A stomach ache is a very common symptom that’s usually caused by digestive issues due to microorganisms or other substances in your food. In other cases, it could be due to an inflammatory issue or imbalances in your nervous system, almost always a result of stress and anxiety. While it’s not usually a serious complication, it can be a very uncomfortable problem because it’s usually accompanied by gas, acidity, and other symptoms related to indigestion. In addition, stomach pain can be caused by food allegies that also trigger constipation and diarrhea. Because of this, you need to stay alert and avoid the foods that make it worse, while also taking remedies to relieve it. In today’s article, we want to share the top eight foods to avoid when you have a stomach ache so you’ll be sure to cut them out of your diet. Find out what they are!
8 Foods To Avoid When You Have A Stomach Ache
#1 Caffeine
Foods and beverages that contain caffeine can increase your tendency to suffer from acid reflux because they irritate the stomach and affect digestion. They slow down your intestinal activity, causing constipation, pain, and inflammation. Some sources of caffeine that you should avoid when you have a stomach ache include:
Coffee
Soda
Black tea
Dark chocolate
Irish cream
#2 Refined sugar
Supersweet foods, such as those containing refined sugar can lead to spikes in insulin levels which, in turn, can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar. Although this might not directly affect your stomach, it could make you feel clammy and shaky, which isn't going to improve your overall state.
#3 Beans
Most beans contain sugars called alpha-galactosidase, which belong to a group of carbs called FODMAPs. For healthy people, FODMAPs simply provide fuel for the beneficial digestive bacteria and should not cause any problems. However, for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, another type of gas is formed during the fermentation process. This may cause major discomfort, with symptoms like bloating, flatulence, cramping and diarrhea.
#4 Spicy Foods
If you're experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, you’ll want to avoid food choices that stimulate the digestive system, and these include spicy foods. Spicy foods are “incredibly variable,” they have no effect on some people, but cause indigestion for others. In general, you should choose bland foods when you’re having digestive problems, and be sure to avoid spices if you’re sensitive to them.
#5 Saturated Fats
Consuming too much saturated fat can cause inflammation, so try to limit your intake of red meats, butter, and cheese. Studies have found that saturated fat can alter the body’s gut bacteria, resulting in a triggered immune system and damage to our stomach’s tissue.
#6 Alcohol
It contains chemicals that are hard to metabolize and irritate the stomach lining so avoid it when your tummy already hurts.
#7 Processed Foods
If you’re constipated, you should avoid processed foods because they lack fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements. Processed foods also often contain preservatives and artificial coloring, and people with allergies or sensitivities to these additives will feel their effects during bouts of digestive trouble. Note that some packaged foods also contain lactose, which can give you gas and worsen any discomfort you’re already going through.
#8 Citrus
Fruits with a high acidic content like grapefruit, lemons, pineapples, tangerines and oranges should be avoided, as they can only make your tummy ache worse. In fact, to reduce the excess of acid which may be causing the tummy ache, eat some bread or other carbs which will absorb the acid and convert it to alkali.
