Best Food for an Upset Stomach

Whether it’s slight discomfort or a painful episode accompanied by diarrhoea and vomiting, an upset stomach is a sign of a glitch in your health. The severity depends on its cause. It could just be a full stomach caused by overeating, indigestion, flatulence, food poisoning, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers or acid reflux. Eating the right food for an upset stomach can reduce the number of times it occurs and ease the unpleasant symptoms that come with this common phenomenon.

Indigestion is one of the top reasons behind an upset stomach. It happens every time your stomach’s acid disturbs your gullet, bowel and stomach lining. It might make you feel bloated, nauseous and cause pain or burning in your abdomen. Because it can be a warning for more serious conditions, having a balanced diet is necessary in making sure it doesn’t lead to worse things. A daily intake of whole grains, beans, fruit and vegetables should give you enough fibre to smoothen digestion. Bananas are highly beneficial and can be digested easily.

You also need to watch what you drink. Alcohol, coffee, carbonated and caffeinated drinks should be avoided and replaced with water, chamomile tea and controlled amounts of unsweetened fruit juice. When your stomach gets upset, it’s also a good idea to grab some yoghurt.

Another condition that might be eased by eating great food for an upset stomach is irritable bowel syndrome. If constipation, bloating, diarrhoea and gas are constant problems, you need to add foods like avocadoes, potatoes, eggplants, squash, bananas, raspberries and black berries to your diet. Irritable bowel syndrome can be challenging to manage because you need to find out which specific foods cause these symptoms. An important tip: when you’re having an episode, stay away from foods that do not digest quickly such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables. Avoid these for a little while until your symptoms clear.

Unlike indigestion and IBS, food poisoning is not diet-related. It is an unfortunate occurrence where you eat food that is contaminated with harmful bacteria and fall sick as a result. You are likely to vomit and suffer from diarrhoea for a few days. There are foods you can eat to help you get back on your feet. Nibbling on bananas, rice and saltines can reduce symptoms and help you recover.

Ulcers are a more serious cause of an upset stomach and special attention to what you eat is important. A balanced, helpful diet that includes low-fat yoghurt, low-fat milk, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, fish, turkey and eggs is recommended. Foods that are too sweet, salty or spicy are not good for ulcers. Other culprits behind your symptoms may be alcohol, coffee, milk, orange juice, bacon, tomatoes, onions and garlic.

Food for an upset stomach varies according to the cause. Foods that may ordinarily be considered part of a healthy diet can wreck havoc on your body if you have certain conditions. Visit your local doctor for more information about the cause and correct diet for your upset stomach.