There comes a time in everyone’s life where you are ill causing irritation to one’s digestive system. It may be a result of a common cold or a more serious condition such as heartburn, morning sickness, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach flu. Potential side effects include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, lack of appetite, bloating, gas and uncomfortableness as your body digests a meal.
In any case, your body still needs energy to get better, there are foods that are better than others for easy digestion. As a general rule, foods that are high in fiber or fat are difficult on the digestive system. Spicy, fried, artificially sweetened and acidic foods should be avoided as well.
Read below for eight foods that are easy on the digestive system.
1. White Rice
In general, rice is a great source of carbohydrates for the body to use as energy. Some types of rice are more difficult to digest because of the richness in fiber, such as wild rice and brown rice. On the other hand, white rice is easy for your body to digest and will not cause excessive bloating or gas.
2. Bananas
Like most fruits, bananas are a good source of carbohydrates, particularly when they’re ripe. Bananas are not acidic unlike other fruits, like oranges, which can irritate your stomach. In addition, bananas have lots of potassium which usually needs to be replenished after diarrhea.
3. Saltine Crackers
Because saltine crackers are bland and full of carbohydrates, they are a good option when you are experiencing stomach problems. The salt on the top of the crackers is beneficial too if you are dehydrated as a result of vomiting or diarrhea.
4. Applesauce
Apples on their own possess a high amount of fiber which is good for the body, but not when you are having stomach issues. Applesauce is a good alternative because there is less fiber and the apples are broken down into liquid making digestion easier.
Applesauce contains pectin, a type of soluble fiber, that is good for treatment of diarrhea. There is a lot of sugar and carbohydrates in apples which will give you an energy boost when you’re ill. Although, apples can irritate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), substitute applesauce with blueberries or grapes if this is the case.
5. Toast
As with rice, not all types of bread are easily digestible. Whole wheat or whole grain breads are usually culprits that are difficult to digest due to their high fiber content. To be safe, stick to white bread because it is bland and composed of simple, easily digestible carbohydrates.
Toast is good for symptoms such as heartburn and nausea. Skip butter or any other high fat topping for your toast as these can irritate your digestive system if you are sensitive.
6. Sweet Potatoes
There is a lot of soluble fiber in sweet potatoes which makes them easy to digest and also good for the healthy bacteria in your gut. As with bananas, they are high in potassium which likely needs to be replenished if you have been sick.
Make sure to cook the sweet potatoes in a way where no oil or other irritable ingredients are used such as baking or boiling.
7. Eggs
Both the yolk and egg whites are good for digestion and provides ample protein which is needed as a part of a regular diet. Its best to eat scrambled or boiled eggs when you are having stomach problems as opposed to other cooking methods. As an added bonus, eggs are also great fertility boosting foods to eat for women.
8. Chicken
Chicken is a lean source of protein which has no fiber thereby making it ideal for people with digestion issues. Baked and grilled chicken are best, oil and fat in fried chicken can irritate digestive related symptoms.