With an upcoming election, increasing world tensions, weather disasters, and all the events happening in your own life, you would probably gladly accept a natural remedy to settle your stomach. While some stomach and nausea problems can run deeper (in which case you should seek medical advice), many issues stem from stress due to a central nervous system connection between the brain and digestive tract. This, along with many other elements of your daily lifestyle such as your diet, can cause symptoms of bloating, cramping, nausea, digestive issues, or some pain. Thankfully, you don’t have to let these symptoms overwhelm your life, there are natural stomach aids that can soothe your problems.
Please note, none of these aids are a serious, medical cure to upset stomachs, rather they may cause temporary relief. If you continue to experience symptoms or have concerns about your digestive tract you should make an appointment with your doctor.
How to Naturally Settle an Upset Stomach on Election Day
Ginger
There’s a reason doctors tell you to drink ginger ale when you have the flu and it’s not necessarily for carbonation (though it is an added bonus). Ginger is great as an anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, antiulcer, and even has been tested in clinical trials for nausea. To ingest ginger you can grate it and make it into a tea with honey and lemon, take it in a tincture, capsule, or powder form, or find it in probiotic drinks.
The BRAT Diet
Bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast are the key foods for a bland, BRAT Diet that’s easy on your stomach but still gets you the nutrients you need. Other mild foods that you can include in this diet are anything with saltines, different types of oatmeal, or boiled potatoes. The key is to avoid anything spicy, sugary, high in fat, containing dairy, or with citrus.
Hydration
Especially if you’re vomiting, keeping hydrated can be the difference between feeling better and feeling worse. You should aim to drink between eight and 10 cups of water a day but that amount can vary depending on other health factors. Any drinks with electrolytes are another great option though you should avoid ones with a higher sugar content as this can worsen stomach problems.
Peppermint Oil
Sometimes the oldest methods are the best and peppermint oil has been used as a health remedy for a long time. It’s important to note this method should be used sparingly as excess use can cause further issues. But, whenever symptoms are really bad, try adding peppermint oil to your tea or take peppermint oil capsules.
Heat
A hot bath, shower, heating pad, or even hot cup of tea may bring you some much needed relief. Relax your muscles, by kicking back your feet with a heating pad for 15 to 20 minutes a session or in a luxurious bath with candles. The most important part to using heat is to try to calm yourself at the same time with a comfort movie or favorite activity. The combination of heat and deep breathing should put you at ease.
Baking Soda
Out of Tums or antacids? Make your own homemade remedy by combining baking soda and water. Baking soda is actually the main ingredient in over-the-counter antacids to neutralize stomach acid. Just a teaspoon is all you need in your glass of water but it should only be used occasionally and not as a permanent solution. If you want to add a little extra immunity to your mixture you can pour in a little lemon juice to limit acid production.
Try Eating Fermented Foods
Getting pickles as a prescription may be one of the best bits of food advice out there. Fermented foods can help your digestive health by making foods easier to digest, restoring the balance of healthy bacteria in your gut, and lessening the severity of symptoms such as cramping and constipation. Some food you can look to add to your diet include yogurt, cottage cheese, fermented veggies, sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha.
Story by Kylie Thomas / Photo Courtesy of Dominik Martin
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