In a country where some its best foods can be found at roadside food stalls and back alleys, there’s always a price to pay. A price which some of us can’t seem to stomach.
While we can’t tell you to avoid your favorite food haunts, many of us suffer quietly (or publicly on Facebook, eeww!) from stomach aches due to overeating, food intolerance or simply uncleanliness. Here are some simple, easy to obtain remedies to quickly put your stomach at ease!
Carbon pills
Carbon pills or charcoal pills are commonly used in emergency treatments for poisonings and drug overdoses to absorb whatever toxin there is in your stomach so that it does not get absorbed by your body. It is also used to cure flatulence and help upset stomachs. It is best consumed during your first hour of consuming the substance you are intolerant to.
Don’t rely on it all the time though because it can decrease your body’s absorption of other nutrients and any other medication you may be on but when it comes to food poisoning, it works like magic! Carbon pills can be found at any pharmacy for RM4.50 for 12 tablets.
Eno
Eno provides effective relief from indigestion, flatulence, and nausea. The formula neutralises stomach acid, bringing the system back to normal but don’t drink too much or you’ll end up bloated.
Gaviscon
With the amount of buffets and all you can eat eateries sprouting up across country, heartburn and indigestion have now become common everyday problems. When you eat frequent large meals, your stomach produces more acid to digest the food and by physically overfilling your tummy, it creates pressure and allows the acid to escape. This can result in bad breath which is acidic in nature. Irregular meal times or eating too quickly also means your acid levels become inconsistent as they do not know when to regulate.
For those with heartburn or acid indigestion, Gaviscon which comes in the form of tablets (RM18.90 for 16 tablets) or liquid (RM19.90) is the way to go.
Herbal remedies
If you’re not sure what foods are causing the stomach aches, drink some herbal beverages such as ginger ale, aloe vera juice and teas such as mint or chamomile to calm down the inner storm. Make sure they’re warm and sip them slowly.
If your stomach aches are caused by excessive acid production, try eating some crackers or toast as they help absorb the acid making it a little less comfortable.
Dairy
Milk can neutralize the acid while yogurt contains healthy bacterias or live cultures that kill off the nasties or bad bacterias caused by food that was not prepared properly. They’re cheap, delicious and good for your stomach.
If you often find yourself having stomach aches try avoiding foods that are spicy or contain onions and tomatoes. While most of us have the enjoy now, suffer later mentality, frequent stomach aches can be damaging to our stomach and will weaken it in the long run so a healthy diet is important.
Stay away from foods that you know you’re intolerant to and if you have a sensitive stomach, steer clear from roadside stalls. Seriously, three hours in the loo for 5 minutes of pleasure ain’t worth it.
