An upset stomach is an affliction that is common in people of all ages and walks of life. Stomach problems can be caused by a myriad of problems big and small including stress, food poisoning, food allergies and problems with digestion. Sometimes it is the littlest thing that you would not even think about that is causing your discomfort. Here are several ways to deal with an upset stomach.

Sometimes, it is not the food you are eating, but the lack of food that causes stomach problems. Eschewing food for extended periods can lead to a buildup stomach acid, which will cause a lot of discomfort. Your body is generally preconditioned to expect food at certain times of the day and ends up getting all its stomach juices flowing in anticipation of this. The best way to cure this type of stomach ailment is to eat a nice healthy snack to give these acids something to work on. Also, stay away from the soda pop. This will only make matters worse.

Oftentimes, it does happen to be the foods you are eating that are giving you a tummy ache. In this case, the best solution is to drink a good tea that will help settle your stomach and aid in digestion. A simple green tea is good as is tea made from chamomile, ginger, mint or cinnamon. A little honey or sugar added to the tea will benefit you as well. Tea has been used for stomach problems for centuries and will undoubtedly see continued use for generations to come.

Charcoal is another great way to cure an upset stomach. Just mix some activated charcoal with hot water and drink. Charcoal acts as a neutralizer, absorbing whatever is bothering you and taking it to the colon.

Well there are many other tried and true home remedies out there that are sure to help a given individual with an upset tummy, these are the simplest ones that usually always work. When looking to cure your stomach problems it is important to listen to your body and determine the cause before your try any of these simple little cures. 




There are more than 200 different types of food borne illness out there, caused by wide array of different viruses, bacteria, parasites and toxic agents. The symptoms of food poisoning (vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea) can show up in a little as 30 minutes or, in some cases. can take over the week to display themselves.

Food Poisoning can be divided into two categories: Infective Agents such as viruses, bacteria and parasites and Toxic agents such as chemicals, pesticides or poisonous foods. While the most common symptoms are vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea, other symptoms of food poisoning include chills, fevers, exhaustion, and dehydration. In some instances, food poisoning may present itself in unlikely forms such as weakness or muscle pain. Other times or your only symptom might be blood in your stool. This wide array symptoms and open window for their development can sometimes make it hard to properly diagnose a problem as food poisoning. Add to that the multitude of things that cause it, and you can understand why prevention  is a first priority.

Just to scare you further, let us look at the most popular types of food poisoning out there:

Campylobacter: this bacteria found in raw poultry, milk that has not been pasteurized, red meat and water from an untreated source. It can take up to a week to display symptoms and can also lead to more serious illness.

Salmonella: This is one of the most common types of food borne illness. The salmonella family of bacteria can be found in milk that has not been pasteurized, eggs, raw egg products, raw meat and poultry.

Shigella: another bacteria that can cause "traveler's diarrhea" and comes from contact with human waste.

Listeria: a rare but extremely dangerous bacteria that you can get from improperly prepared food.

E-coli: This intestinal bacteria which can be found in everything from ground meat to packaged spinach can cause severe vomiting, blood diarrhea and abdominal pain. It can also lead to kidney failure and blood damage.

Most cases of food poisoning generally take only a few days to clear up, leaving your system completely without the need of medical intervention. Recovery really depends on the severity of the infection and the general health and well being of the person.

Prevention is the best medicine

One of the surest ways that you can lower your risk of catching a food borne illness is to practice good hygiene. While the sign in the bathroom only requests employees to wash their hands, you should too after each time you use the toilet. Also wash with hot and soapy water every time you get ready to handle food, whether you are preparing it or eating it.

Handling your food in a safe manner and preparing it properly is also extremely important. Never store cooked food with raw food. Do not use food, especially meat, that is expired or happens to look a little "iffy", if you are not sure, toss it. Keep your cleaning products away from the food and make sure that fridge (34-39 degrees) and freezer (-18 degrees) are set to the correct temperatures.

Probiotic Prevention

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that can help fight of the pathogenic bacteria that can overwhelm you body. During times of stress, travel, illness, a change in diet, or if you are taking antibiotics, your body could do with an extra boost of billions good bacteria to help come to the aid of your weakened immune system. During these times, a high strength capsule containing lactobacillus acidophilus or bifidobacterium bifidum in recommended in lieu of eating all the yogurt that you can get your hands on. Probiotics are considered safe even in high dosages with no reported side effects. They are safe for pregnant women, lactaing women and young children to use. 

Other tips on recovery:

You can also take probiotics to help hasten recovery, but first wait until you feel ready to eat, letting your stomach rest first and then starting out with small sips of water and then gradually building up with more fluids to prevent dehydration caused by the symptoms. Avoid sports drinks and other drinks high in sugar, they might increase your diarrhea and avoid alcohol. In extreme case, see a doctor, who might find it necessary to administer antibiotics. When you can eat again, start with plain foods like rice, bread and potatoes. Last but not least, practice good hygiene to help stop the spread of the food borne illness.