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Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners
What is the quickest remedy for an upset stomach?
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What is the quickest remedy for an upset stomach? My biggest fear is that I eat something bad and get the runs before a meeting, during a camping trip, and so on. Whats the best quick fix for something like this? -
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Hanan Saleh
Dietitian
Hanan Saleh specialises in infant & child nutrition. With additional qualifications from the Royal Hospital for Children in Melbourne Victoria. Hanan can help you with … View Profile
If by an upset stomach you mean diarrhea, then an antidiarrheal such as Imodium or Gastro Stop would probably be your first treatment because that will help right away. Then, straight after or during these kind of ill feelings, it's best to use rehydration solutions and drink plenty of water. You can drink very light versions of chamomile tea and peppermint tea because they're quite soothing during these times. It is important to avoid dairy. When you have this kind of upset stomach, diarrhea is actually a temporary form of lactose intolerance. Avoid dairy, caffeine, alcohol, and fried foods - keep them off the menu for a while until you feel better.
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Sarah George
Dietitian
Sarah George graduated from Deakin University with a Master of Dietetics. In the following years she has completed further training in paediatric nutrition at the … View Profile
Firstly, you want to identify what is the cause of your upset stomach. Getting the runs before an important meeting can be a result of nerves or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some people with IBS also suffer from food intolerance and identifying food triggers which might make these symptoms worse can reduce them significantly, even if you’re still a little nervous. If your bowels are worse when you’re nervous, an Accredited Practising Dietitian specialising in food intolerance will be able to help you identify if their are any additional food triggers which may reduce your symptoms.
To prevent an upset stomach when you’re travelling (including camping when food safety is likely to be compromised) you might consider taking an over the counter probiotic. Probiotics are healthy bacteria which can live in our digestive system. There’s always bacteria in our digestive system and the more ‘good’ bacteria there is, the less room there is for ‘bad’ bacteria which can cause diarrhoea and stomach upsets. Most probiotics need to be stored in the fridge, but if you’re travelling there are a few which are stable at room temperature. Ask your pharmacist for more information.
If you have diarrhoea it’s probably wise to consult your GP to determine the cause of the diarrhoea, as just stopping it is not always the best option. Diarrhoea is your body’s way of getting rid of something it is reacting to so keeping it in is not always wise. Your GP may recommend some over the counter medications such as Imodium or Gastro-stop to give you some relief.
Whatever the cause, or the treatment, if you have diarrhoea it is important to stay hydrated so make sure to drink plenty of fluids, and if the diarrhoea/vomiting continues you may need re-hydration solutions to restore any lost electrolytes. Again, you should consult your GP if the diarrhoea continues.
In some cases it may also help to avoid stomach irritants such as caffeine and alcohol until you feel better. After severe gastro, you may even be recommended to reduce your lactose load. Only do this on expert advise as doing it unnecessarily can actually reduce your lactose tolerance.Report this post
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