There are many causes for stomachaches that span from intestinal infection to overeating to food poisoning. While stomachaches due to bad food or viral infection require you to refrain from eating, a proper diet can do wonders in soothing ordinary stomachaches. Certain fruits, in particular, can help you when you experience stomach pain.
Apples
According to Botanical-Online.com, apples can help ease stomachaches, because they are rich with pectin. Pectin is a kind of soluble fiber that helps soothe the intestinal mucous in your stomach. Apples also contain malic acid and quercetin, which help inhibit harmful bacteria from developing further in your stomach. This harmful bacteria is usually also responsible for poor digestion and flatulence. However, apples do contain a lot of gas, as well. To avoid additional flatulence from eating apples, eat slowly and chew well to enable the expulsion of gases from your mouth before swallowing.
Bananas
Bananas are easily digestible and contain many ingredients that stimulate better overall digestion, which makes them also helpful in fighting a poor appetite. Bananas prevent gastric ulcers from developing and protect the intestinal mucous. The high amount of potassium found in bananas helps replace electrolytes you might lose in severe cases of diarrhea, which is often associated with stomachaches. Bananas are also rich in pectin, which helps move your stools along smoothly.
Dried Blueberries
Dried blueberries have long been used to treat diarrhea-related stomachaches in Sweden. In "Herbs of Choice," Dr. Varro Tyler recommends making a tea by boiling crushed dried blueberries or chewing dried blueberries to ease diarrhea and its associated stomach pain. Blueberries have tannins, which help reduce the stomach inflammation of diarrhea. Blueberries also contain pectin and antibacterial properties. They are also a source of antioxidants.
Other Dried Fruits
Other dried fruits, like prunes, figs, raisins, dates and apricots, are helpful for stomachaches caused by a long period of constipation, because they contain a great deal of fiber. Adding these types of fiber-rich fruits to your diet slowly (to prevent bloating and gas) stimulates the digestive system naturally, without the use of laxatives.
References
- Botanical-Online: Stomach Ache Diet
- "Herbs of Choice: The Therapeutic Use of Phytomedicinals"; Varro Tyler; 1999
- FamilyDoctor: Constipation
