15 Wonderful Ways to Heal a Tummy Ache to Have You Feeling Better Quickly ...

I never, ever go without having peppermint tea and food grade peppermint extract or peppermint oil in my cabinet, because peppermint is one of the best ways to heal a tummy ache fast. I drink peppermint tea at breakfast and with lunch and dinner, and sometimes I’ll make a peppermint mocha as my morning coffee with peppermint extract, and use it in my smoothies too. Peppermint eases inflammation in the stomach, eases food through the stomach and sends a major stress-reducing effect through the body. It can even ease a headache too, as a major bonus! I like Celestial Seasonings brand, which is cheap, it smells great, is made with high volatile peppermint oils, and it is more potent than most brands I’ve tried as well.

Here’s a fabulous tip that is great for stomach pain and overall inflammation too: use raw ginger root or powdered ginger in your smoothies. Why smoothies? They are easy to digest and a go-to for me to get in nutrition, while being easy on digestion. Their cooling effect is also great for an upset stomach. Ginger tea is also great, and you can use ginger root in your herbal tea, or powdered ginger. I like adding it to my smoothies because it aids the digestion of other foods and it tastes amazing! Ginger is warming to the stomach, which increases blood flow to the stomach. It is great for reducing nausea and inflammation and can offset any imbalances in the digestive tract.

Raw apple cider vinegar is extremely rich in enzymes that aid digestion, pro-biotics that feed healthy bacteria in the gut which aid digestion, and it improves the pH of the stomach, helping to ease pain. I make an apple cider vinegar tea by making a cup of peppermint herbal tea, adding some lemon and stevia, and lastly, a drop of apple cider vinegar. Within 10 minutes, my stomach is usually fine again, and as a nice boost, apple cider vinegar eases joint pain and gives you a little energy boost.

I never, ever go without digestive enzymes. Recently, my mom has been suffering heartburn, and I told her to incorporate these into her routine and she noticed immediate improvement. Digestive enzymes are great for tons of reasons, but my favorite is the benefits they have on digestion. When digestion isn’t working efficiently due to stress, hormone fluctuations, lack of sleep, eating the wrong foods, or eating the wrong combination of foods, we can get a tummy-ache. Take digestive enzymes with each meal, which helps break down food in the stomach and ease digestion to eliminate tummy-aches.

Along with digestive enzymes, probiotics are very important. As most of you know, probiotics, such as those in fermented foods like sauerkraut and yogurt, are wonderful for digestion. Just like digestive enzymes, probiotics help to reduce stomach inflammation, break down food, and can reduce intestinal gas and bloating that lead to pain. They also reduce constipation and help eliminate waste. I take a supplement of at least 5 billion units , and take it three times a day with each major meal. If you need a more potent supply, feel free to use one, especially if you suffer Candida overgrowth or extreme IBS.

Most dairy foods are horrible for digestion and stomach aches, but for some people, small amounts of yogurt actually help. Don’t go for any that contain artificial sugar or added sugar though, or they’ll just make things worse. Go for plain, organic no-fat Greek yogurt and add some stevia and cinnamon to sweeten. Yogurt contains calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin B12, which all help ease nervous tension, including the tension in your stomach. This can calm the gut, and the probiotics eat up most of the lactose in dairy that causes issues for people with stomach issues.

Another trick I have found to be useful in stomach aches, especially indigestion and bloating, is to either sit with my legs tucked to my left side, or if I’m in bed, lay on my left side. The digestive tracts moves down in the direction that your colon transcends down into when you lay on your left side, which can help food move through the stomach more efficiently. Whatever you do, don’t lay down after a meal, or eat standing up consistently, which all can cause indigestion and poor digestion.

Yoga twists, and positions like downward dog can help food move through your system, reduce gas, and help with overall stomach function. It also reduces stress. Stress reduction is important for taking away a tummy ache because your parasympathetic system is the calming system in the body that creates peristalsis where wastes move through your system. Anytime you have a bowel movement and your digestion is spot on, you’ll notice you’re most likely in a very calm state. This is because when our nervous systems are balanced and relaxed, our bowels move more efficiently. In fact, 90% of your serotonin levels are manufactured in your gut, and 95% of your nerves that connect to your brain are located in your gut, so when you’re relaxed, so is your gut! Yoga has been proven to ease nervous tension, aid in digestion and improve peristalsis.

There is no better calming mineral besides calcium, than magnesium. I honestly believe this is nature’s most miraculous mineral because magnesium is great for many, many things, including a terrible tummy ache. If you’re stressed, or your stomach is stressed, magnesium can help calm you and your body down. It will ease pain, reduce stress and aid in constipation. I also recommend taking it if a stomach ache is keeping you up at night. Though it isn't a direct stomach aid, it eases stress that can be associated with stomach pain, which has major benefits to pain, constipation and gas. Avoid magnesium hydroxide which is a harsh laxative and go for magnesium citrate or a magnesium complex. I like Nature’s Life Magnesium with Vitamin B6 for extra calming properties. A 400-500 mg supplement per day is best for most women, or more if you’re extremely active.

I know a stomach ache can make you want to curl up on the couch, but walking is one of the most wonderful things you can do for a stomach ache. Walking increases the rate that food moves through the stomach and it is a simple way to help eliminate gas from the body, which eases pain and bloating. It can aid in indigestion and reduce inflammation in the stomach as well. If you can just walk 20-30 minutes when you have a stomach ache, try to. More than likely you’ll feel much better and your digestion will be back on track sooner rather than later.

I have a little secret tip to give you guys! I keep a container of fennel seeds and anise seeds in my purse and chew them after meals. In ancient Chinese medicine, these seeds are used as a digestive aid and a breath freshener. I’ve found them extremely helpful for chewing right after a meal, and you only need an itty bitty bit. Just chew them up and their natural bitter oils will help aid the digestive process right along. They also take away garlic breath, which is a nice added bonus!

Oh how I love broccoli, but my belly does not! The most healthy veggies, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and brussel sprouts are amazing for you, but they can send your stomach into a rollercoaster kind of nightmare! Avoid them when you having a tummy ache, since they contain fibers that are very hard to break down. Instead opt for veggies and leafy greens like spinach, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots. These are much easier to digest. Even better? Eat soup made with these veggies, which is excellent for a tummy ache and one of my best cure-alls of all time.

Soluble fiber helps to soak up toxins and excess food in the stomach, helping to increase the speed of elimination and soaking up excess gas, while easing pain. Soluble fiber is found in chia seeds, pumpkin, winter squash, sweet potatoes, wild rice, quinoa, peas and carrots. Eat more of these foods when you have digestive upset instead of raw cruciferous veggies, beans, and nuts, which can be rough on a testy tummy.

Fruit is a perfectly healthy food, but it is digested quicker than any other food, so if you eat fruit after eating other foods, it can result in indigestion in a compromised digestive tract. If you want to eat fruit, stick with lower sugar sources like berries, which won't ferment in the gut as easily due to their lower sugar content, and eat them first thing in the morning. Fruits also contain natural healthy acids, but when mixed with other acidic foods, you may notice your stomach hurts and this is why. Eliminate the fruit, and most likely, while you have a tummy ache, you’ll see improvements. Then, when you’re better, experiment with using them again.

Overall, an alkaline diet that is low in acid producing foods, can help reduce inflammation in the gut and ease stomach pain. This is an easy way to ease a tummy ache fast. My favorite remedy? Green juice or a green smoothie with more greens than fruit are my top two ways to make my body more alkaline. I love a romaine,cucumber, carrot, lemon and ginger juice for a tummy-ache, or a protein green smoothie with protein powder, spinach, stevia, ginger and cinnamon with almond milk.

Tummy aches are no fun and they hurt something terrible! I’ve learned to work with my stomach, instead of against it. You should also reduce all your excess sugar intake and processed food intake if you have a tummy ache. These foods are horrible for inflammation and can make your stomach ache much worse, even if you follow the above tips. Do you get tummy aches often? If so, what are your favorites way to ease tummy pain? I’m always looking for new tips, so don’t be shy!