Food for Settling Your Stomach
An upset stomach is one of the more helpless and uncomfortable feelings you can experience. Your mother probably gave you plenty of advice about foods and home remedies that can settle your stomach. You may be surprised to learn that there is actually a scientific basis for many of those tips and that clinical studies have shown some of those foods to be effective in treating nausea brought on by different conditions, including pregnancy, chemotherapy, and surgery.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Ginger
Ginger has been used to treat stomach conditions as well as a variety of others illnesses for thousands of years (See Reference 1, page 3). Ginger can be consumed in several different ways, including as a spice in food and drinks, in tea, or in capsule or powder form (See Reference 1, page 3).
Many studies have been conducted that show that ginger can be an effective remedy for different types of nausea. In a study of 70 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting, 32 women received 1 gram of ginger a day for four days while 35 received a placebo. 28 of the 32 women receiving ginger had improvement in their nausea symptoms while only 10 out of 35 women in the placebo group reported a reduction in nausea. (See Reference 2). In another study funded by the National Cancer Institute, 576 cancer patients suffering from nausea related to chemotherapy were given different doses of ginger supplements before and after chemotherapy 3. All doses of ginger were effective at reducing nausea with lower doses being the most effective (See Reference 3).
- Ginger has been used to treat stomach conditions as well as a variety of others illnesses for thousands of years (See Reference 1, page 3).
- In another study funded by the National Cancer Institute, 576 cancer patients suffering from nausea related to chemotherapy were given different doses of ginger supplements before and after chemotherapy 3.
Peppermint
Ginger Candy & Nausea
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Peppermint has a calming and numbing effect and is a common flavoring in toothpastes, gum, and teas (See Reference 4). Brushing your teeth, drinking peppermint tea, or sucking on peppermint candies can help to reduce nausea that occurs after meals (See Reference 1, page 3). A 1997 study by researchers in England showed that inhaling peppermint oils can relieve nausea in patients that have undergone major gynecological surgery (See Reference 5).
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are commonly recommended by doctors as remedies for nausea. In a survey of 488 obstetricians and gynecologists, 88.5% of those surveyed reported that they have recommended snacking on soda crackers to their patients to relieve nausea associated with pregnancy (See Reference 6). Eating simple, dry carbohydrates such crackers and biscuits before getting out of bed can be an effective remedy for dealing with morning sickness (See Reference 1, page 3).
Protein
The Best Foods to Eat While Nauseated & Pregnant
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Snacking on nuts and high protein foods can help to settle your stomach (See Reference 1, page 3). Studies have shown that meals high in protein may be effective at managing nausea. In a study by the University of Michigan Medical Center, nauseated women in their first trimester of pregnancy were given meals high in either protein, carbohydrates, or fat 4. Meals high in protein, which included liquid protein powder drinks and egg white, turkey, and ham omelets with white bread provided more relief from nausea and reduced abnormal electrical pulses in the stomach associated with nausea more than meals high in either carbohydrates or fats (See Reference 7).
Related Articles
References
- International Journal of Women’s Health: Optimal Management of Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy
- Obstetrics & Gynecology: Ginger for Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy Randomized, Double-Masked, Placebo-Controlled Trial
- Supportive Care in Cancer: Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) Reduces Acute Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea: A URCC CCOP Study of 576 Patients
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Peppermint
- Journal of Advanced Nursing: Peppermint Oil: A Treatment for Postoperative Nausea
- Primary Care Update for OB/GYNS: A Survey on the Management of Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy by Obstetrician/Gynecologists
- American Journal of Physiology: Protein Meals Reduce Nausea and Gastric Slow Wave Dysrhythmic Activity in First Trimester Pregnancy
- Ryan JL. Treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea in cancer patients. Eur Oncol. 2010;6(2):14-16.
- Marx W, Ried K, McCarthy AL, et al. Ginger-mechanism of action in chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: A review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017;57(1):141–146. doi:10.1080/10408398.2013.865590
- Panahi Y, Saadat A, Sahebkar A, Hashemian F, Taghikhani M, Abolhasani E. Effect of ginger on acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a pilot, randomized, open-label clinical trial. Integr Cancer Ther. 2012;11(3):204–211. doi:10.1177/1534735411433201
- Haniadka R, Rajeev AG, Palatty PL, Arora R, Baliga MS. Zingiber officinale (ginger) as an anti-emetic in cancer chemotherapy: a review. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(5):440–444. doi:10.1089/acm.2010.0737
- Arslan M, Ozdemir L. Oral intake of ginger for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among women with breast cancer. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2015;19(5):E92–E97. doi:10.1188/15.CJON.E92-E97
- Bossi P, Cortinovis D, Fatigoni S, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of a ginger extract in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients receiving high-dose cisplatin. Ann Oncol. 2017;28(10):2547–2551. doi:10.1093/annonc/mdx315
- Palatty PL, Haniadka R, Valder B, Arora R, Baliga MS. Ginger in the prevention of nausea and vomiting: a review. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2013;53(7):659-69. doi:10.1080/10408398.2011.553751
- WholeHealth Chicago. Ginger. Updated May 12, 2009.
- Oncology Nutrition: a Dietetic Practice Group of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietary supplements.
- Marx W, Mckavanagh D, Mccarthy AL, et al. The effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on platelet aggregation: a systematic literature review. PLoS ONE. 2015;10(11):e0143675. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0141119
- Chuah SK, Wu KL, Tai WC, Changchien CS. The effects of ginger on gallbladder motility in healthy male humans. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011;17(4):411-5. doi:10.5056/jnm.2011.17.4.411
- National Center for Complementary and integrative Health. Ginger. Updated November 30, 2016.
- Bossi, P., Cortinovis, D., Fatigoni, et al. A Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study of a Ginger Extract in the Management of Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) in Patients Receiving High Dose Cisplatin. Annals of Oncology. 2017. 28(10):2547-2551.
- Haniadka, R. et al. Zingiber officinale (Ginger) as an Anti-Emetic in Cancer Chemotherapy: A Review. Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2012.18(5):440-4.
- Jordan, K., Jahn, F., and M. Aapro. Recent developments in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV): a comprehensive review. Annals of Oncology. 2015.26(6):1081-90.
- Pillai, A. et al. Anti-emetic effect of ginger powder versus placebo as an add-on therapy in children and young adults receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy. Pediatric Blood and Cancer.2011.56(2):234-8.
Writer Bio
Previously working for the North Carolina Community College System, Rachel Morgan has been a freelance writer and editor for over six years. She has a bachelor's degree in public health as well as a master's degree in English.