This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
Foods to Avoid When Your Stomach Hurts ¶
Published on November 6, 2019
When you have an upset stomach, it's best to avoid certain foods that can make the situation worse. These include refined sugars, dairy products, soda, caffeine and chocolates, fatty foods, high acidity foods, spicy foods, and alcoholic drinks.
Refined sugars, found in foods that are too sweet, can cause a rise in insulin levels, leading to fluctuations in your blood sugar. This can make you feel weak and won't improve your state.
It's also essential to avoid dairy products, such as milk and cheese, when you have an upset stomach. Almost half of the world's population is lactose intolerant, meaning they lack the enzyme to digest dairy products. If you're not lactose intolerant, it's still good to avoid milk and dairy products because the bacteria that may have caused the stomach problem can affect the lactose-digesting enzyme, leading to a loss of ability to digest lactose.
Soda is another food to avoid when you have an upset stomach. The carbonation, citric acid, and preservatives in soda can be hard on the stomach and make you feel full, which doesn't sit well with an upset stomach.
Caffeine and chocolates should also be avoided because they irritate an already upset stomach. They can relax the lower oesophageal sphincter, allowing acid reflux, and loosen stool, making the situation worse.
Fatty foods, such as meat, soft cheese, and cream, should be avoided at all costs when you have a stomach upset. These foods are high in fat and can make the situation worse by activating chemical receptors in your stomach, slowing down the emptying of the stomach, and making you feel bloated.
High acidity foods, such as fruits that increase acidity and cause acid reflux, should also be avoided when you have a bad stomach. Fruits like tomatoes and citrus fruits should be avoided, as well as juices made from citrus fruits.
Spicy foods can also exacerbate a stomach upset, as they come hand in hand with cooking oil, which can be the cause of the stomach upset.
Finally, alcoholic drinks should be avoided because they increase gastric acidity, contain hard-to-metabolize chemicals, and irritate the stomach lining. Excessive consumption of alcohol can also lead to severe liver diseases, such as liver cirrhosis.
