Celebrations seem to be almost always associated with good food, and for most it's a time to binge. Aristotle said, “Extremes are bad”. Yet, you cannot help at times to give into an eating frenzy. This excessive indulgence in food and drink can only leave you groaning and muttering, and swearing at that friend who forced a second helping onto your plate. You think to yourself: only if the painful night of bloating, gas, and heartburn could somehow be averted and you would never eat that way again!
Does all this sound familiar? It must! We are all humans and love our food, even though it lands us in trouble once in a while. Don't be too harsh on yourself, for an occasional incidence of an upset stomach due to over-eating is all too normal, and can easily be taken care of. However, what if you didn't as much as touch the food on your plate, yet your stomach has been acting up, and the queasy feeling just won't go away?
The first thing is to recognize, what really is your tummy trouble? Stomach woes comprise of the long-term and chronic upset stomach, and the temporary stomachaches. While the latter is just a repercussion of something you ate, the former may turn out to be fairly serious and warrants a trip to the doctor.
Eat too much or eat something wrong, and you're likely to feel the symptoms of indigestion, such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, bloating, or gas. Run to your doctor every time you suffer bellyache after having eaten more than your fill, and you shall only be severely reprimanded! Alleviate discomfort by some simple home remedies and tips. It's all about making some safe choices
● Milk is not the solution. It is not easily digestible, and cannot soothe an aching tummy. It may only further aggravate the situation, leading to bloating, gas and cramping.
● Lessen your intake of coffee and alcohol, as it irritates the stomach lining
● Smoking too aggravates an upset stomach.
● If your regular antacid does not seem to be effective, switch brands.
● A stressful life is known to cause indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and diarrhea. Relax by meditating, exercising, taking a vacation, or indulging in a hobby.
● Red and black pepper are gastrointestinal irritants, so limit them, as well as other spices.
● Fried food can only further aggravate an upset stomach. Eat whole grains and lean protein instead.
● Allow your body to adjust to fiber intake by gradually making it a part of your diet, rather than going high too fast.
● Avoid certain gassy vegetables, namely broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts.
● Apples and melons have both been known to cause stomach discomfort to certain people. If you are amongst them, it would do you good to limit the intake of these problematic fruits.
● Don't stuff yourself with food, and neither should you skip meals. Eat moderately.
● If the stomach aches are getting more common than ever before, it's time to track your diet and identify the foods that seem to cause trouble.
● Exercising helps in digestion.
● Drinking cola works well for some people, too.
● Increase your water intake to consume at least six to eight glasses a day.
● Pregnancy may be the culprit! Morning sickness is a common cause of stomach upset, so before you reach out for your medicine cabinet, make sure you aren't pregnant.
● In case of constipation, avoid laxatives and take bran.
● Aspirin will only irritate the stomach further, and has been known to cause ulcers. Avoid it!
● Check with your pharmacist in case you have started taking some new medication and find out if that could be the cause behind your upset tummy.
● Spices, readily available at home, help get rid of unpleasant indigestion feelings:Caraway seeds are known to help with indigestion and gas; Cinnamon stimulates the digestive system, helping in keeping it clean; Fennel seeds are commonly prescribed for gas and stomach cramps; Ginger gets the stomach back on track by particularly helping with nausea and gas; Mint, taken on an empty stomach, eases stomach cramps; Thyme too alleviates stomach cramps and gas pressure.
Having rendered this list of home remedies for stomach problems that afflict all of us some time or the other, here is a word of caution! If treating with self-care does not show any improvement, your stomach ailment may be more serious, demanding a doctors prescription. Before you treat it, you also need to find out what caused it. Remedies shall vary depending on what caused the stomach to get upset. However, the common cures delineated above are sure to get you started on feeling better!