Milk is a mixed bag for an upset stomach; it can offer temporary relief by coating the stomach, but it's often best to avoid it as it can stimulate more acid and is hard to digest, especially with lactose intolerance or a stomach virus, making bland foods like toast or low-fat yogurt better choices.
Milk has a lower pH than the gastric acid that the stomach secretes for digestion. Therefore, it was formerly believed that milk would help ease the acidity of an upset stomach. It does for a few hours, by coating the stomach lining and acting as a buffer against excess acid.
Dairy products like Milk, Cheese or Ice-cream: Milk, cheese, and ice cream are hard for your body to digest as they are high in fat. They should thus be avoided during a stomach upset. Plain low-fat yoghurt can, however, be good for your stomach health.
Foods That Help with Diarrhea
Clear, non-caffeinated sodas such as 7-Up, Sprite or ginger ale. Diluted juices such as apple, grape, cherry or cranberry (avoid citrus juices) Clear soup broth or bouillon. Popsicles.
Try hot or cold milk or milky drinks such as milkshakes, Horlicks or Ovaltine. Commercially available products such as Complan or Build Up may also be useful when your intake has been poor. It is important to do this as soon as possible but start with snacks and gradually build up to normal meals.
To settle your stomach in 5 minutes, try sipping ginger or peppermint tea, chewing mint gum, applying a warm compress to your abdomen for muscle relaxation, doing gentle abdominal squeezes, or having a few saltine crackers to absorb acid. For quick relief, focus on natural remedies like ginger (tea, candy) or peppermint (tea, gum) for soothing, while heat and bland foods (crackers, bananas) can calm irritation and muscle tension.
Lactose is one of the most common sources of gas-causing carbohydrate, affecting people who are "lactose intolerant," meaning they do not have the enzyme lactase needed to digest the carbohydrate. Typically, lactose is found in dairy products. Beans are the second most common carbohydrate implicated in gas production.
If you have an upset stomach, try to lie with your upper body upright or prop up your head, neck and chest with pillows.
Certain foods make an upset stomach worse
You can try the following home care steps to ease mild abdominal pain:
Milk might provide brief relief, but it also increases stomach acid, which can worsen symptoms. Your doctor may recommend taking antacids or other drugs to reduce acid in the stomach. Talk with a health care provider if you're concerned about ongoing pain or discomfort in your stomach.
Drink Warm Water
Water plays a key role in digestion and can really help calm your stomach lining. If you opt for warm water, that's even better, as it helps relax your stomach muscles and can ease any discomfort you might be feeling. Just remember to take slow sips instead of gulping it down all at once.
Milk, cheese, and ice cream are all no-no's with an upset stomach. They're hard for your body to digest, in part because they're high in fat. Plain, nonfat yogurt may be OK sometimes, but start with a little and see how it goes.
Avoid carbonated beverages. Soda and other carbonated beverages introduce excess air into the digestive system, which leads to more bloating and gas. Instead, drink still or flat water or try peppermint, chamomile or ginger tea after meals, which can help promote digestion and soothe your gut.
Feeling sick and being sick. Feeling full after eating. Stomach pain often described as “burning” or “gnawing”. Very rarely, severe gastritis can cause bleeding, which may cause the stool to turn black (called melaena.)
Eat Something Bland.
While doctors no longer recommend exclusively eating bland food while you're feeling ill, eating a few bland foods throughout the day might help ease your troubled tummy. Try lightly salted crackers, unbuttered popcorn, bananas or plain rice to help give your upset stomach time to recover.
Paracetamol is usually best for most types of pain, including headaches and stomach ache. Ibuprofen may be better for period pain or toothache.
Dairy milk has a small amount of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that triggers both melatonin (to help you sleep) and serotonin (to uplift your mood). The high-quality proteins in milk (including whey and casein) leave you feeling full and satisfied so you won't go to bed feeling hungry.
To relieve nausea fast, try sipping ginger or peppermint tea, eating bland foods like crackers or toast, getting fresh air, using aromatherapy (lemon/peppermint), or trying acupressure at the P6 point on your wrist, focusing on hydration with small sips of clear fluids and avoiding strong smells or greasy foods.
When your child can drink without vomiting, gradually increase the amount. If they still vomit, wait 30 to 60 minutes, and start again. Do not force your child to drink or wake them up to drink if they are sleeping. Do not give any kind of milk or yogurt drinks until the vomiting has stopped for 8 hours.
Drink plenty of clear fluids such as water. Reduce your intake of coffee, tea and alcohol as these can make the pain worse. When you are allowed to eat again, start with clear liquids, then progress to bland foods such as crackers, rice, bananas or toast. Your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods.