Because you are looking for tips on how to settle an upset stomach, we are assuming that you might be facing the same. Did you know that the term upset stomach is a non-medical term? It is also known as stomach ache. It mainly describes a range of gastrointestinal symptoms. Some of them include constipation, vomiting, diarrhea, bloating, nausea, indigestion, gas, and heartburn. In other words, the term upset stomach depicts the pain and discomfort in the abdominal area.
Many foods lead to an empty stomach. On the other hand, many foods help settle the same as well. We will discuss in detail the ways that can help you settle an upset stomach. But first, let us learn about the things that cause the same.
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What can be the causes behind an upset stomach?
There can be different reasons why you might be experiencing a stomach ache. Some of them are listed below.
- Overeating or fast eating
- Excess consumption of alcohol or caffeine or both
- Consuming deep-fried or spicy fast food
- Smoking
- Stress and anxiety
How to settle an upset stomach?
Dealing with an upset stomach or a stomach ache is tough. Treatment for the same depends on the underlying causes. Making healthy lifestyle changes might help in curing indigestion. In addition to it, quitting alcohol and spicy foods or limiting their consumption might provide some relief.
Let us now discuss some things that will help you settle an upset stomach.
1. Drinking a lot of water
Dehydration might not be the reason for an upset stomach. Moreover, diarrhea and vomiting may lead to the same. This might also lead to an increased amount of acid in your stomach; further causing stomach burning.
While experiencing an upset stomach, make sure you drink a lot of water. Try to keep yourself hydrated. This will help your body absorb all the essential nutrients and flush out the toxic ones. This will also eliminate the excess acid present in your stomach and provide a soothing effect. Hence, consuming plenty of water will act as a natural remedy to cure an upset stomach.
2. Consume ginger
Our and your grandparents believe that ginger is the cure for everything. Be it cough, cold, pain, weakness, or even nausea, ginger is the remedy for all. Not only our grandparents but even we agree with this statement.
According to various studies, it has become clear that ginger can help in curing an upset stomach. The anti-inflammatory properties of ginger can lead to increased contractions in the stomach. This can help reduce abdominal pain, making ginger a thing for settling an upset stomach.
3. Try to follow a BRAT diet
The BRAT diet consists of a diet that includes bananas, rice, apple sauce, and toast. This diet is usually recommended to parents of a toddler, to calm an upset stomach. Surprisingly, this BRAT diet is not only for toddlers. Instead, it can help settle an upset stomach for all. This is simply because it contains low-fiber and high-binding foods.
Also, as specified, these foods do not contain any salt or spices which might further add to an upset stomach. This also makes it a natural remedy to cure a stomach ache.
4. Utilise heating pads
Cramps could be the reason you are experiencing an upset stomach. Utilizing a heating pad or hot pad will provide a soothing effect. Give it some time and relax until your upset stomach settles.
Utilizing the heating pads will work in two different ways. The warm feeling in your stomach will help divert your attention from the cramps. In addition to it, the heat pad will also help your muscles relax.
We know that the warm feeling is very relaxing. But you should still not use the hot pad for a long time. This might damage your skin and even lead to burns.
5. Sip some chamomile tea
Just like ginger, chamomile tea also has various anti-inflammatory properties. As a result, sipping on a small cup of chamomile tea can help you settle an upset stomach. These anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the contractions in your stomach, providing a relaxing effect.
According to various studies, it was shown that chamomile tea is used to treat various intestinal troubles. These include problems like gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, etc.
Hence, try sipping a cup of chamomile tea when experiencing an upset stomach.
6. Sip some carbonated drinks
Sipping on some carbonated drinks can seem effective in curing a stomach ache. We think that some of our readers will find this point a strange one. On the other hand, there will be readers who would relate to this point and agree with it. Let us explain this in detail.
Carbonated drinks contain a lot of bubbles. As these bubbles burst, they tend to increase motility. This triggers the GI tract to move into high gear. Wow! That was a lot of science we must say. Let us understand the same but, in a simpler language.
As we drink any carbonated drink, the bubbles tend to burst. This provides our stomach with a soothing effect. It also encourages our body to burp which releases our stomach’s extra pressure. Due to this, sipping on carbonated drinks is a part of eight answers on how to settle an upset stomach.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar
As specified in the above paragraphs, an upset stomach means an increased concentration of acid in it. Apple cider vinegar can help in this situation. It is alkaline which means basic. This directly means that consuming apple cider vinegar will promote alkalinity and will neutralize an upset stomach.
The best way to consume apple cider vinegar is to take it as a shot. However, some people might face problems due to its sour and strong flavor. Hence, try mixing it with a cup of water and sip it slowly for a soothing effect.
8. Try licorice
Licorice is also known as sweet wood. It is a popular remedy used to treat indigestion. Foods containing licorice roots provide relief to digestive problems. They provide an instant soothing effect on the intestinal tract by reducing inflammation and infections. Additionally, licorice is used to prevent stomach tumors.
The traditional way of consuming licorice is to consume it as a whole. However, experts now have found different ways to consume the same. People with an upset stomach can either consume licorice roots as a whole or include them in their regular tea. Various supplements in the form of tablets or powders containing licorice roots are also available in the market.
Final Words
Nature has the solution to almost everything. There are a lot more things that can naturally help in setting an upset stomach. We wish that none of our readers ever experience an upset stomach. However, even if they do, we recommend they use any one or a combination of these remedies. They will surely help in settling an upset stomach.
To improve digestion, one must consume fruits like papaya, green bananas, etc. On the other hand, natural herbs like peppermint, chamomile, ginger, licorice, etc. can be used to experience a soothing effect. Foods like yogurt, buttermilk, cottage cheese, etc. that are high in probiotics can be consumed for regular bowel movements. Avoiding high FODmap foods including dairy-based products like ice creams, bread, yogurt, etc., and wheat-based products like cereals, crackers, etc., can help eliminate gas from your body.
With this, our blog on eight tips on how to settle an upset stomach comes to an end. Moreover, the remedies for an upset stomach are not limited to these eight ones. There are a lot more than this. But, our only aim of listing these remedies was to provide our readers with a viewpoint that even natural ingredients can help in curing stomach aches. We think we accomplished it very well. For more information on how the same, please feel free to contact us.
Frequently Answered Questions (FAQs)
1. Why do I have an upset stomach?
You might be experiencing a stomach ache due to many reasons. Overeating, consuming spicy fast foods, experiencing stress and anxiety, consuming too much alcohol, smoking, etc. could be some possible reasons.
2. How will I know that I have an upset stomach?
While experiencing an upset stomach, you might come across some common symptoms. These might include bloating, severe cramps, heartburn, farts, vomiting, diarrhea, etc. constipation and sour breath can also indicate an upset stomach.
3. What should I eat if I am facing constipation and irregular bowel movements?
In case of constipation and irregular bowel movements, you should consume foods high in probiotics. Some of them include yogurt, cottage cheese (Indian cheese or paneer), buttermilk, kefir, etc. They will support your digestive system and help regulate bowel movements, curing constipation.
4. Can higher stress levels be the cause of an upset stomach?
While it is hard to believe, higher stress and anxiety levels can be the reason for an upset stomach. Stress and anxiety might affect digestion which directly leads to indigestion causing discomfort. Hence, managing and maintaining the stress levels of your body by practicing relaxation techniques is a must for personal well-being.
