No matter how healthy you eat or how long you spend chewing your food, there are times when stomach upset happens. Because an upset stomach is not always predictable or preventable, keeping a few stomach-settling foods around the house will ensure that you have something to reach for when your belly begins to grumble. Before heading to the medicine cabinet, we encourage you to try an all-natural remedy to soothe stubborn stomach aches, belly bloat, indigestion and nausea. Wondering what that remedy is? Healthy and wholesome food, of course.
While reading through this list of all-natural foods, you'll discover what to eat when you have an upset stomach, and the many benefits whole foods provide. These delicious foods are a natural route to curing a rumbling stomach. From whole-grain oats to nausea-preventing veggies, let's get started!
Bananas
Not only are bananas delicious, but they're also the ideal fruit to reach for if you're dealing with an irritable stomach. The carbohydrates in bananas can be broken down by the body pretty quickly, making them an easy-to-digest food that won't hurt your belly. Additionally, bananas are also a great source of pectin, which helps solidify stool if you're struggling with digestive symptoms like diarrhea.
Besides being soft on the stomach, bananas are incredibly versatile and can be incorporated into several different meals. This means if your stomach ache lasts longer than expected, you won't be stuck eating the same dish over and over again. Mash bananas up and turn them into a sweet pudding, combine bananas with oatmeal for a healthy dish that resembles banana bread, or blend them into a stomach-soothing smoothie.
Make the recipe below ahead of time and test it out. If you like it, then you'll know what to make the next time you need to calm your stomach and your taste buds.
Chocolate Banana Pudding
Who doesn't love pudding? Especially when it's sweetened with bananas and chocolate! Pudding is a tasty and comforting snack that children and adults will enjoy. Whether you have a bunch of browning bananas lying around or are searching for a light snack that's easy on the belly, this Chocolate Banana Pudding Recipe is sure to suffice. Simple to make, this recipe is entirely egg-free and yields a smooth and creamy treat.
Tea
If you had a bit too much to eat during your last meal, the chances are your stomach isn't feeling its best. We have good news, drinking a bit of peppermint tea after a big meal is an excellent way to calm a full belly. Sipping on peppermint tea can help relax your stomach muscles and cause your body to process foods a bit faster than you usually would. This means that you'll receive relief more quickly too! If you're not a fan of peppermint, don't worry. Chamomile tea is another excellent option that relaxes your stomach muscles the same way peppermint tea does. Because it targets the intestines' muscles, it can also help relieve a bit of gas while easing the pain of your belly bloat.
Aside from its many stomach-soothing benefits, tea is also loaded with antioxidants essential to your health. Incorporate more tea into your diet, and try out the recipe below!
Carob Chia Seed Bubble Tea
Eager to make a large batch of tea and not sure which kind to try first? Make this Carob Chia Seed Bubble Tea Recipe for a refreshingly sweet treat. Made with organic chia seeds, toasted carob powder and your choice of tea, it's the ideal drink to serve to guests with sensitive stomachs. If you're experiencing digestion issues yourself, we recommend making this drink with peppermint or chamomile tea. Add a few slices of your favorite fruit and viola! You have the perfect summertime drink.
Papaya
While papaya is a great way to brighten up a breakfast platter, it also serves to be the perfect fruit to aid in digestion. This superfruit is a rich source of proteolytic enzymes, which help your body digest food more efficiently. These enzymes break down proteins and soothe the stomach by promoting a healthy acidic environment.
With summer right around the corner, what's a better time than now to enjoy in-season summer fruits? If papaya isn't a part of your regular fruit haul, we recommend adding it to your diet little by little. Adding papaya to smoothies and oatmeal or use it as a topping on your favorite yogurt is an excellent way to reap the benefits of this superfood. If you’re an avid papaya lover already, chop up a few pieces to eat in the morning before breakfast. Eating a cup of papaya on an empty stomach can help clear the digestive tract of toxins and ease bowel movement, which may help prevent pesky digestive disorders like upset stomach, bloating and constipation.
Sneak more papaya into your diet, and add it to your next oat bowl by following the recipe below.
Coconut Almond Steel Cut Oats
A tasty oats recipe, these Coconut Almond Steel Cut Oats are naturally sweetened with dates, papaya, dragon fruit, toasted coconut and salted roasted pepitas. It’s an out-of-this-world breakfast that's taste is as vibrant as its nutrients.
Yogurt
Though not everyone can tolerate dairy, for those who can, yogurt is an incredible food to consume when you have an upset stomach. Because yogurt is full of healthy probiotics, it helps your body naturally restore the good bacteria found in your gut. Restoring and maintaining a healthy balance of good bacteria can help reduce uncomfortable symptoms like belly bloat, indigestion and diarrhea.
While there are several different yogurt flavors on the market if you're having stomach troubles, we recommend enjoying plain yogurt with little to no artificial sweeteners. Doing so will ensure that you're reaping the most benefits from your meal and help avoid any added ingredients that could further upset your stomach. If the flavor of plain yogurt doesn't sit well with your taste buds, try flavoring/sweetening your yogurt with natural foods like banana, honey and berries.
For a snack recipe that's easy on the stomach, try making these Frozen Protein Yogurt Bites.
Frozen Protein Yogurt Bites
An excellent way to cool off on a hot summer day, this snack is one that everyone in the family will love. By freezing your favorite type of yogurt, you can easily create a healthy alternative to ice cream that's loaded with good-for-you nutrients and probiotics. Quick and easy to make, this chilling treat is melt-in-your-mouth delicious. In this Frozen Protein Yogurt Bite Recipe, we've chosen a chocolate-strawberry flavor to create the perfect mini nutritious snack. If you’re not a fan of chocolate or strawberries, don't fret! The flavor of this treat can easily be customized to satisfy your taste preferences.
Gluten Free Oats
If you're searching for the ideal remedy for an upset stomach, start with a bowl of gluten free oatmeal. Oats provide an excellent source of fiber, which binds and adds bulk to your stool, easing symptoms like diarrhea. They also ease your body's digestion making the whole process a bit easier on your stomach. Because oats are so versatile, they are a dish loved by individuals of all ages.
Enjoy a sweet bowl of oats by combining them with naturally sweet foods like honey, strawberries, and sugar, or make a more savory oat-based dish like this Peachy Salad with Savory Toasted Oats. If your household isn't big on the taste or texture of oatmeal, get creative with this superfood and add it to dishes you do enjoy! Oats taste great in smoothies or granola recipes and can even be used to bake delicious muffins.
Not sure how to add more oats to your weekly menu? We've listed one of our favorite oat-filled recipes below.
Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie
If you are tired of your regular morning bowl of oats and want to switch things up a bit, make this Oatmeal Cookie Smoothie for breakfast. A sweet treat that you can feel great about enjoying any day of the week, this smoothie is made with our Hemp Protein Powder, oats, dates and cinnamon. Loaded with nutrition-rich foods, enjoying this meal regularly will keep your digestive system on the right track.
No one enjoys an upset stomach, but the good news is many common stomach illnesses can be treated with the proper nutrition. Now that you know what to eat when your stomach hurts, it's time to add these foods to your grocery list. From wholesome oats to fresh papaya, enjoying these superfoods will have you feeling better in no time. From everyone at Bob's Red Mill, we wish you a healthy and happy day!
Do you know of another food that helps soothe an upset stomach? We'd love to hear about the many foods and recipes you enjoy to give your digestive system a boost. Let us know in the comments below!
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