3 Foods for the Stomach

A bowl of baby spinach.
People with poor stomach function can benefit from eating spinach regularly. (Image: Dlecic via Dreamstime)

The stomach is the digestive organ, which has the functions of digesting food and protecting the human body. For people suffering from stomach diseases, protecting this organ is very important. 

Generally, there are three manifestations of poor gastrointestinal (GI) health.

Manifestations of poor GI health

1. Weakness 

When the function of the stomach decreases, it can’t digest food well. Other organs will weaken due to insufficient nutrition, and people tend to find they feel tired. If people often feel weary, it is most likely because of decreased gastric function. 

2. Constipation 

Under normal circumstances, the spleen and stomach transport and transform water into body fluid for various organs. If the spleen and stomach’s abilities are weakened, this will lead to insufficient motility of the large intestine, resulting in functional constipation. 

3. Abdominal pain 

When the gastrointestinal function is impaired, it is easy to cause local pain, even accompanied by diarrhea symptoms. If you always feel abdominal pain, you need to know the reasons and get treatment.  

People with poor stomach function need to take good care of their diet to support their bodies. Three kinds of foods are recommended to be eaten regularly for stomach health. 

3 foods to nourish your stomach 

1. Lotus root 

Chinese medicine believes that lotus root is cool in nature, which helps to invigorate the spleen and stomach, as well as clear away inner heat. The lotus root is rich in potassium and sodium. These trace elements can prevent the occurrence of gastritis and are good for recuperating from chronic gastritis. Lotus root is also a tonic for nourishing the stomach. 

Lotus root is considered a tonic for nourishing the stomach.
Lotus root is considered a tonic for nourishing the stomach. (Image: Bhofack2 via Dreamstime)

2. Apples 

Eating apples often can effectively invigorate the spleen, nourish qi and the stomach, produce saliva, and moisten dryness. Especially if you are someone with a spleen deficiency who can’t eat much food and who has a yin deficiency, you may wish to eat more apples to nourish your intestines and stomach. However, apples are cold in nature and people with a cold stomach or who are affected by eating and drinking cold items are not recommended to eat raw apples. 

3. Spinach 

Spinach is soft, smooth, delicious, and rich in nutrients. It functions to moisten dryness, nourish the liver, and strengthen the intestines and stomach. 

For people with poor stomach function, spinach must be cooked before eating. In addition, spinach also has a good digestive effect. So, for people with intestinal blockage, eating more spinach can improve this unhealthy condition.  

In addition to paying attention to diet, the following things need to be done daily. 

Three daily activities to nourish and protect the stomach 

1. Work and rest rules 

To nourish and protect the stomach, it is very important to maintain a regular routine of work and rest. According to Sacred Lotus, eating at a time of day when it may not have enough energy to digest food will have a negative effect on its state. They say that it has the least energy between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Overeating, undereating, eating too fast, eating hot dry food, or cold wet food, and eating while worrying all have a negative effect on the delicate stomach. With all these contraindications, it’s hard to know what to do for the best. So… 

An unhappy man dines alone in a restaurant.
Eating while worrying has a negative effect on the delicate stomach. (Image: Anton Estrada via Dreamstime)

If you want to nourish your stomach, take regular breaks every day, and get up regularly. We all know that you must not stay up late. Make time to sleep and improve sleep quality. It is best to fall asleep before 11 o’clock in the evening and not use a computer, watch TV, or play on your mobile phone for one hour before bedtime to allow your eyes to relax and brain to switch off. 

2. Rub the lower abdomen after a meal 

Develop the habit of rubbing the lower abdomen after a meal.

Method: overlap the palms of your hands and face your palms to the belly button, press and knead clockwise and counterclockwise for 5 to 8 minutes until the abdomen feels warm. 

Massaging the abdomen can also promote blood circulation around the intestines and stomach, accelerate gastrointestinal peristalsis, promote the digestion and absorption of food, and assist in expelling toxins from the body. 

3. Keep your stomach warm, not hot 

Many people like to consume cold drinks. Actually, a large part of people’s stomach problems is caused by cold in the stomach. Therefore, if you want to nourish your stomach, you must pay attention to keeping it warm. You can often eat foods that nourish your stomach like millet porridge. 

Overall, the stomach and intestines are actually very fragile. Being a bit careless every day may cause problems. So you must take good care of the health of your stomach.

Translated by Patty Zhang and edited by Helen

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