Health Conditions A-Z Digestive Health 9 Foods to Avoid When Your Tummy Hurts If you're in pain or have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or other symptoms due to a stomach bug or food poisoning, you'd do anything to feel better. Here are 9 foods you should avoid while recovering from an upset stomach. By Amanda Gardner Amanda Gardner Website Amanda Gardner is a freelance health reporter whose stories have appeared in cnn.com, health.com, cnn.com, WebMD, HealthDay, Self Magazine, the New York Daily News, Teachers & Writers Magazine, the Foreign Service Journal, AmeriQuests (Vanderbilt University) and others. In 2009, she served as writer-in-residence at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She is also a community artist and recipient or partner in five National Endowment for the Arts grants. health's editorial guidelines Published on October 6, 2015 Share Tweet Pin Email Having tummy trouble? An upset stomach could be a result of a few different triggers, but you can tame it with certain foods. Watch this video for the best foods to eat to soothe your stomach. 01 of 09 Refined sugar Getty Images Supersweet foods, such as those containing refined sugar can lead to spikes in insulin levels which, in turn, can lead to fluctuations in blood sugar.Although this might not directly affect your stomach, it could make you feel clammy and shaky, which isn't going to improve your overall state, says Robynne Chutkan, MD, assistant professor in the division of gastroenterology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. 02 of 09 Dairy Getty Images Dairy products such as milk and cheese top the list of "don't” foods when it comes to upset stomachs. For one thing, more than half the world's population is already lactose intolerant, meaning they lack the necessary enzyme to digest dairy products.But even if you're not lactose intolerant, a viral or bacterial infection can affect lactase (the lactose-digesting enzyme) and could cause you to temporarily or even permanently lose your ability to digest lactose, says Dr. Chutkan. 03 of 09 Soda Getty Images Although many people attribute soda's aggravating qualities to the carbonation, you can really blame citric acid and the preservative sodium benzoate, says Dr. Chutkan."The chemicals can be hard on the stomach," she says. But the carbonation can also bother some people."It can give you a full feeling and if you have an upset stomach and you're burping a lot and feeling full, that can be a problem," she explains. 04 of 09 Chocolate and caffeine Getty Images One of the main reasons caffeine and chocolate (which may contain caffeine) are irritating to an already-upset tummy is that, like peppermint tea, they relax the lower esophageal sphincter, which allows acid reflux.Caffeine can also loosen stools, which isn't good if you already have diarrhea. And chocolate that contains milk products or nuts could be difficult to digest for those who are lactose-intolerant or allergic. 05 of 09 Fatty foods Getty Images Cream, meats, soft cheese: All of these foods are high in fat and won't help if you're feeling sick to your stomach.That's because fatty foods activate chemical receptors in the stomach in such a way as to slow down emptying of the stomach, making you feel bloated, explains Dr. Chutkan.Other high-fat foods such as nuts will make you feel full. That may be good if you're trying to lose weight, but not so great if you're feeling awful. 06 of 09 Foods high in acid Getty Images Citrus fruits along with tomato-based products (tomato is technically a fruit and contains a lot of acid) have the potential to cause acid reflux, Dr. Chutkan says.This applies to citrusy fruit juices as well. So while apple juice would probably be fine, orange juice isn't the best choice.Other fruits tend to be fine, she adds. 07 of 09 Spices Getty Images Spices and spicy food may not be as bad as you think. "If you're used to eating spicy food, you probably have a very good tolerance for it and it will be fine," says Dr. Chutkan.If you're not used to these foods, this may not be the time to start. But also pay attention to how—and with what—the spices are cooked. "Spices are associated with cooking in oil, so fat is probably more a reason [for upset stomach] than the spice itself," says Amit Bhan, MD, service chief of gastroenterology at Henry Ford Health System, in West Bloomfield, Mich. 08 of 09 Alcohol Getty Images Like so many other items on the "bad food" list, alcohol can exacerbate gastric acidity, says Dr. Bhan.It contains chemicals that are hard to metabolize, irritate the stomach lining, and may be a particular problem for those who already have difficulties with their liver, says Dr. Chutkan.People with liver problems shouldn't be drinking large amounts of alcohol and anyone with stomach problems would be advised to stay away as well. 09 of 09 Processed foods Getty Images Not unlike sodas, processed foods with a long-shelf life typically have a lot of chemicals, including preservatives, which could further upset your tummy.So while a can of spaghetti might look attractive because it's sitting right there in your pantry, you may want to leave it alone for now. (The tomato sauce would probably be bad for your stomach anyway.) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit