Foods to avoid when your tummy hurts

When you have an upset stomach and get a serious case of nausea, it is advisable to avoid some foods as they could make the situation worse. Even though stomach aches do not last long, they can drain you and make you feel very sick.

The foods listed below should be avoided when you are having a bad stomach.

1. Refined sugars

Foods that are too sweet and contain refined sugars can cause a rise in insulin levels which can lead to fluctuations in your blood sugar. This however may not directly affect your stomach but it can make you feel weak and won't improve your state. It makes your body feel worse.

2. Dairy products

It is important to avoid dairy products such as milk and cheese when you are having an upset stomach. Almost more than half of the world's population is already lactose intolerant, according to health.com which means that this population of people lack the important and necessary enzyme to help them digest dairy products. If you are not lactose intolerant it is also good to avoid milk and dairy products because that simple bacteria that may have caused the stomach problem can affect the lactose digesting enzyme called Lactase and could lead to you losing your ability to digest lactose.

3. Soda

Soda's aggravating quality has always been linked to the carbonation even though the biggest problem causing factor is the citric acid and the presence of sodium benzoate which is a preservative. These chemicals tend to be hard on the stomach even though the carbonation can also be a bother to some people. Soda can make you feel full due to the carbonation and this does not sit well with an upset stomach.

4. Caffeine and chocolates

The reason why caffeine and chocolates must be avoided when one is having a bad stomach is because they irritate an already upset stomach. They tend to relax the lower oesophageal sphincter that allows acid reflux. Caffeine loosens stool which will make the situation worse during a stomach upset while chocolate has milk which is a dairy product and some have nuts which will make the situation worse for people who are lactose intolerant.

5. Fatty foods

Things like meat, soft cheese and cream should be avoided at all costs when one is having a stomach upset. These foods are high in fat and they will make the situation worse for you. Fatty foods tend to activate chemical receptors in your stomach which slows down the emptying of the stomach and make you feel bloated. Foods such as nuts which are also high in fat will make you feel too full and are only good for when you are trying to lose weight but bad for a stomach upset.

6. High acidity foods

Foods that are high in acidity and fruits that increase acidity and cause acid reflux should be avoided when one is having a bad stomach. Fruits like tomato which i very high in acidity and citrus fruits must be avoided at this time. This rule applies to juices made out of citrus fruits as well. Avoid juices like orange juice.

7. Spicy foods

According to Dr. Chutkan of health.com if you have a running stomach you should avoid spicy food even though it's preferred food. Spices come hand in hand with cooking oil which can be the cause of the stomach upset.

8. Alcoholic drinks

Alcohol increases gastric acidity. It contains chemicals which are hard to metabolize and irritate the stomach lining. This can also be a big problem for people who have liver diseases. Excessive consumption of alcohol also leads to severe liver diseases such as liver cirrhosis.

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