Here's What To Do If You Think You Have a Sensitive Stomach

Think you might have a sensitive stomach, but you’re not sure-sure? You’re not alone! We live in a hustle-and-bustle culture where many meals are eaten in front of screens or on the go, and our food is just another part of our busy lives; food’s effect on us can get completely lost in the noise of modern life. If you’re feeling a bit disconnected from the way you eat and the way your food affects your body, here are some ways to get back in touch and figure out what’s going on!

The Call is Coming from Inside the Building

Sometimes, the first warning signs of a sensitive stomach go unnoticed; an extra trip to the bathroom here and there can grow into uncertainty on outings and even a lack of confidence in important moments. It can also be the opposite, where fewer trips to the bathroom can fly under the radar until you start to experience serious discomfort. 

Gas, bloating, mood swings and even trouble sleeping can all get swept under the rug and diminished–after all, life is busy, and we often don’t take the time to eat mindfully, let alone to make a connection between the way we feel and the way we eat. 

Tuning Into Your Sensitive Stomach, Tuning Out the Noise

If this sounds like you, your first step in figuring out if you have a sensitive stomach is just to listen (sometimes literally!) How does your body feel? How have your moods been? How often do you use the washroom, or experience painful gas or bloating? When symptoms creep up gradually, it can be easy to think they’ve always been there, or to wake up one day wondering why you’re so tired, cranky and uncomfortable.

To determine if you’re experiencing stomach sensitivity, your first step is to simply pay attention after meals. Do you feel bloated after eating generally? Only specific foods? Only specific times of day? Keeping a food journal and isolating the moments when you don’t feel as good after eating can help you figure out if you have a specific trigger. Lactose intolerance and gluten intolerance are two of the most common issues for sensitive digestive systems, each with their own side effects which can arise from everyday foods. Certain people find acidic or particularly spicy food irritating; others find that onion and garlic cause their own share of problems. Doing your research can go a long way to helping you identify symptoms and isolate causes.

Finding Solutions for Stomach Sensitivity

Remember, it’s important to pay attention and take care of your health! Always consult your doctor or primary physician if you’re experiencing painful or persistent stomach sensitivity or digestive issues. Once you’ve determined that you are indeed experiencing a sensitive stomach and addressed your questions and concerns with your doctor, it’s a good idea to find ways to cope while still enjoying the foods you love.

Cutting out irritants such as sugary, inflammatory foods or excessive caffeine or alcohol is often the first step to feeling better. Remember: keep your food journal handy as you eliminate foods, to be able to keep track of progress and gather reliable data!

Adding foods that make you feel good is another helpful step you can take. Sometimes, it all comes down to a lack of water, or a lack of a certain food group that’s leaving you feeling sluggish. 

Finally, replacing foods that aren’t working for you can go a long way. Finding pre-packaged, gut-friendly ingredients without known irritants such as onion, garlic and inflammatory additives isn’t just a way to address a sensitive digestive system; it’s also a great way to get out of a cooking rut and get back to enjoying the process of preparing food and eating it. Whether it’s sauces, spices, oils or snacks, Fody Foods has options for every taste which can help you prepare delicious, no-fuss meals that you can enjoy without gas or bloating.

Check out Fody’s wide range of products and recipes to find ingredients for every taste that can make your mealtimes extra special! Happy cooking!