A nervous stomach causes gastrointestinal symptoms as a result of anxiety, stress or other emotions. These symptoms, which cannot be attributed to any physical cause, commonly consist of bloating, changes in appetite, nausea or vomiting, gas, changes in bowel movements, and stomach or intestinal cramps, says the Health Hype site. However, you can counteract or prevent a nervous stomach by nibbling on certain foods.
Foods Containing Tryptophan
Tryptophan is an amino acid used by the brain to make the neurotransmitter serotonin, the chemical that slows down nerves in your brain and regulates mood, aggression and anxiety. Nibbling foods with tryptophan increases the ability of your brain to make more of this calming chemical, thereby easing the emotions causing a nervous stomach. In addition, eating serotonin-building tryptophan can help calm any possible onset of physical symptoms associated with a nervous stomach, as serotonin levels also influence the function of your gastrointestinal system, says the Health Scout site.
Foods that contain tryptophan include cottage cheese, cheese and milk, whole grains, beans, eggs, poultry, sea food, rice, soy milk and tofu. For snacks, try peanuts, hazelnuts and sunflower seeds. Be aware that both tryptophan and serotonin are sleep-inducing.
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates also provide you with calming serotonin by making tryptophan accessible, says the Ask Dr. Sears website. It does this by encouraging insulin release in your body, which helps move all amino acids that compete with tryptophan out of your blood stream. Such competition involves amino acids, like tyrosine, which act as a stimulant in the brain. Doing this allows more tryptophan into the brain, which thereby increases the production of serotonin and provides relief from the anxiety and gastrointestinal symptoms of a nervous stomach.
Foods high in carbohydrates include whole grain bread, spaghetti, bran, and oatmeal. You can also get carbohydrates from fruits, such as raisins, apples, bananas, oranges and grapes. For vegetables, try kidney or lima beans, sweet corn, carrots and peas.
Herbs
Herbs can also help prevent or relieve physical symptoms of a nervous stomach. For instance, peppermint can ease cramping in the stomach and intestines by way of its anti-spasmodic component, menthol. Peppermint also helps relieve gas and abdominal pain caused by gas, says the Reader's Digest website. You can ingest peppermint tea or incorporate peppermint leaves into a meal.
Ginger is another herb that can be used to treat gas, bloating and gastrointestinal pain associated with a nervous stomach. In addition, ginger helps treat nausea and vomiting, common symptoms of anxiety. However, ginger does not cause sleepiness like peppermint. You can take ginger in tea or eat meals that contain ginger root.
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