We all love to feast on gourmet food and these 8 Easily Digestible Foods to Soothe an Upset Stomach will help you in minimising the adverse effects of binging on your favorite dish or dessert. We have compiled this information based on research available on this subject. We will briefly introduce you to what exactly upset stomach means, we will list down the common symptoms that will help you understand the situation, and we will list a few of the food items which will soothe your upset stomach.
What exactly is upset stomach? It’s that state when you have pain or discomfort in the upper part of your abdomen. It is also may be referred to as dyspepsia or indigestion. Excessive or uncontrolled eating and drinking can lead to upset stomach. In such a situation, acid formed in the stomach reacts with inner lining of our stomach causing a burning sensation or irritation. Most of the people who get upset stomach complain about burping, that pungent taste in the mouth caused by the acid (termed as acid reflux), pain in the abdomen and but obviously feeling of being bloated. Upset stomach may cause heartburn which in medical terms means that pain behind your breastbone.
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Though upset stomach is not a serious medical situation, unless of course the pain is severe and persistent or you have additional symptoms. In such a case it is always prudent to consult your doctor as soon as possible. However, as you may notice, upset stomach is caused by our own habits and our lifestyle. It is caused when we rush through our meals as we look at our watches so as not to miss any activities or meetings. It is caused when you listen to your tongue which savors that extra serving of fatty food like your favorite burger or spicy hot wings with extra hot barbeque sauce. Many of us depend on coffee to get us through our day feeling alert (more appropriately fighting off the sleepiness) and excessive coffee can lead to increase in acid levels in our digestive system. Stomach acid, made of hydrochloride acid, potassium chloride and sodium chloride (sodium chloride is also the same substance that we use as common salt), is the major culprit in causing an upset stomach. Eating any food that is acidic in nature or too salty can increase acid levels and cause an upset stomach.
As you can see, there are many more reasons that can cause an upset stomach. However, most of these reasons can be avoidable. As it’s famously said, “Prevention is the best cure.” There is tons of literature available on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle and how to eat right.
Even then, in case you skipped that self control during eating part or you did end up having an upset stomach, luckily there are various foods that can give you relief without having to take those weird tasting medicines. These are the foods that are easily digestible and also soothe your stomach, helping you to get back to your normal life. As a word of advice, since an upset stomach is caused due to stomach acid, one should avoid acidic foods like citrus fruits, salty and fatty foods, caffeine drinks, and also anything that is heavy on our digestion systems. If you feel that your upset stomach is due to your fast paced lifestyle, put in some efforts in following a routine for eating your meals. Slow down when you eat. Dust off your workout equipment (or simply take a walk) and keep exercising your body. A healthy diet and regular exercise can keep your systems up and running. As a starting point in your journey towards a fit body you can read our article on 10 Foods to Eat before a Workout.
Having said all this, as a word of caution, we would like to mention that you should not use this article and its remedies as a substitute for seeing your doctor, however scary that may be, if you are not certain what is ailing you. This blog does give out some authoritative advice on stock markets; however this article, though full of credible information, should be relied upon with caution.
There is quite a lot of information available on these foods, right from the ancient Sanskrit texts related to Ayurveda (which means knowledge related to life) to the more recent research and work on this subject. We researched many of the authentic sources for their recommendations available throughout the internet. The foods selected have the following major characteristics:
1.Most of these are natural products and none of them are processed foods
2.They are primarily high in enzymes found in our digestive systems and thus help in strengthening our system
3.They can be consumed without the fear of side effects, as most of them are our regular and daily used staples
4.Most importantly they are easy to eat and/ or easy to cook foods. And those that need to be cooked could be prepared faster than the fast food.
8. Peppermint
We are referring to that leafy green plant which is part of a family called mint. Peppermint as a herb is easy to grow in your backyard and has many medicinal properties including treatment of allergies and indigestion.
Pros: soothes and relaxes the digestive tract, eliminates nausea, helps to dissipate gas in the stomach, numbs the pain
The best part about peppermint is it can be added to most of your salads and daily dishes which would make that dish more digestible, and you can also have it as an herbal tea.
7. Apple sauce
Apple sauce is made by boiling peeled or unpeeled apples in either water or fresh apple juice and mashing them down to make a fine puree. It is high in pectin which helps in soothing upset stomach.
Pros: High in calories so will give you sufficient energy. High fiber content helps in keeping the stomach functioning properly. Being low in fat, apple sauce can also help you in maintaining your weight.
6. Papaya
Papaya is a widely consumed fruit and you will find it as part of the diets of those who are health conscious. This fruit is high in vitamin C and calories. Furthermore, the enzyme called papain found in Papaya helps in breaking down proteins and thus helps digestion.
Pros: Apart from aiding digestion, papaya has various other benefits. It can fight signs of aging as it is rich in antioxidants. Regular consumption of papaya also helps in lowering cholesterol. High vitamin C content means it will help you in improving your immune system.
5. Plain Yogurt
The only dairy product on our list of 8 Easily Digestible Foods to Soothe an Upset Stomach may also be the only milk-derived product that is considered a good solution for digestive problems. Yogurt is produced when milk is fermented by bacteria, during which the complex proteins and fats in the milk are broken down and are made more easily acceptable by our digestive system.
Pros: Yogurt contains good bacteria which are also present in our digestive system. Besides being soothing on your stomach, it is a good source of protein — 100 grams of yogurt, about 4 ounces, contains 10 grams of protein, which is 20% of our daily requirement. It also a good source of calcium and vitamins.
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4. Toast
Who doesn’t like to have one or two pieces of toast with their morning breakfast? And this convenient food is also quite an efficient remedy for upset stomach. Toast acts like a sponge and that can remove the toxins from your stomach. Interestingly, two slices of wheat bread toast contain enough fiber to fulfill 16% of daily fiber requirement. In the case of upset stomach, prefer whole grain breads and toast them dark.
Pros: Toast is high in fiber and high in protein content. It will give you a good amount of energy.
3. Ginger
Ginger has long been recommended as a home remedy for many digestive and related issues. It has proven medicinal benefits and has especially good results in treating an upset stomach. It helps in relieving many health conditions including morning sickness, digestive problems, menstrual pain, and muscle cramps. You can consume ginger as fresh cut ginger or as ginger juice or ginger tea. You can also make it into candy.
Pros: Ginger can relieve stomach pain as it has anti-inflammatory qualities. It gives relief from gas and bloating. Ginger helps in producing saliva which makes food more palatable.
2. Rice
For many tropical countries, rice is an integral part of the diet. Rice is an excellent source of energy and carbohydrates and it is soothing for your stomach. Unfortunately, many weight conscious people stay away from rice thinking it may cause weight gain, which is not entirely true.
Pros: Rice is a good source of dietary fiber and carbohydrates. It can reduce bloating and problems like gas. Brown rice has proven to be better than white rice; however it is to be well cooked to be effective. White rice is simple to cook. Apart from helping your digestive system, rice is considered a wholesome food and as such helps with many health conditions like diabetes, weight loss, and more.
1. Banana
Banana is one of the simplest of the fruits to eat and beyond that it is used in many dishes in our diets, from being used as ingredient in cooking to being part of our ice cream. They can be used when raw or when ripe. They can also be used in animal feeds. In parts of India, banana leaves are used instead of plates to serve food, due to its ecological and medicinal properties, and it’s completely hygienic.
Pros: Pectin in bananas works as a bonding agent and helps in clearing the bowels. Banana is also high in fiber. The potassium in bananas helps in controlling blood pressure. Potassium also helps in keeping our systems hydrated which is important for proper digestion. Banana is high in carbohydrates and it’s even recommended in situations when we need rapid infusion of energy in our system, like pre-workout nutrition.
So while you enjoy your feast and satiate your taste buds, do keep this list of 8 Easily Digestible Foods to Soothe an Upset Stomach handy.
