Foods That Are Good For an Irritated Stomach

Many things can cause your stomach to feel irritated. Getting back to normal requires two steps. One is to deal with the current irritation and the other is to figure out the cause so you can avoid it in the future.

Soothing the Irritation

Apples: Raw apple, especially the flesh scraped away from the peel, can help soothe your stomach. It may also help with nausea and diarrhea, should they be present.

Licorice: If you can find the candy made from real licorice root, that would be a plus. Most candies are made with anise, and while it is somewhat soothing, it doesn’t coat your stomach the way trure licorice does. If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, skip to the next herb.

Marshmallow: Like licorice, this herb coats the stomach. It doesn’t have as much sugar, nor does it raise blood pressure like the previous herb. By the way, the confections used for s’mores does not contain any marshmallow. They are now made with corn syrup.

Oatmeal: There is a substance in the humble oat that is very useful in this area. The mucilage content makes it ideal and it can be used on just about everyone. Whole oats are best, but even quick oats can be beneficial.

Plain Toast: Hold the butter and jelly, just plain toast is what you want. It absorbs the acids that make the irritation worse.

Finding the Source

Bacteria: The “good bug, bad bug” debate is actually a little further down the digestive tract. That doesn’t mean the stomach is safe from bacteria, though. H. Pylori, the bacteria thought to cause stomach ulcers, may be the reason for your problem.

Coffee: There are acids in coffee that can make sensitive stomachs very unhappy. If you drink it on a regular basis, try cutting back or cutting it out altogether. Beware, though. Caffeine withdrawal causes an intense headache. If you drink it by the gallon, cut back slowly.

Lactose Intolerance: Beware the milk, cheese and ice cream. If your body cannot process lactose, you will definitely have stomach problems. Try avoiding it for a few days to see if that is your problem.

Stress: The tension caused by stress can be felt throughout your body, and your digestive tract is no exception. Reducing stress levels, either by avoiding it or intervention with herbs and medications, could go a long way towards keeping your stomach happy.

As you can see, many of these problems require medical attention. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about what is going on. The doctor can ask questions and give you an accurate diagnosis. That will help you to come up with a good treatment plan.