Happy Monday everyone!  Are you having a case of the Monday’s?  I was at a pool party yesterday and everyone was eating the traditional hamburgers, hot dogs and nothing of any nutritional value.  I remember a time when it was okay to have these things as a part of our everyday diet. As we get older, our stomachs don’t want to participate like they have in the past.  Having an upset stomach is no fun whatsoever, and I’m sure eating may be one of the last things on your mind.  Trust me, this feeling will also pass (no pun intended) and  it’s still important to fuel your body the right way. Since I’ve also been down this road and am not anticipating days like this during the upcoming football season, I’ve researched some home remedies to fix your upset stomach.

I remember the days when we looked at our older counterparts and used to laugh at all of the antacid commercials.  Where did the good times go?  Why are we continuing to put our bodies through such ongoing punishment?  While it is always best to avoid any foods that are particularly greasy or sugary, especially fried foods, I am definitely a realist in knowing that we (including me) will not cut these habits out of our diets completely.  This will not be an article about eating tree bark!

It is important to remember that dehydration is always a concern when it comes to illness, especially if your upset stomach involves vomiting or diarrhea. Staying hydrated is imperative since your body needs the precious water to help flush out any waste, bacteria or virus that may be causing your upset stomach.  I know it was over ninety degrees yesterday and many people were drinking beer and other alcohol-related beverages.   While water, hot teas, and sports drinks are always a good alternative, popsicles are an excellent way to keep yourself hydrated without drinking. Who said popsicles were just for kids?

So what if you tried “everything” to prevent a stomach ache and you are still bent over in the fetal position the next day?  Teas are an especially good choice especially if you use some old-fashioned herbal knowledge to brew a great stomach-soothing mix.  Fennel and ginger is great since the fennel is a natural remedy for gas and stomach cramps, and ginger is a fabulous natural soother of upset stomachs.  I’ve noticed our culture is gaining a greater acceptance in drinking tea versus tea lately and here’s another argument to continue with this trend.

I’m really considering buying stock in some of the soda companies that create all of the great ginger ale for us to drink during times like these!  Joking aside,  it is worth noting that modern ginger ale has little to no actual ginger in it, so unless you just enjoy drinking it when you are feeling queasy, it really is not helping you and it is more of a old wives tale for soothing.  Don’t throw out the bottle just yet.  You may be comforted in noticing that the carbonation in modern ginger ale and other sodas is sometimes soothing and can definitely be a good choice as long as they are non-caffeinated since the caffeine can upset your stomach even more.

Lastly, just like when we were in elementary school, solid foods like soups with plain broths or chicken noodle are always a good choice. Remember chicken noodle with the stars?  (I digress) They are ever so gentle on our systems, and they are comforting as you remember the good days when Mom used to take care of you.  Other bland foods like apple sauce, oatmeal, bananas, crackers, rice and boiled chicken I’m sure are in our refrigerators and cabinets for such and emergency so you can feel confident making a meal out of any of them.

In closing, home remedies to fix your upset stomach or over the counter medicines can take care of these annoying minor aches that we sometimes inflict on ourselves.  If these issues persist, it is important to always seek medical attention from professionals in case the pain persists.

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