Feeling queasy, sick to your stomach, or downright nauseated? It's time to settle that belly… and fast. If you're not into modern medicine or don't have a bottle of Pepto on hand, turn to food and drink to make your nausea subside.
Natural cures have worked for centuries, so why not give these options a go the next time mom's meatloaf leaves you feeling like turning vegetarian or the turbulence on your flight has your stomach doing internal backflips. You'll feel better in no time, vomit-free and ready to take on the day!
1. Ginger
Ginger, consumed in nearly any form, is a terrific nausea reliever, and it tastes great too. As perEveryday Roots, "Ginger promotes the secretion of various digestive juices/enzymes that help neutralize stomach acid. It also contains phenols that relax stomach muscles and act similar to a sedative on irritated stomach tissue, reducing over activity of the stomach. At the same time, the phenols are helping your intestine move digested food and toxins through your system quicker, getting any bad stuff that may be making you feel ill pass faster."
Try some all-natural ginger ale (not the artificial stuff), ginger tea, simmer some into a light soup or stew, or opt for a ginger chew or candy. Before you know it, the nausea will be gone and you'll have a zippy aftertaste to keep that uneasy feeling at bay.
2. Peppermint
Aside from the benefits of fresh breath, peppermint is another nausea reliever that's been known to work wonders. According to Everyday Health, "Thanks to its calming and numbing effect, peppermint relaxes your stomach muscles so that bile can break down fats and food can move through the stomach quickly."
Try some peppermint tea, an all-natural peppermint candy, or even peppermint oil to sooth that upset stomach. One note: if you suffer from acid reflux issues, ask your doctor before popping the peppermint. Otherwise, get minty fresh and nausea-free.
3. Crackers
When you're nauseous, the blander, the better when it comes to eating. Plain crackers, like Saltines, are a great option for slowly getting some energy into your system while protecting your rumbling tummy.
As per Everyday Health, "Foods high in starch — such as saltines, bread, and toast — help absorb stomach acids and settle a queasy stomach. Nibble on a few plain crackers if you can't stomach anything else. They will absorb any funky stomach acids and coat your stomach nicely. Before long, you'll be able to enjoy something with a little more flair.
4. Banana
This time, it's not an apple that'll keep the doctor away, but a ripe banana instead. Bananas are bland like crackers, but supply a nice dose of potassium too which will need to be replenished if you've been vomiting.
Not to mention, bananas make for a tasty snack when you may not have eaten in a while. LikeNewsmax notes, "Fruit also makes a better-tasting food to overcome nausea when some foods can make people ill just from the smell of cooking them."
So peel that fruit and let it do its magic. Just don't slip on the peel on your way to the loo!
5. Sports Drinks
Sports drinks such as Gatorade make for a stomach soother sip by sip. Everyday Health notes, "While you may not be up for sports, sports drinks can help even non-athletes feel better when they're suffering from nausea."
Additionally, if part of your nausea caused you to vomit, the fluids will need to be replenished, so a sports drink will do your body a decent service. As Everyday Roots notes, "Even if you haven't thrown up yet, still make sure you're drinking plenty of water, as it is one of the most steadfast ways to relieve a feeling of queasiness."