Introduction: As the saying goes, "stomach ailments require three parts treatment and seven parts care." Compared to managing a disease, prevention is even more important. For those troubled by stomach problems, it's advisable to focus on dietary conditioning to prevent more severe conditions. So, what methods can improve our stomachs without injections or medication? Here are 10 foods recommended for strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach.
1. Milk
Sweet in flavor, neutral in nature, affecting the Lung and Stomach meridians.
Effects: Nourishes the Lung and Stomach, promotes the production of body fluids, and moistens the large intestine. Suitable for stomach pain due to Yin deficiency and constipation due to fluid insufficiency; in modern times, it is used to treat peptic ulcers and habitual constipation. It should be avoided by those with diarrhea, Spleen deficiency, or dampness.
Milk can protect the stomach, but this depends on whether it's whole or skimmed. Whole milk contains a balanced proportion of fat, which can inhibit stomach acid secretion, making it suitable for people who often experience acid reflux. Skimmed milk, having all the fat removed, can stimulate stomach acid secretion. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for those with poor stomach acid secretion, slow digestion, or atrophic gastritis.
However, drinking milk before bed is not beneficial for stomach health. Milk should be consumed during the day or at least two hours before bedtime, and eating is not recommended within two hours of sleeping. Even milk is not advised before bed, especially for patients with reflux esophagitis. This is because the protein, fat, and sugar in milk can trigger stomach acid secretion. Long-term "a glass of milk before bed" can potentially damage the stomach and worsen reflux symptoms when consumed on an empty stomach at night. Milk is also not suitable for everyone. Some people are lactose intolerant; after drinking milk, they cannot digest it properly, leading to diarrhea and bloating.
The traditional view is that milk can neutralize stomach acid and aid in the recovery of peptic ulcers. However, recent research shows that milk promotes stomach acid secretion. A report states that milk consumption can increase stomach acid secretion by 30%. Therefore, patients with peptic ulcers and those who experience diarrhea after drinking milk should avoid it. Yogurt, on the other hand, contains more lactase, is easily digested and absorbed, and has no adverse effects on peptic ulcers.
Milk Custard
2. Porridge
Porridge is easy to digest and good for the stomach. China's porridge culture has a long history, and there was an ancient practice of using medicinal porridge to treat illnesses. Medicinal porridge is made by cooking Chinese herbs together with rice. Nowadays, many common ingredients can also be used as medicinal herbs, such as red dates, Chinese yam, and hawthorn. Drinking porridge not only satisfies hunger and thirst but also has health-preserving effects. Next, we recommend several stomach-nourishing porridges.
Peanut and Red Date Porridge: Both peanuts and red dates are good for the stomach. This porridge, made with peanuts, red dates, and rice, is sweet and delicious.
Red Date and Lotus Seed Porridge: Red dates nourish the spleen and stomach, while lotus seeds can calm the mind and spirit.
Goji Berry and Hawthorn Porridge: Hawthorn has an appetizing effect, and porridge made with hawthorn aids digestion.
Chinese Yam and Pumpkin Porridge: Chinese yam has the effect of tonifying the spleen and nourishing the stomach, while pumpkin has the effect of detoxifying and protecting the stomach. The combination of the two makes for an excellent stomach-nourishing porridge.
Red Date and Sweet Potato Porridge: Red dates can replenish qi and blood, and help harmonize a discordant spleen and stomach, while sweet potatoes have a warming effect on the stomach.
Millet Porridge: Millet is extremely nutritious, and millet porridge is the simplest and most practical choice for stomach health. It can also be cooked with red dates, sweet potatoes, Chinese yam, pumpkin, and other ingredients to make nutritious porridge.
Brown Sugar Millet Porridge
3. Soups
When it comes to stomach-nourishing foods, soup is actually the first choice, even before porridge. Many people believe that the nutritional value of a stew is concentrated in the broth, so they only drink the soup and discard the meat. In fact, no matter how long a soup is stewed, the nutrients in the meat cannot completely dissolve into the broth. Therefore, after drinking the soup, it's important to eat an appropriate amount of the meat. Take the stewed meat, shred it, and serve it with a dipping sauce made from light soy sauce, chopped green onions and ginger, and chili threads. It's very delicious.
Drinking some soup before lunch can not only have a health-preserving effect but also allows the food in the stomach to fully adhere to the stomach wall, nourishing the stomach and increasing satiety, thus avoiding overeating. This is very beneficial for those who are overweight or wish to lose weight. Radish soup, winter melon soup, tomato soup, kelp soup, and seaweed soup are all good choices.
Trotter and Radish Soup
4. Noodles
Noodles can be eaten year-round and are a staple food in many parts of China. Why are noodles so popular? Besides being nutritious and convenient for all ages, noodles are also good for the stomach. Among staple foods, noodles are the most stomach-nourishing. Rice contains more acid, so it's better to eat less rice. If you make congee, adding a little soda can be good for the stomach. Another option is biscuits.
Noodles are good for the stomach because they are mainly alkaline, which can effectively neutralize stomach acid. Therefore, stomach patients will feel much more comfortable after eating noodles. People with stomach problems should usually eat more soft foods and not too many hard foods. This is because patients with a weak stomach often have poor digestion, making hard foods difficult to digest.
Tomato and Egg Sauce with Spinach Noodles
5. Apple
Sweet in flavor, cool in nature.
Effects: Strengthens the spleen, replenishes qi, benefits the stomach, promotes the production of body fluids, and moistens dryness. Suitable for poor appetite due to Spleen deficiency, stomach Yin deficiency, and stomach pain due to Yin deficiency.
Health and diet experts explain that apples are sweet and cool in nature, with effects such as promoting saliva production, moistening the lungs, strengthening the spleen, benefiting the stomach, and nourishing the heart. Notably, apples are very effective for regulating the digestive system, making them suitable for both constipation and diarrhea.
The reason apples have a dual effect of stopping diarrhea and relieving constipation is due to special substances like tannic acid, pectin, and dietary fiber. Raw, uncooked pectin can soften stools and, together with dietary fiber, acts as a laxative. When cooked, however, pectin transforms, not only absorbing bacteria and toxins but also having an astringent, anti-diarrheal effect. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with constipation eat more fresh apples (1-2 on an empty stomach in the morning and evening), while those with diarrhea might consider eating cooked apples.
The tannic acid in apples also has an astringent effect; it can reduce moisture in the stool, thus stopping diarrhea. For children with diarrhea, parents can first wash the apple with boiling water, boil it for 5-8 minutes, peel it, and mash it with a spoon. For children over one year, serve 50 grams four times a day. For infants under one year, serve 30 grams three to four times a day. Alternatively, take one fresh apple, wash it, add 3 bowls of water, and simmer down to 2 bowls. The concentrate is best; take one dose daily as a juice substitute.
Tannic acid is more abundant in the peel, while the pulp, especially near the peel, is relatively rich in pectin. Therefore, when eating cooked apples, it is best for adults to eat them with the peel on for a better anti-diarrheal effect.
Hot Apple Drink