Some of the top and best possible dietetic changes for stomach and digestive system – Foods to take and avoid!

Make sure to avoid any ingredient or food you are allergic or intolerant to – discussed in this article!

Also speak to your doctor before making any changes in your treatment plan!

Foods to avoid for various stomach related disorders:

• As a general rule of thumb Avoid Highly Acidic Diet especially during stomach upset such as:
• Alcohol
• Coffee
• Soda
• Energy drinks
• White flour
• Red meat
• Processed meats
• Refined sugar
• Milk and dairy products.

Also remove or avoid caffeinated tea, sugary foods, processed foods, fried foods and salted foods.

Avoid Foods Known to Cause Gas

You’re most likely to get gas by eating carbohydrates, which are found in foods such as beans, lentils and legumes.

• Dairy products like milk, cheese, and ice cream
• Whole-grain foods – bran, oats, and yeast
• Soft drinks / Fruit drinks – Stay away from carbonated drinks, as drinking them directly causes gas.
• Certain fruits, like apples and pears
• Certain vegetables including broccoli, cabbage, artichokes, brussels sprouts, onions, radishes, and sweet potatoes

Eliminate red meat which create dampness, clogging up the digestive system.

“Empty calorie foods”– Foods that have a high number of calories, but little fiber or nutrients, should be reduced or eliminated.

Alcohol – Because it increases urine production and fluid loss and can make IBS or constipation worse.

Pasteurized dairy products – lactose intolerants become constipated from the over consumption of dairy products. Diarrhoea, abdominal pain and gas improve when limit or eliminate dairy products.

Caffeine has various effects on digestion – it can cause increased urine production, dehydration and worsen feelings of anxiety and constipation.

Avoid certain antacids, especially those containing aluminium, calcium, and iron supplements, as they can cause constipation.

Overall Good foods for digestive track.

The foods we eat is directly responsible for our stomach health – bloating, colic, hyperacidity or to produce intestinal gas etc.

• If you want to avoid a flare-up, it’s best to stop overloading your body with over-sized meals.
• By eating smaller meals, you put less stress on the gastrointestinal tract, which can help reduce symptoms like bloating, gas and cramping.

Add green Leafy Vegetables

Increasing the number of fruits and vegetables – especially raw, green veggies such as melons, figs, most ripe fruits, kelp, watercress, wheatgrass and most herbal teas – will help maintain a balanced pH level in your body.

Consume plenty of green vegetables like kale, broccoli, cucumbers, spinach, arugula, collards, green peppers, chard, lettuce, zucchini, artichokes, celery and green asparagus.

It is always best to eat these foods in their raw form to obtain their highest nutritional values.

Foods that reduce flatulence or gas include carrots, black pepper, coriander, chillies, cilantro, limes, lemons, and papaya. Dill, anise, parsley, cumin, caraway, turmeric, and seaweed are also helpful.

Food like asparagus, bananas, carrots, honey and oats make excellent addition to any Crohn’s disease diet.

Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil can help fight inflammation and reduce the chances of recurrence of Crohn’s, helps reduce inflammation in the intestinal mucosa.

Lemon Water – Start your day with warm lemon water, that will help to fix an acidic pH level.

• Lemon clears the body of excess acids and creates an alkaline-forming state.
• They also prevent growth of bacteria in your mouth.
• Plus, its strong pleasant smell helps mask the bad odour and dry mouth.
• You can add 2 teaspoons of raw manuka honey in the drink and drink daily first thing in the morning on an empty stomach to stimulate the natural peristalsis of the bowels and flushing out the system.

Drink Aloe Vera Juice

• Aloe vera is beneficial for people suffering from celiac disease.
• It help heal the inflammation of the small intestine, facilitate tissue repair, and promote proper digestion.
• This natural anti-inflammatory drink helps soothe the irritation in the digestive system and restore balance in the gut, regulates gastrointestinal pH balance and improving gastrointestinal motility and keeping the system regular.

Apples and pears contain a special type of fiber called pectin.

Pectin is an insoluble fiber that helps the stool become bulky, allowing it to pass through the digestive system easier and ease constipation.

Fennel seeds are useful in treating issues like indigestion, bloating, flatulence, nausea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome etc., as they encourage smooth muscle movement in the digestive tract and encourages expulsion of gas.

Fennel and anise seeds acts as an excellent mouth freshener that helps control bad breath.

• Take one cup of fennel seeds and dry roast them.
• Grind, strain, and store this tasty digestive powder in a jar.
• Take half a teaspoon of this powder daily with warm water.

 You can also drink fennel and anise tea a couple of times a day.

Figs are very high in fibre and act as a natural laxative. Those suffering from chronic constipation should include figs in their diet.

• Take two to three almonds and dried figs.
• Soak them in water for a few hours.
• Peel the almonds and grind the ingredients.
• Take this paste with one tablespoon of honey at night.

Castor Oil stimulates the small and large intestines and improves the bowel movement. Simply swallow one to two teaspoons of castor oil on an empty stomach. Add a tablespoon in a glass of warm milk or a fruit juice of your choice and drink before going to bed at night.

Grapes contain insoluble fibre that helps produce regular bowel movements. Eat a small bowl of grapes daily. Another option is put 10 to 12 dry seedless grapes or raisins in milk, boil it for a few minutes and drink the solution in the evening.

Beet-cabbage soup: Cook 1 cup peeled and chopped beets with 1 cup of chopped cabbage in a soup. Eat with dinner every other night for two weeks. This helps lubricate the bowels.

Prunes are high in fiber and tend to have a laxative effect. Stew 3 to 5 prunes lightly in water for 5 minutes. Eat the prunes and drink the juice before bedtime as needed.

Fenugreek seeds can help soften the stools, and also helps regulate blood sugar. Its tea is highly effective when bad breath is caused by catarrhal infections.

Boil a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in a cup of water. Strain and drink this tea once daily.

Senna leaves can be taken as a powerful laxative but should be used with caution. Limit its use to less than 10 days; otherwise, it can become addictive.

Psyllium husk: High in fiber and helpful for forming stool. When combined with water or another liquid, psyllium husk swells and produces more bulk, which stimulates the intestines to contract and helps speed the passage of stool through the digestive tract.

Green tea has many health-promoting benefits diseases due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic and antioxidant properties. Plus, a positive impact on the immune system, and even reduces the risk of colon cancer. It has also shown to inhibit the growth of H pylori bacteria and prevents gastric mucosal inflammation.

Black Seed – has many proven benefits including fighting H. pylori infections. Black seeds have acid reducing and gastro-protective abilities.

Broccoli Sprouts – contain antioxidant and detoxifying benefits. Broccoli, cabbage, radishes, kale, and many other vegetables are very potent at killing h. pylori.

Garlic is a natural anti-inflammatory with antibiotic properties. Consuming both cooked and raw may help to kill off Helicobacter pylori bacteria.

Cranberries – fight h pylori by killing the bacteria and preventing it from adhering to the stomach mucus.

Remember that cranberry juice you drink should be free of sugar and additives!

Ginger is one of the best natural cures for stomach bugs, and its benefits extend to h pylori infections too. It protects gastric mucus by reducing inflammation.

Pineapple juice is an effective treatment for bad breath.

Oranges. Many people have bad breath because they don’t produce enough saliva to wash away foul-smelling bacteria. Vitamin C content in oranges help increase saliva production, which can help eliminate bad breath and improve oral health.

Cinnamon not only covers up bad breath, but also reduces the number of bacteria in your mouth. It is also very soothing for stomach irritation and helps treat nausea or vomiting caused by indigestion, acid reflux and gas. Make cinnamon tea and drink daily. You may add some cardamom too.

Peppermint has a calming effect on the lining of the stomach that helps get rid of nausea and vomiting. Its antispasmodic and antiemetic properties also help prevent cramping.

For your particular health problem(s), or to change your medications it is strongly suggested to avoid self-medication and consult your GP / health provider or Mind & Body Holistic Health Clinic.

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