Foods And Drinks That Help Ease A Stomachache

We all experience an upset stomach from time to time. Stomach pain can develop for a multitude of reasons — from food poisoning to indigestion. Common symptoms you may experience include nausea, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and so on. Luckily, there are ways you can help soothe your stomach. Some home remedies are worth trying to ease that upset stomach.

Bananas make a great addition to healthy smoothies or as a tasty mid-morning snack. But did you know this yellow fruit can work magic when you're experiencing a stomachache? They are the "B" in the "BRAT" diet that settles an upset stomach. "BRAT" stands for: bananas, rice, applesauce and toast. Bananas can help restore potassium and other electrolytes to your body when you're experiencing diarrhea or nausea, and the subtle flavor of the fruit makes it easier to digest.

Rice

It may be difficult to eat large meals when you have an upset stomach. Rice is a bland carbohydrate and starch that some people find easier to keep down in their stomach. You may not want to eat a very hearty rice dish when you're having stomach problems but you can try eating plain white rice when you need something to eat. If you don't have rice at home, plain oatmeal will have a similar effect.

Applesauce

Everyone knows the saying, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away.' We're not sure about that, but applesauce will help keep those stomach pains at bay. Applesauce is easy to digest and contains antioxidants that can help relieve diarrhea and other abdominal pain. You can easily pick up applesauce from the grocery store or make your own using fresh apples.

Toast

When you have an upset stomach, the last thing you want is to stuff yourself with a bunch of greasy food. Soothe your nausea and diarrhea by eating a simple pantry staple like dry toast without butter or jam. White bread is a low-fiber starch that won't irritate your stomach.

Crackers

Much like toast and rice, plain crackers are easy for your stomach to digest when you're dealing with stomach issues. Pick up saltine crackers or a low-sodium version from the grocery store and snack on those, especially if you don't have much of an appetite. Or eat them with a soothing hot bowl of broth.

Ginger

Ginger is a natural way to settle an upset stomach. This root contains properties that can alleviate nausea, stomach pains and other uncomfortable symptoms of an upset stomach. You can slice up the ginger and steep it in hot water to create a tea or make an immune-boosting soup.

Soup

You probably remember your mother or grandmother feeding you classic chicken noodle soup every time you were sick. There's a perfectly good reason for that. Broth is a great way to hydrate the body after losing fluids and help with feelings of nausea. If you don't have a big appetite, eating soup is the easiest way to receive nutrients in your body.

Tea

Certain tea ingredients carry medicinal properties that can soothe common symptoms of a bellyache, such as vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and more. For example, peppermint leaves contain menthol, menthone and limonene, essential oils used to ease nausea, bloating, abdominal gas and more. Licorice root has an anti-inflammatory property that relieves different kinds of stomach issues such as indigestion, food poisoning, ulcers and more. In some cases, tea can help with morning sickness in pregnant women or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The next time you go grocery shopping, you may want to stock your pantry with tea bags; we have a list of teas you should keep in mind when you're trying to settle an upset stomach.

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