Best Drinks for Upset Stomach and Diarrhea. Having an upset stomach and diarrhea can put a damper on your day. You feel uncomfortable, bloated, nauseous, and constantly run to the bathroom. The last thing you want to do is eat or drink anything. But it’s important to stay hydrated when you’re sick. Knowing what beverages will help calm your angry stomach and diarrhea versus making it worse. Read on for the best drinks that can provide relief fast when you’ve got tummy troubles.

Hydrating Beverages to Soothe the Stomach

When your stomach is upset, and you have diarrhea, your body is losing fluids rapidly and dehydrated. Rehydration is crucial, but some beverages are better for this than others. You want to choose options that will hydrate you quickly without further upsetting your stomach.

Water

Good ol’ H2O is a great choice when dealing with stomach and diarrhea issues. Water has no sugar, caffeine, or carbonation – ingredients that can further exacerbate gastrointestinal distress. Be sure to sip it slowly so you don’t overwhelm your system. However, plain water may not replace essential electrolytes being lost, so you may need to supplement it with sodium and potassium drinks.

Try sipping cold or icy water if you have trouble tolerating regular water. The colder temperature can help calm inflammation in the stomach. Flavored waters without added sugars are also an option to make it more palatable. Avoid anything with fake sugars, as they can cause bloating and gas.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is nature’s sports drink. It contains potassium, magnesium, sodium, and calcium – electrolytes essential for Rehydration. In addition to hydrating, coconut water can help reduce nausea associated with stomach bugs and diarrhea due to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Look for pure coconut water without added sugars or fruit juices. The natural sweet taste makes it easy to sip and settle the stomach. Just be sure to choose plain varieties, not flavored coconut waters, with unnecessary ingredients.

Bone Broth

Soothing, easy to digest bone broth is fantastic for upset stomachs. Simmering bones and connective tissue infuses the broth with amino acids, minerals like calcium and magnesium, and electrolytes. This makes bone broth great for replenishing what’s lost during bouts of diarrhea and vomiting.

The warm bone broth can have anti-inflammatory effects on the stomach lining, reducing discomfort, pain, and diarrhea. Sipping some bone broth when you’re nauseous can gently settle the stomach. Opt for organic chicken or beef bone broth with no additives or seasonings to avoid further tummy irritation.

Pedialyte

An article about stomach flu and diarrhea drinks would only be complete with Pedialyte. Pedialyte was created to rehydrate kids with diarrhea or vomiting and works well for sick adults. It contains the perfect water, sodium, potassium, and sugar ratio needed to rehydrate efficiently.

Pedialyte comes in convenient powder packets you can mix with water to quickly replenish electrolytes. There are also ready-to-drink bottles and freezer pops, which can be soothing on an inflamed gut. The adult version has more sodium and potassium than the kid’s version since adults need higher levels of electrolyte replacement.

Best Drinks for Upset Stomach and Diarrhea

Once you’ve rehydrated with electrolyte containing beverages, it’s time to focus on soothing the stomach. Certain drinks can help ease tummy troubles with natural ingredients that reduce nausea, pain, and diarrhea. Here are some of the top beverages to relax and settle an upset stomach.

Peppermint or Ginger Tea

Ginger and peppermint are herbs long used to calm digestive ailments. The compounds in ginger have anti-inflammatory and pain reducing abilities. Peppermint contains menthol, relaxes the gastrointestinal tract, and lessens cramps and spasms.

Peppermint or ginger tea are great choices when feeling queasy, bloated, or stomach cramps. The warm tea can be sipped slowly, allowing the herbs’ soothing properties to kick in. Sweeten lightly with a bit of honey if needed. Just avoid milk, as dairy can make diarrhea worse.

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

Balancing gut bacteria, enzymes, and probiotics in apple cider vinegar can help calm the stomach. It acts as a gentle disinfectant and may kill some germs causing the diarrhea. Vinegar also has pectin from apples that can help soothe intestinal spasms.

Mix a tablespoon or two into water or herbal tea and sip slowly. A spoonful of honey can be added to enhance the tart flavor. Start with a small amount of vinegar, as too much acidity can further irritate the stomach lining.

Licorice Root Tea

Licorice root has long been used in natural medicine to coat and protect the stomach lining and esophagus. This demulcent effect provides a protective barrier against inflammation and irritation. Compounds in licorice also reduce muscle spasms and relax the gut.

Sipping licorice root tea can ease stomach cramps and discomfort associated with diarrhea. Be sure to choose Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice (DGL), which removes glycyrrhizin that can cause side effects in high amounts.

Avoid These Upsetting Drinks During Stomach Illness

When you’re already feeling queasy and running to the toilet, you’ll want to avoid beverages that can worsen your stomach and diarrhea. Here are some drinks that can exacerbate an upset stomach:

• Alcohol – Alcohol irritates the stomach and dehydrates the body, two things you want to avoid with an upset stomach. Save the drinks for when you’re feeling better.
• Coffee and caffeine – Caffeine stimulates the gut, increasing bowel urgency and diarrhea frequency. It’s best to avoid coffee, energy drinks, soda, etc.
• Dairy milk – Milk and milk-based products increase stomach acid production and can cause diarrhea. The lactose in dairy may also be challenging to digest when you are sick.
• Fruit juice would help hydrate but has a high sugar content without the fiber benefits of whole fruit. Too much sugar draws fluid into the intestines, exacerbating diarrhea.
• Carbonated drinks – The bubbles and gas in carbonated beverages like soda can further bloat your upset stomach. The ingredients also usually include highly acidic citric acid and phosphoric acid.

Learn more: How to Prevent Nosebleeds in Winter.

Probiotic Drinks to Improve Gut Health

Once the worst stomach issues and diarrhea have passed, focus on restocking the good bacteria in your gut microbiome. Probiotic-rich drinks can replenish beneficial flora to get your digestive system back on track.

Kefir

This fermented milk drink has up to 50 strains of probiotics to flood the gut with protective bacteria. Start with small amounts of kefir as dairy can still bother sensitive stomachs. Look for low sugar, coconut, or water-based kefir to avoid dairy. The live active cultures are effective against stomach bugs that cause diarrhea, like salmonella and E. coli.

Kombucha

Fermented kombucha tea provides diverse probiotics, enzymes, and organic acids that can improve gut health. Kombucha’s antioxidants may protect against damage to the stomach and intestines caused by diarrhea viruses and bacteria. Start with a small 4 oz serving to see how your stomach tolerates the kombucha.

Yogurt

Opt for plain unsweetened yogurt with at least 3-5 strains of live active cultures. The probiotics in yogurt, like Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, can balance gut flora and fight off harmful pathogens that cause diarrhea. Yogurt helps reduce diarrhea duration by populating the intestines with beneficial bacteria. Choose dairy or non-dairy yogurt based on your tolerance.

Recap – The Best Drinks for Stomach Problems

An upset stomach and diarrhea leave you feeling lousy and depleted. Replenishing your body with suitable beverages can provide relief and recovery. To quickly rehydrate, sip on electrolyte-rich drinks like coconut water, bone broth, and Pedialyte.

To soothe the stomach, take ginger tea, apple cider vinegar, and licorice root tea. Avoid coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and fruit juices, which further irritate the stomach.

Once you feel better, drink kefir, kombucha, or yogurt to restore probiotics and gut health. You’ll be feeling better in no time with the proper beverage choices!