Our mind and tongue is always on the look-out for something tasty. In the trip of fulfilling our wishes, we often land up with indigestion, nausea, constipation, and gas.
Do you feel strange and uncomfortable in your belly?.
How do we turn around the sad state of affairs?
Your kitchen has a whole lot of hidden remedies which can get our sour stomach back on track.
Let us find out how.
Causes:
Did you know this?
Lifestyle changes and eating preferences (and eating habits) have a lot to do with sour stomach, besides infection and related problems. Confused on the real meaning of sour stomach? It is the same as an upset stomach.
- Acid reflux and indigestion: They are the main culprits in causing a sour stomach. Acid reflux happens when stomach acid enters the esophagus (or food pipe) in small amounts.
- Excess of eating
- Eating more than is required and eating fast
- Eating spicy, fatty or greasy foods
- Consuming excess of alcohol, caffeine, fizzy drinks and chocolate
- Inflammation/Infection of the stomach and/or pancreas
- Hernia
- Obesity – particularly the one caused by pressure build-up inside the abdomen
- Peptic ulcers
- Cancer in the Stomach
- Active smoking (which is done more frequently)
- State of nervousness and/or emotional trauma
Symptoms:
Which one of them have you faced?
- Commons symptoms include Nausea, Belching and feeling bloated
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite and/or weight loss
- Jaundice (yellow colouring of skin and eyes)
- Black stools (and not ‘yellow’)
- Pain in chest (in case you exert yourself)
- Sweating and shortness of breath
- Chest pain which radiates to the arms, neck or jaw
N.B: If mild indigestion happens, then no need to worry about. But, do consult a doctor if you continue to face symptoms for more than 2 weeks.
Home Remedies for Sour Stomach
THANK GOD! We need home remedies like anything.
1. Carrot juice
What you need: Four sliced carrots, four cups water, 1 tsp dried peppermint (or 1 peppermint tea bag)
How to do:
- In four cups of water, boil four carrots and peppermint (in dried form or tea bag)
- Simmer it on low flame for 15 minutes ( so that the carrots turn soft)
- Now drink it
How it works: Carrot juice helps the tummy absorb all the acids and gas that can be the cause of stomach discomfort.
Tip: Add a pinch of ginger or some lemon juice to carrot juice to get added flavor
2. Charred Toast
What you need: Whole-wheat bread slices
How to do:
3. Warm milk
What you need: Milk (warm), honey
How to do:
- Feeling angry and tired of constipation? Drink Warm milk.
How it works: Milk when drunk warm coats the stomach lining on a temporary basis. Thereby, buffering the acid component in your belly and making you feel a bit better.
Tip: Add a few drops of honey to the milk. This will help keep the lining of the stomach smooth.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
What you need: 1 tbsp unfiltered ACV, a glass of water
How to do:
- Take a glass of water
- Mix unfiltered ACV
How it works: ACV has anti-bacterial properties which helps you get rid of food poisoning. ACV also increases stomach acid enabling faster food digestion.
How frequent to use: Drink this solution 3 times a day (when you are down with food poisoning)
Tip: If you are facing mild discomfort (like constipation), then drink the ACV solution, 20 minutes before each meal. This will bring you relief in digestion. Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is the best remedy.
[sc:mediad]
5. Baking soda
What you need: 1/2 to 1 tsp baking soda, half a glass of water
How to do:
- Mix the baking soda in water
- Drink it ASAP
How it works: Baking soda is a natural antacid. This makes it neutralize the extra acid in the stomach. It also promotes burping, thereby relieving you of nausea and bloating in the belly.
How frequent to use: Repeat the consumption of baking soda after 4 hours (if required)
6. Activated Charcoal
What you need: 1/2 tsp activated charcoal powder, a glass of water
How to do:
- In a glass of water, add activated charcoal
- Or add it to soft meals e. g. oatmeal
How it works: For food poisoning particularly, activated charcoal is an effective remedy.
Tip: You can also swallow 1 capsule of activated charcoal. Eat it twice a day till you get relief from symptoms of sour stomach.
7. Caraway seed tea
What you need: 1 tsp Caraway seeds and water
How to do:
- Boil a teaspoon of caraway seeds in 1 litre of water
- Let it simmer over slow flame for 15 minutes
- Strain it and drink.
How it works: Caraway seeds have vitamins and minerals. These slow down the growth of bad bacteria which are responsible for gas, indigestion, bloating.
How frequent to use: Consume caraway seed tea three times a day after meals. You will find the tea curing flatulence.
Tip: Feel gassy? NIBBLE on a handful of caraway seeds after eating your meal.
8. White or Brown Rice
What you need: 1/2 cup white rice, 2 cups water
How to do:
- Cook 1/2 cups white rice in 2 cups water over medium flame
- When the rice begins to soften up, take it off from flame
- Let it settle for 2 minutes.
- Then, drain the water and drink it while it is warm
How it works: Rice water protects your stomach lining by creating a protective barrier against it thereby bringing relief from inflammation.
How frequent to use: Drink the rice water 3 times a day till you feel better
9. Cinnamon powder tea
What you need: 0.5 to 3 tsp cinnamon, water
How to do:
- Boil water having cinnamon powder
- Let it cool down a bit and then sip it
- Add honey to enhance the taste
How it works: Got your stomach and intestines upset? Cinnamon is your go-to home remedy. It has an anti-bacterial property which helps it treat GI or gastrointestinal disorders, gas and diarrhea.
Tip: Preggi and breastfeeding women – cinnamon tea is not meant for you.
10. Banana
What you need: Bananas
How to do:
- Go Munching a banana before or after your meals
How it works: Bananas are not only easy-to-digest; they make the process of digestion simpler, hassle-free and also relieve you from bloating. Moreover, bananas are rich in potassium which aids in food absorption and better digestion.
How frequent to use: Eating Two to three bananas a day is sufficient to overcome the problem of sour stomach.
11. Papaya
What you need: Fresh papaya fruit
How to do:
- Eat papaya half an hour (approx.) before you take your meals
How it works: Papaya is yet another remedy you can bank upon when it comes to tackling SOUR stomach. It fights off all possible symptoms of abnormal digestion such as bloating, flatulence, bloating and burning sensation.
How frequent to use: Have 2-3 cups of papaya on a daily basis.
12. Aloe Vera
What you need: 2 tbsp aloe vera gel, 1 cup water
How to do:
- Blend the gel of aloe vera and water in a blender till it becomes smooth
- Now drink it
How it works: Aloe vera gel is not just a good laxative; it is helpful in treating constipation or food poisoning.
How frequent to use: Drink this preparation twice a day till you experience relief from sour stomach.
13. Potato juice
What you need: A bunch of Potatoes (so that enough juice can be extracted)
How to do:
- Extract the juice from the potatoes
- Take 3 to 4 tbsp potato juice 30 minutes before the meal for the potato juice effect to show
How it works: The juice of potato helps in neutralizing the stomach acid. It can also help in bringing you relief from stomach upset, heart burn and peptic ulcers.
How frequent to use: Do this DIY remedy everyday till you get relief from sour stomach
14. Aniseed
What you need: 1 tsp aniseed, water
How to do:
- Put 1 tsp aniseed in a cup
- Pour some water over it
- Let it soak overnight
- Next morning drink the aniseed tea on an empty stomach
How it works: Whether it is painful stomach aches or cramps, aniseed tea works best in giving you relief.
15. Bale
What you need: Pulp of bale, buttermilk
How to do:
- Mix bale pulp with a glass of butter milk
- Drink it
How it works: Consider bale pulp in order to get rid of stomach ache. It is effective home remedy and won’t let you down.
16. Dates
What you need: Few dates, and some honey
How to do:
- Just make a paste out of few dates
- Now mix it with some honey
- Consume it
How it works: Did you know, dates are a high-fibre fruit which is a popular natural remedy for constipation and sour stomach?
How frequent to use: Have the date and honey paste thrice a day for relief from sour stomach.
17. Thyme Tea
What you need: 1 tsp dried thyme leaves, 1 cup water
How to do:
- Boil a cup of water
- Add 1 tsp dried thyme leaves to it
- Allow it to steep for 10 min
- Strain the solution
- Drink the thyme tea daily (on an empty stomach).
How it works: Thyme stimulates the digestive system, helps in case you are down with stomach cramps, and relieves gas pressure.
How frequent to use: Three times daily for best results
18. Parsley
What you need: Parsley leaves
How to do:
- Take a bunch of parsley leaves
- Soak them in water for 2 hours
- Now drink the water during the course of the day
How it works: Parsley helps immensely in putting a stop to gas and flatulence. Plus it is a noted treatment for stomach upset.
19. Peppermint Tea
What you need: 1 bag of peppermint tea, a cup of boiling water
How to do:
- Steep a peppermint tea bag in boiling water for 3 minutes and drink it
How it works: Peppermint tea helps reduce nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, gas formation in stomach and indigestion. Plus, “Menthol” in peppermint, has anti-bacterial properties which fight bacteria that cause gut disturbances.
How frequent to use: Drink 3 to 4 cups of peppermint day in a day to experience relief from sour stomach
Tip: If you don’t have a peppermint tea bag, then you can make up for it by boiling fresh mint leaves in a mug containing boiling water. And then, letting it steep for 5 minutes.
20. Fennel Tea
What you need: Fennel seeds, 2 cups water, and a spoon
How to do:
- Crush 2 tsp fennel seeds with a spoon
- Get a saucepan. Pour water into it and add the fennel seeds
- Simmer it on low heat
- Then steep it for 3 minutes
- Strain the tea, sip it and enjoy
How it works: Fennel seeds are not only good for taste; it also keeps gastro-intestinal problems at a distance and keep your gut healthy. It has also been used to treat indigestion.
Tip: You can also use fennel root and fennel leaves for the tea preparation.
21. Ginger Tea
What you need: 1 tbsp ginger (freshly grated), 2 cups water
How to do:
- Peel off the ginger root
- Now grate 1 tablespoon ginger
- Put the grated ginger in a saucepan containing two cups of water (already boiled)
- With the saucepan covered by a lid, steep the ginger concoction
- Strain the tea and sip it
How it works: Ginger has a triple effect: it is anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous that protects your digestive tract.
Tip: For added flavor, you can add cinnamon and honey to the ginger tea
22. Yogurt
What you need: Pro-biotic curd
How it works: The pro-biotic qualities of yogurt make it a good cure. And naturally because it brings relief from digestive discomfort and also boosts your immune system.
Tip: When you are down with upset stomach, remember to go in for non-fat plain yogurt (without added sugar or flavours).
Foods to Avoid
Here is the Checklist:
Refined Sugar: Sweet foods and super-sweet foods can cause spikes in insulin levels. This, in turn, can cause fluctuations in blood sugar.
Dairy Products: Excess of lactose consumption (milk) can develop into diarrhoea. Whenever you are down with digestive problems, go ahead and try lactose-free milk, instead. Eat yogurt and hard cheeses because they have no lactose.
Spicy Foods: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea – if you are down with any of these – then avoid food choices which includes spicy foods.
Acidic Foods: Yes we all like tomato sauce and citrus fruits (lime, lemon, oranges, grapefruit) but since they are acidic in nature they can irritate the stomach lining leading to digestive troubles.
Fatty Foods: Intake of fatty foods slows down the emptying of the stomach, worsens constipation. It can also speed up the bowl movement leading to diarrhoea. So ditch the high-fat culprit foods like butter, cheese, red meat, ice cream, at least for a while.
Prevention & Precautions
Here are some DIY tips which will help you get relief from sour stomach:
- Stay away from overly salty, fatty or greasy foods
- Take plenty of water throughout the day – about 8 to 10 glasses
- Drink fruit juices. They help reliving sour stomach symptoms
- Avoid snacking or eating hours before you sleep. Instead, do a light walk in your house or nearby park.
- Give up habits such as smoking, drinking alcohol, tobacco chewing and late night parties.
- Do 20 minutes of yoga every day.
- Eat meals in smaller portions but frequently.
- Get your lifestyle habits in order. Give up the policy of waking up and sleeping late.
- Light exercise and morning walks have always been beneficial. So include it in your daily itinerary
- Make your most to avoid eating street-side foods.
When to consult doctor?
Before taking any medication, take advice from a registered medical practitioner. In case the severity of your sour stomach is beyond the scope of natural remedies, then it makes sense to take medical advice.
I hope this article was helpful to you in many ways.
Do write in your comments and add additional tips (if you have any besides the ones mentioned).
