Digestive disorders, indigestion, stomach flu and ulcers can make eating certain foods painful and uncomfortable. Highly seasoned, acidic or caffeinated foods are among the top culprits and avoiding them can help. Foods that are bland, non-acidic and easily digested are gentler on your stomach and can help prevent uncomfortable symptoms. If you experience abdominal pain, nausea, upset stomach or bloating, see your doctor to determine the cause and create a diet that's right for your condition.
Here is a list of foods that will keep your stomach in pink of the health:
Cooked Fruits and Vegetables: Cooked vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes and peas, are easy to digest and less likely to cause uncomfortable stomach symptoms. Fruit juice, such as apple is gentle on your stomach and has many of the same nutrients as whole fruit. Canned fruits, such as pears, peaches are also gentler on your stomach than fresh fruit. Avoid fresh fruits and vegetables because most varieties are highly acidic or rough and aren't gentle on your stomach.
Soup: Soups that are low in fat and sodium can be gentle on your stomach. Soups high in fat can cause inflammation in your abdomen, which can exacerbate your symptoms and make you feel worse. Most soups are high in sodium and can irritate your stomach. Choose low-sodium chicken soup or broth as one of the gentlest options. Low-sodium and low-fat cream soups can be soothing as well. Soup or broth can also help prevent dehydration, which can be a danger with the stomach flu. Clear liquids might also settle your stomach, which can ease your symptoms.
Grains: A bland diet is easy on your stomach, but certain grains can cause gas and discomfort. Avoid whole grains until your symptoms ease. Whole grains contain a large amount of fibre, which can increase the risk of painful gas and other symptoms. White bread, pasta and rice are gentler on the stomach. Refined oatmeal and other hot cereals are also gentle on the stomach and can help reduce your symptoms. Breakfast cereals that aren't high in fibre are additional grain options that are easy on your stomach.
Additional Foods: Low-fat milk and yogurt can be soothing to an upset or uncomfortable stomach. Low-fat pudding and custard have similar soothing effects. Creamy peanut butter and scrambled eggs are also gentle on the stomach and provide a good amount of protein. Lean meats, such as chicken or fish that are steamed without added fat are gentle on the stomach as well. Boiled or baked potatoes are bland and can help reduce your symptoms. Weak tea and water are easy on the stomach and can help prevent dehydration.
Amla: Amla is a fibre rich fruit. It helps in healthy bowel movement and makes gastrointestinal tracts clean. Its bitter and sour taste triggers various taste receptors and makes the digestive enzymes active. These juices help in proper breaking of the food and make digestion efficient. It is known to neutralize acidity in the stomach and has a cooling effect.
Banana for Digestion: Bananas are known for their high amount of dietary fibre. These dietary fibres help in binding and accumulating the food particles and aids in efficient bowel movement. Intestinal tracts can be easily cleared and constipation can be kept at bay. It is even beneficial during diarrhoea as it helps in maintaining the electrolyte balance in the body and also provides adequate amount of potassium. It is easy to digest and the carbohydrates in it can be easily broken unlike complex starch foods. Bananas are rich in fructooligosaccharides, which are probiotics thus help in maintaining the friendly bacteria in the digestive tracts. These bacteria help in promoting digestion and improve the health of gut.
Yogurt: Yogurt is popular as a source of probiotics. Probiotics are micro-organisms which are beneficial to the body. In simple words, yogurt contains good bacteria which ensure a healthy stomach and digestive tract. Probiotics are extremely helpful in various gastrointestinal conditions like constipation, diarrhoea, inflammatory bowel disease and Helicobacter pylori infection. H. Pylori infection leads to peptic ulcers. The inclusion of yogurt in daily meals prevents the onset of these conditions and helps in maintaining a healthy digestive system. The bacteria present in yogurt are also good for colon health. Yogurt’s high calcium content prevents colon cancer.
Improve Digestion with Papaya: Papaya provides a soothing effect and act as a coolant for stomach. The digestive enzymes present in papaya inhibit constipation. Constipation and heartburns can be prevented by papaya. Papain and chymopapain are protein digestive enzymes present in papaya, which lower inflammation and help in digestion of proteins. Thus, a bowl of papaya everyday can keep all stomach problems at bay.
Relieve Stomach with Coconut Water: Coconut water has a soothing effect after food consumption and improves digestion. It is known to be helpful against constipation and bladder infections. It can be helpful in cleaning the urinary tract by flushing out toxins from the body. It is diuretic and therefore kidney stone formation can be reduced. Intestinal worms can be removed by its intake. Coconut water contains monolaurin which is an antiviral monoglyceride and thus helps fight diseases. It is highly recommended for a person suffering from diarrhoea.
A healthy stomach is vital for a healthy body. Not only does a healthy digestive system reflects on our skin texture, hair lustre and overall appearance but also enhances the health of the other organs of the body. After all, this system is responsible for processing the food into nutrients which support the functioning, growth and maintenance of our body. This makes it essential for us to indulge in foods which relieve the stomach and keep digestive problems at bay.