For When Your Stomach Fights Back

Did that third slice of pizza give you heartburn? Is your colon now gurgling because you popped one too many jalapeno poppers? Are you sweating profusely because that fresh salmon skin roll may not have been so fresh? Well if that is the case, you're going to want to read today's posting. I'll be discussing some of my favorite home remedies for gastrointestinal distress. So take a quick swig of Pepto and read on.

• Fresh or dried papaya is actually a great cure for heartburn. It contains papain (an enzyme that aids in digestion) and works as an all-natural heartburn remedy. But a couple words of warning when using this tip: eating too much papaya can actually give your skin a somewhat orangey tinge (much like excessive carrot consumption). And papaya also acts as a natural laxative. So unless you hope to end up with Oompa Loompa orange skin and and a case of diarrhea, go easy on the papaya – a little goes a long way.
  
  
• And if you do happen to eat too much papaya, don't worry – you can still rebalance your colon with some friendly probiotics. Probiotics are living microorganisms that help regulate your digestive tract. They are found in most forms of yogurt (as well as some pickled foods, miso, and tempeh, etc.), and are quite safe to eat. Just be warned, those Jamie Lee Curtis yogurt commercials do overlook one key side effect. Probiotics do tend to cause gas (especially at first). So, be sure to open a few windows...
  
  
• Peppermint can be used to treat most gastrointestinal concerns. In fact, the ancient Egyptians used peppermint to treat everything from heartburn to irritable bowel. Plus, peppermint has the added benefit of masking your terrible breath. It's win, win!
  
  
• If you're feeling nauseous, gnaw on some ginger or – better yet – have some ginger ale. I must admit, I include this tip only because my parents swear by it. I actually find that the carbonation of the ginger ale upsets my stomach further. But if you are of the belief that such ginger-flavored sodas can help, then drink away!
  
  
• And lastly, if you got gas, eat something that is spiced with cumin. And I know what you're thinking – cumin is popular in Mexican cooking. And those spicy bean burritos are what started this whole gastrointestinal situation, but trust me. Cumin contains Thymol, a compound that stimulates digestion and gets things moving...

I hope these tips have helped. And I hope you feel better soon.