Foods To Eat If You Have An Upset Stomach

If there’s one thing that everyone can agree on, it’s that stomach pains are the worst. Nausea, bloating, diarrhea, gas—whatever gastrointestinal ailments you’re prone to, none of them are fun. Because when you aren’t feeling well in the tummy region, you can’t sleep, you can’t think, and, most importantly, you can’t really eat.

However, there are certain foods that, if you manage to choke ‘em down, will actually help ease those stomach pains. Dr. Lisa Ganjhu, D.O., gastroenterologist and clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF that everyone’s gastrointestinal (GI) tracts are different. This means that certain foods will help some more than others, and you’ll have to go through a bit of trial and error to figure out what works best for you. But overall, she says, a good rule of thumb is to avoid foods with lots of fiber (for obvious reasons), and foods with a lot of salt, sugar, or spice, as those can tend to stimulate your GI tract in an offensive way. Opt for one of these six foods instead.

1. PapayaGanjhu points to this tropical fruit because it carries an enzyme called papain, which is known to aid digestion. However, if you aren’t in love with the taste of papaya, she says this might not be the best option for you. If you still want the benefits from that digestive enzyme, look for papain pills at your local health food store.

2. MintGanjhu explains that “peppermint acts as an antispasmodic of the GI tract,” which means that it calms your stomach muscles and improves digestion. This is why you’ll often find that restaurants will serve peppermints at the end of a meal. She recommends drinking peppermint tea if you’ve got a stomach ache, but you can also take peppermint oil pills if you aren’t about that tea life. And if your store is fresh out of peppermint, fear not. She says spearmint, or any kind of mint will get the job done just as well.

3. Licorice, Fennel, and Caraway SeedsEver wonder why Indian restaurants serve fennel seeds at the end of dinner? The reason is not so different from why other restaurants polish off a meal with mints: Ganjhu says that fennel, as well and licorice and caraway seeds, contain oils that have been shown to help relax the GI tract and aid digestion.

Source: My Fitness