If You Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease includes Crohnâs disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions are based in your immune system and involve a lot more than an upset digestive system, through that can be one of the symptoms. Food doesnât cause IBD, and thereâs no single diet that helps everyone with IBD. But it can help to keep a food journal so that you learn what your trigger foods are, then you can avoid them.
If You Are Vomiting Or Have Diarrhea Start With Clear Liquids
Clear liquids are the easiest things for your body to digest because they don’t leave any undigested residue behind in your intestines. Plus, they’re an easy way to stay hydrated if you’re experiencing fluid loss from diarrhea or vomiting.
For something to count as a clear liquid, it can have a color, but you have to be able to see through it.
Some clear liquids you can try are:
- Clear broth, such as bouillon
- Clear sodas like seltzer
- Herbal teas like peppermint and chamomile, which can also calm nausea
Other, more solid, options that will be easy on the stomach are:
- Jell-O
- Popsicles with no milk or fruit pulp
You can start by slowly eating or drinking small amounts of clear liquids. As the symptoms improve and you’re able to keep food down, you can gradually increase the amount.
Keep in mind that you should not stay on the clear liquid diet for more than a few days, as it does not give you enough calories or nutrients. If you are still unable to keep food down, you should visit your doctor.
What To Eat When You Have Diarrhea
It happens to the best of us. Whether youre tapped out under the covers or in the middle of a busy day diarrhea doesnt discriminate. It might be a stomach bug or something you ate. Either way, diarrhea is an inconvenient discomfort that turns meal planning into a stressful situation. Find foods that are your friends, not your foes. When youre sick, look for food that doesnt aggravate an already upset stomach, like spicy foods, rich foods such as dairy products, and fried foods. Instead, embrace bland foods, like the B-R-A-T diet. The B-R-A-T diet stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast, and it helps soothe your stomach when you have diarrhea. These four choices are often recognized as binding foods. Binding foods are low in fiber and taste making them easier to digest when you have the runs.
Much like nausea, its important to stay hydrated if youre experiencing diarrhea. Drink lots of water and scribble Gatorade on the top of your grocery list.
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Best Foods For An Upset Stomach
30 Best Foods For An Upset Stomach. Everyone would probably agree that having an upset stomach is the worst. An upset stomach greatly disrupts quality of life until symptoms are resolved. Whether you have got nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, there are a variety of foods that can help ease and even cure an upset stomach. No matter your symptoms, choosing the right foods to help ease instead of exacerbate your pain.
An upset stomach can be caused by a variety of things such as a virus, food poisoning, eating or drinking too much, or a food allergy. The main thing to remember any time you are having stomach problems is to stay thoroughly hydrated. This means drinking plenty of clear liquids, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
If you are experiencing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, it is best to stick to bland foods. Try to avoid fatty foods or dairy as these can make your symptoms worse. On the other hand, if you are experiencing constipation, try to stick to fibrous foods, while making sure you are drinking plenty of water.
Here are some foods you can stock up on, that address the unpleasant symptoms of an upset stomach. Many of these are pantry staples, so they are easy to keep on hand for the next time you are not feeling well.
Avoiding Smoking And Drinking Alcohol
Smoking can irritate the throat, increasing the likelihood of an upset stomach. If the person has vomited, smoking can further irritate the tender tissue already sore from stomach acids.
As a toxin, alcohol is difficult to digest and can cause damage to the liver and stomach lining.
People with an upset stomach should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol until they are feeling better.
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When To See A Doctor
An upset stomach and indigestion should not usually cause concern. For most people, symptoms should go away within a few hours. As older adults and children can become dehydrated much more quickly, they should seek medical attention for vomiting and diarrhea that lasts for more than a day.
People with severe, frequent, or persistent stomach problems should talk to a doctor. It is also best to seek medical attention if the following symptoms are present:
- continual or uncontrollable vomiting or diarrhea
- chronic constipation
What You Should Not Eat
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Dairy products like Milk, Cheese or Ice-cream
Milk, cheese, and ice cream are hard for your body to digest as they are high in fat. They should thus be avoided during a stomach upset. Plain low-fat yoghurt can, however, be good for your stomach health. Yoghurt is rich in probiotics or good bacteria and yeasts that help maintain good gut health. Having a little yoghurt during a stomach upset may help relieve diarrhoea.
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Fried Foods
Foods that are fried are rich in oils and fats and are generally tougher for your stomach to digest. During a stomach ache, keep away from such fried foods to ease your symptoms.
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Raw Fruits and Vegetables
While raw fruits and vegetables are great for health otherwise, when consumed on an upset stomach they can worsen diarrhoea. This is because they are high fibre foods. It is advisable to keep away from them temporarily until the stomach upset passes.
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Caffeine or Alcohol
Caffeine and alcohol can both increase stomach acidity levels, causing you to feel nauseous. Caffeine can also aggravate diarrhoea symptoms. Keep away from caffeine and alcohol to avoid making your symptoms worse.
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Citrus Fruits and High Acid Foods
High acid foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes are likely to cause abdominal pain and acid reflux, especially if you are predisposed to Irritable Bowel syndrome. This can worsen already existent symptoms by further causing heartburn and nausea. Limes, grapes, pineapples, processed foods, and sugar are examples of high acid foods.
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Peppermint May Relieve Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome
For some people, upset stomach is caused by irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. IBS is a chronic gut disorder that can cause stomach pain, bloating, constipation and diarrhea.
While IBS can be difficult to manage, studies show that peppermint may help reduce these uncomfortable symptoms.
Taking peppermint oil capsules daily for at least two weeks can significantly reduce stomach pain, gas and diarrhea in adults with IBS (
19 ).
While the research is promising, additional studies need to determine whether peppermint leaf or peppermint tea have the same therapeutic effects .
Peppermint is safe for most people, but caution is advised for those with severe reflux, hiatal hernias, kidney stones or liver and gallbladder disorders, as it may worsen these conditions .
Summary Peppermint, especially when consumed as peppermint oil, may help reduce stomach pain, bloating, gas and diarrhea for those with irritable bowel syndrome.
Foods To Eat To Stop Diarrhea In Its Tracks
Everyone would probably agree that having diarrhea is the worst. An upset stomach greatly disrupts quality of life until symptoms are resolved. Whether you have got nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, there are a variety of foods that can help ease and even cure diarrhea. No matter your symptoms, choosing the right foods to help ease instead of exacerbate your pain.
Diarrhea can be caused by a variety of things such as a virus, food poisoning, eating or drinking too much, or a food allergy. The main thing to remember any time you are having stomach problems is to stay thoroughly hydrated. This means drinking plenty of clear liquids, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
If you are experiencing nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, it is best to stick to bland foods. Try to avoid fatty foods or dairy as these can make your symptoms worse. On the other hand, if you are experiencing constipation, try to stick to fibrous foods, while making sure you are drinking plenty of water.
Here are some foods you can stock up on, that address the unpleasant symptoms of diarrhea. Many of these are pantry staples, so they are easy to keep on hand for the next time you are not feeling well.
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Nausea Vomiting And Diarrhea Instructions
Most episodes of vomiting or diarrhea are caused by viral infections, but some are caused by improperly cooked or stored foods.
During an illness involving vomiting and diarrhea, it is important to prevent dehydration. Drink plenty of uids in small sips until the stomach is settled and then in larger amounts until your thirst is satisfied. Clear liquids are the best. Water, Gatorade, Sprite, 7-Up, and Ginger Ale are suggested. Clear broth, plain JellO and weak tea may also be used but in smaller amounts. Avoid milk or milk products during the first 24 hours. Continue plenty of uids until you are urinating with your usual frequency, your urine is light yellow or clear in color, and your feeling of hunger returns.
If there is no further episode of vomiting or diarrhea in 6 8 hours, advance the diet to include, soft, bland foods. Bananas, rice, applesauce, tea, toast, yogurt, soda crackers, pretzels, and plain potatoes are suggested. Fatty foods, fried foods, and spicy foods should be avoided as should caffeine and cigarette smoke. It is important to continue with uids to avoid dehydration. Continue this diet until symptoms are gone for 12 48 hours.
If steady improvement is not seen over the initial three days return to Wick Primary Care at YSU for an appointment with a physician.
Seek immediate medical care if:
- You have symptoms of dehydration such as:
- Dry eyes and a dry mouth
- Passing only a little dark urine
- Feeling thirstier than usual
Ginger Can Relieve Nausea And Vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of an upset stomach.
Ginger, a fragrant edible root with bright yellow flesh, is frequently used as a natural remedy for both of these symptoms .
Ginger can be enjoyed raw, cooked, steeped in hot water or as a supplement, and is effective in all forms .
Its often taken by women suffering from morning sickness, a type of nausea and vomiting that can occur during pregnancy.
A review of 6 studies including over 500 pregnant women found that taking 1 gram of ginger daily was associated with 5 times less nausea and vomiting during pregnancy .
Ginger is also helpful for people undergoing chemotherapy or major surgery, since these treatments can cause severe nausea and vomiting.
Taking 1 gram of ginger daily, prior to undergoing chemo or surgery, can significantly reduce the severity of these symptoms .
Ginger can even be used as a natural remedy for motion sickness. When taken beforehand, it can help reduce the intensity of nausea symptoms and speed of recovery time .
How this works is not entirely understood, but its hypothesized that ginger regulates nervous system signaling in the stomach and speeds up the rate at which the stomach empties, thereby reducing nausea and vomiting .
Ginger is generally considered safe, but heartburn, stomach pain and diarrhea can occur at doses above 5 grams per day .
Summary Ginger can help reduce nausea and vomiting, especially when associated with pregnancy, surgery, chemotherapy or motion sickness.
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Heres The Best Way To Cure An Upset Stomach
A stomach ache can strike for all kinds of reasons, from contaminated food to chronic disease. It passes, sure, but the pain, headache, diarrhea, vomiting and other classic symptoms of stomach flu ensure a crummy couple of days
It can be tough to know what to put in your body when youre dealing with an upset stomach, but there are a few surefire foods. Ginger, scientifically, is a good place to start. Ginger and also turmeric, which is a member of the ginger family, seem to be anti-inflammatory, says Dr. Emeran Mayer, a professor of digestive diseases at UCLA. Both ginger and turmeric are roots, he says, and may have developed special antibacterial properties in order to withstand contamination from microorganisms in soil. Skip the sugary commercial ginger ales, which contain little real ginger, and sip water infused with ginger or turmeric instead, he advises.
Once youve stopped vomiting and your stomach feels a bit better, you will want to eat. But dont sit down for a big meal nibble food throughout the day instead, Murray explains.
Another issue is that nearly all the research linking probiotics to relief of gut-related issues has looked at freeze-dried probiotics in capsules or tablets, Mason says. Eating yogurt or Kefir or other probiotic foods to relieve symptoms may be effective, but that hasnt yet been shown.
Stick To Simple Carbs Like White Rice And Crackers
If you aren’t vomiting or having serious diarrhea, you don’t necessarily need a liquid diet, but you should still aim for easy-to-digest foods. This means you’ll want to eat foods low in fiber since fiber can worsen diarrhea and nausea.
There are two types of fiber:
Whole grains, like oats and brown rice, are generally great for health because they contain both types of fiber. However, this is not what you want when you’re trying to relieve an upset stomach.
“Simple refined carbohydrates like white rice, white bread, or crackers are often better tolerated” by the digestive tract, says Smith. This is because refined grains are low in fiber and they pass more quickly through your digestive tract. This means refined grains won’t sit in your stomach for long periods of time, which can trigger nausea.
Some examples of simple carbs that you can eat on an upset stomach are:
- Pasta
- Crackers, such as saltines
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Water And Clear Beverages
When youre nauseous, you may not feel like eating at all. However, drinking fluids and staying hydrated is crucial, especially if you have been vomiting or have a fever.
Water is always a good source of hydration, but if you have been throwing up or experiencing diarrhea, you may also need to replace lost electrolytes.
Some of the best drinks to fight dehydration and nausea include (
Very sweet, caffeinated or dairy-based beverages may worsen your nausea, so it may be best to avoid them.
You may tolerate sipping cold drinks throughout the day better than drinking a lot at once, especially if you have been vomiting.
Summary
Its important to stay hydrated, especially when youre ill. Clear, cold beverages like water, oral rehydration solutions, iced tea, juice, sports drinks and coconut water can be sipped throughout the day when youre nauseous.
Food For Thought: What To Eat When Youre Sick
Weve all been there. Youre suffering from the usual symptoms headache, stomach cramps, body aches and then, to top it off, youre hungry. But what should you eat when youre under the weather? What foods will help you feel better, not worse?
When it comes to sick-friendly foods, forget your typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Nausea, sore throats, and a runny nose can all make you feel like you dont want to eat once, let alone three times a day. As you shuffle into the kitchen, focus on how you feel. When youre sick, its important to choose foods that soothe your symptoms and fuel your body for a quick recovery from the flu, a stomach bug, or a head cold that wont quit. Take the time to choose foods with the right nutrients when youre sick, so you can get back to conquering the world or at least the laundry.
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Path To Improved Health
The BRAT diet is a bland food diet recommended for adults and children. The benefits of using the BRAT diet to treat upset stomach and diarrhea include:
- The foods used in the diet make your stools firmer. Thats because the foods are considered binding foods. Theyre low-fiber, bland, starchy foods.
- The foods help replace nutrients your body needs and has lost due to vomiting and diarrhea. Bananas, for example, are high in the vitamin potassium.
Bland foods dont irritate your stomach. After you have diarrhea or vomiting, follow the BRAT diet to help your body ease back into normal eating. This diet also may help ease the nausea and vomiting some women experience during pregnancy.
You can add other bland foods to the BRAT diet. For example, you can try saltine crackers, plain potatoes, or clear soup broths. Dont start eating dairy products, sugary, or fatty foods right away. These foods may trigger nausea or lead to more diarrhea.
Stomach viruses are easy to catch and can make you feel miserable. For mild cases, I recommend simple home treatment. Read More