Read more about our vetting process. Was this helpful? Some people have health conditions that make many foods hard to digest. Foods that are easier to digest include toast, white rice, bananas, eggs, chicken, salmon, gelatine, applesauce, and oatmeal.
The acronym “BRAT” stands for bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast. These bland foods are gentle on the stomach, so they might help prevent further stomach upset.
Pasta, white rice, and cereals such as cream of wheat, farina, oatmeal, and cornflakes are OK. You may also try pancakes and waffles made with white flour, and cornbread.
Yoghurt is rich in probiotics or good bacteria and yeasts that help maintain good gut health. Having a little yoghurt during a stomach upset may help relieve diarrhoea.
Foods high in starch — such as saltines, bread, and toast — help absorb gastric acid and settle a queasy stomach.
Burnt Toast Settles an Upset Stomach
You know that toast is one of the best stomach ache remedies, but burnt toast is even better because the char absorbs toxins that are making you feel ill. Add a smear of jelly to make it more palatable.
Toast is easier to digest than bread as the toasting process breaks down some of the carbohydrates. Toast can help decrease nausea and reduce heartburn, but not all toast is the same. Whole wheat bread is more healthful than white bread but is high in fiber and can be difficult for some people to eat.
Scrambled eggs are a common go-to for those suffering from an upset stomach for a reason. They are light while being consumed and gentle on the stomach during digestion.
Yogurt. If you eat Greek or Icelandic yogurt, like Skyr, you're getting gut-friendly probiotics to help keep nausea and stomach problems at bay. Try a small helping of these yogurts before head out the door or when you feel nausea coming on.
Evidence suggests honey might help relieve gastrointestinal tract conditions such as diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis. Honey might also be effective as part of oral rehydration therapy.
The well-known BRAT diet—bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast—fits the bill nicely. Other foods recommended on a diarrhea diet include soft-cooked eggs, low-fat yogurt, clear soups and broths, plain pasta, and soda crackers, like Saltines. Avoid foods that are high in fiber, acidic, or high in fat.
Don't Eat: Dairy
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.
Boiled potatoes: Bland carbohydrates like potatoes improve the digestive system during stomach upset. Boiled potatoes lower vomiting tendency, take up excess fluid, and tightens stool. Add a pinch of salt and pepper to boiled potatoes for better taste. You can even mix it with white rice for best results.
1. Greek yogurt. Because it's been fermented and strained, Greek yogurt is lower in lactose and easier for most people to digest than a glass of cow's milk. Most Greek yogurts also contain probiotics that help increase the good bacteria in your gut.
On the other hand, berries and citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruit, contain less fructose, making them easier to tolerate and less likely to cause gas. Bananas are another low-fructose fruit that are fiber-rich and contain inulin, a substance that stimulates the growth of good bacteria in the gut.
Food eaten with high fiber and fat content are the worst foods for the body to digest. Low-fat meats like fish and chicken are easier to digest than higher-fat meats like beef and pork.
Upset stomachs can be caused by infections or stomach acid, or they can be a symptom of another condition including ulcers, dyspepsia or gastroparesis. If patients wonder what to take for stomach pain, there are a wide range of over-the-counter medications available.