a natural remedy for diarrhea

Diarrhea is a common ailment, especially in children and the elderly, and should be treated promptly to prevent dehydration. Before antibiotics were used to treat diarrhea in the early 20th century, an Austrian pediatrician (Ernst Moro) discovered that a simple carrot soup could control diarrhea, which at that time was the leading cause of death in childhood. Dr. Moro researched and found that this recipe had been passed down through generations by mothers who practiced "healing cuisine," and thus the famous "Moro's carrot soup" was born. For decades, it was the standard, simple, and highly effective treatment for gastroenteritis in children.

The mystery of how this soup works was revealed in the 1980s by pharmacologists Peter Josef Guggenbichler and Johann Jurenitsch. Their research showed that when carrots are boiled, they release acidic oligosaccharides (short-chain sugars) that can lead to less adhesion of bacteria to the intestinal lining. Instead of attaching to specific parts of the digestive system, where they would multiply and produce a large number of toxins, these pathogenic germs adhere to the acidic oligosaccharides in Dr. Ernst's soup and are eliminated from the digestive system naturally.

Carrot soup is an easy-to-prepare home remedy that has several advantages over antibiotics: it doesn't harm the gut microbiota, meaning it doesn't kill the beneficial bacteria in the intestines and doesn't increase the risk of antibiotic resistance. It has no side effects and prevents the increased discomfort caused by the toxic waste products that some pathogenic bacteria produce when attacked by antibiotics.

To prepare the original recipe for this soup, simply clean 500 grams of fresh carrots, cut them into small pieces, and boil them in 1 liter of water for one hour (it's important that they boil long enough to ensure the active ingredient is released). Puree the mixture using a food processor or blender and add enough boiled water to make one liter of soup. Add about 3 grams of salt, and if you want to add more flavor, add grated apple and ginger (both are known for their digestive benefits). The soup should be consumed several times a day, on an empty stomach, starting as soon as diarrhea begins, at a temperature that suits you.

This simple, inexpensive, and effective home remedy, which has been largely overlooked due to the advent of modern medications like antibiotics and antidiarrheal drugs, can prevent unnecessary doctor visits or help control diarrhea that leads to dehydration while you wait to see a doctor for a diagnosis. It's also used by veterinarians, so it can be used for animals like dogs. If your pet has diarrhea, you can give them this carrot soup.

Ramona Ávila Núñez, Ph.D.

Reference:

• Weirich A, Hoffmann GF. Ernst Moro (1874-1951)--a great pediatric career started at the rise of university-based pediatric research but was curtailed in the shadows of Nazi laws. Eur J Pediatr . 2005 Oct;164(10):599-606. doi:10.1007/s00431-005-1703-2. Epub 2005 Jun 2. PMID: 15931526.
• Kutzsche S. Ernst Moro (1874‐1951) was much more than the reflex that was named after him. Acta Paediatrica 2020: 001-4.