Indigestion Diet

Indigestion can be temporarily eased with the help of antacids and other medications, but the only true treatment for indigestion is an indigestion diet that helps you deal with the classic symptoms of this condition. The discomfort associated with indigestion usually starts when you have overeaten or stuffed yourself with unhealthy foods that do not suit your digestive system. This could include fatty and fried foods or food that your stomach is sensitive to.

Doctors often recommend some basic dietary guidelines to follow when you are experiencing indigestion. Here are some suggestions for diet for indigestion problem:

• Consume a balanced meal with lots of roughage.
  Fiber and roughage allows your food to move smoothly down the alimentary canal. It also aids digestion and helps you keep your digestive system healthy.
• Eat small portions of food so that you avoid overeating. Instead of consuming three large meals in a day, divide them into six small meals interspersed throughout the day. This helps ease indigestion as your digestive system gets regular breaks and does not have to over work.
• Have a small bowl of yogurt after your meal. Yogurt helps soothe the irritation in the digestive tract and decreases the symptoms of indigestion. Yogurt is one of the best foods for indigestion.
• When cooking, include certain healthy spices in your recipes. Herbs and spices such as basil, cardamom seeds, ginger, caraway seeds, cloves, cayenne, spearmint, cumin seed, turmeric, rosemary, alfalfa and ginger can help soothe the digestive system and promote digestion.
• Eat your meals slowly and avoid missing even a single one of them. Skipping meals can only intensify indigestion and heartburn.
• Avoid eating a large meal, especially right before going to bed. Keep an interval of at least two hours between your last meal and your bedtime. Doctors recommend having an early dinner every day.

Certain foods can aggravate indigestion and therefore should be avoided. Some of the foods to avoid during indigestion include:

• Gas producing foods such as beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli.
• Coffee and other caffeinated foods and beverages.
• Carbonated drinks with or without any caffeine.
• Fried foods or other foods high in fat and sodium.
• Pickles and pickled or fermented foods.
• Acidic foods including citrus fruits and fruit juices. You may also want to avoid other acidic foods such as tomatoes and onions as these can cause heartburn.
• Chocolates and peppermint

Indigestion and Food Poisoning

Though it is not common, food poisoning may often cause indigestion as a symptom. Many people who consume contaminated foods, experience gastric symptoms such as heartburn, bloating, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, almost all of which are also symptoms of indigestion. Doctors often get confused between indigestion and food poisoning, especially when the latter does not manifest any severe or life threatening symptoms.

In mild cases of food poisoning, the symptoms can be controlled at home with the help of over the counter medications. However, in severe cases such as salmonella poisoning, direct treatment and hospitalization may be required. Indigestion after food poisoning can be usually controlled with the help of indigestion medications and antacids. The treatment of food poisoning can help treat the symptoms of indigestion.

Nutrition for Indigestion

There are no specific nutritional guidelines for indigestion. Most people are able to consume regular meals despite their indigestion. Apart from the foods to eat and the foods to avoid during indigestion, there are no other specific instructions that doctors offer. They do, however, feel that maintaining a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle can help improve your overall health and prevent indigestion.

If you experience indigestion regularly, consult your healthcare practitioner and get yourself tested for allergies or disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome. Indigestion like symptoms often occur due to ulcers in the stomach. Your doctor can diagnose the exact problem and offer you nutritional advice accordingly. The doctor can also suggest vitamins and supplements that can help you.

Additional Info

Causes

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Cancer
• Abnormality of the pancreas or bile ducts
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Food Poisoning

Symptoms

• Feeling of fullness during and after a meal. The person may feel full as soon as they begin eating and may find themselves unable to finish the entire meal.
• Bloating and discomfort. The person may feel as if the food remains in the stomach for too long.
• Pain in the area between the breastbone and navel. This could be caused due to severe gas and bloating.
• Burning sensation in the chest. This is known as heartburn.

Treatment

The remedies for indigestion are largely dietary in nature. Consume small meals and avoid overeating. Chew a few pieces of curry leaves or sweet basil after each meal to aid in digestion. Mint and fennel are also known to be excellent remedies for indigestion.

Prevention

Preventive measures primarily involve avoiding foods that could aggravate and trigger indigestion and other dietary problems. In addition to your diet and eating habits, levels of physical activity do influence the digestive function as well, and it would be advisable to get some amount of physical activity daily.

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