Having an upset tummy is probably the worst feeling ever whether it’s nausea, vomiting, or just a general icky sensation due to a stomach bug you caught or something you ate. All you want now is to feel better ASAP. While it’s a good inkling to keep your diet simple during this gruesome time, certain foods can essentially help soothe your belly.
Some gas is normal, but if you eat foods that your body has trouble digesting, you may find yourself with an uncomfortable amount of gas to pass. While dietary choices are the most common reason for frequent gas, other factors may be at play, too. As compiled from Self and Health magazines, here’s a guide to what the experts strongly recommend to calm tummy troubles.
Tame Excessive Gas and Cure Gastric Problem
Bananas:
There’s a purpose behind bananas being the recommended energy booster for marathon runners: bananas are easily digestible and generally do not upset the stomach. The universal family staple contains potassium, which you may need if you’re dehydrated from vomiting or diarrhea, says Robynne Chutkan, an assistant professor in the division of gastroenterology at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC.
They also contain sugar so you get calories at a time when you’re probably not eating much. The fruit is scientifically proven to aid with stomach issues since they contain pectin, which helps to naturally firm bowel movements.
Papaya:
Yet, another reason to love the papeeta. Consuming this enzyme-vitamin-heavy weight helps encourage healthy digestion, eases painful indigestion and heartburn (that results in aches and cramps), and also alleviates constipation.
The magic is in the enzymes papain and chymopapain, which help break down proteins and soothe the stomach by promoting a healthy acidic environment. Since papayas are chock-full of fiber, make sure to not go overboard and stick to a small portion per day, until you feel better.
White rice:
Good old chawal, along with other starchy foods such as potatoes and oats, helps coat the lining of the stomach, enabling efficient digestion and having an overall soothing effect, says Dr. Chutkan. Starchy foods also don’t sit in the stomach for long periods of time, nor do they stimulate acid reflux, which would make you feel even worse, says Amit Bhan, service chief of gastroenterology at Henry Ford Health System, in West Bloomfield, Michigan.
Besides not putting added stress on an already sensitive digestive system, boiled white rice will help ease diarrhea by absorbing fluids and adding bulk to your stool.
Water:
Water is key to a properly functioning digestive system, and most Americans don’t drink enough on a daily basis. Increase your liquid intake to help move food through your gastrointestinal tract at a healthy pace and keep gas to a minimum.
People with excessive flatulence are often advised to avoid fiber to reduce how much hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide are produced by bacterial fermentation. However, this may increase hydrogen sulfide emissions, which are more likely to clear the room than the three odorless gases, Says Chu Yao at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
