With a stomach ache, there's no point in eating bland food.

We all grew up, as children, with the belief that when a stomach ache hits, you should eat plain food. A useless, mistaken, and counterproductive belief. For reasons that science has now established: 

• Plain rice, pasta, or bread doesn't make you heal faster. a gastroenteritis or a common intestinal disorder.
• The intestine can generally digest other foods too, as long as they are well tolerated.
• A diet that is too restrictive for several days can cause you to take fewer calories, proteins and micronutrients than necessary.
• What can really worsen the symptoms are above all large amounts of fat, alcohol, very spicy foods and, in some people, lactose during a acute diarrhea.

A bland diet can even be counterproductive, as it doesn't provide the nutrients needed for a quick and effective recovery. In fact, it's a diet low in:

• protein, important for maintaining and repairing tissues;
• essential fats;
• alcune vitamins and minerals;
• fibers, although during acute diarrhea it is not necessarily a problem to temporarily take less.

The ESPGHAN ( European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition ) guidelines recommend resuming age-appropriate, usual eating habits as soon as possible after rehydration , rather than imposing a restrictive diet. The World Health Organization also recommends continuing to provide nutritious foods during diarrhea , emphasizing that rehydration is essential but that nutritional intake must also be maintained.

When it comes to stomach pain, two things are important in terms of nutrition. First, stay well hydrated, so make an effort to drink often, in small sips, and with cool water. Second, resume a healthy, normal diet as soon as possible, avoiding sugary drinks and coffee. 

These are the most suitable foods:

• Carbohydrates: Rice, pasta, bread, potatoes, oatmeal, crackers. These are fine, but you shouldn't eat them exclusively.
• Protein: eggs, chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, or legumes in small amounts if you tolerate them.
• Fruit: banana, apple, pear or other fruit that does not increase symptoms.
• Vegetables: Initially, it is better to cook them in moderate quantities if raw vegetables make you bloated.

Read also:

• Why you don't need drugs or painkillers for a stomach ache
• For indigestion, heat on the stomach and hot infusions
• What to do when you feel bloated