Spicy dishes.
Chili peppers and curries contain a substance called capsaicin. This substance irritates the digestive tract. Thus, spicy foods eaten in large quantities can cause vomiting and abdominal pain.
Sugar substitutes.
Additives instead of sugar are often found in the following foods:
- chewing gum;
- desserts and sweets “without sugar”;
- dietary soft drinks;
- some toothpastes and mouthwashes.
Excessive consumption of foods high in polyols can cause stomach discomfort and pain. Thus, products containing more than 10% of these substances must have a special label that warns of possible effects on the body.
Dairy products.
If you experience abdominal discomfort and pain after drinking, this may be a sign of lactose intolerance. This means that there are no special enzymes in the body that break down milk sugar. In this case, it is enough to give up whole milk, which can be replaced with lactose-free or vegetable milk.
Coffee.
Coffee not only invigorates, but also stimulates the motility of the colon. Thus, 2-3 or more glasses of this drink a day can provoke abdominal pain and diarrhea. Pain can also occur due to milk or artificial sweeteners added to coffee.
Coffee also contains caffeine, which is found in chocolate, cocoa, cola, black and green tea and energy drinks. All of them can also cause stomach discomfort.
Onions and garlic.
Onions and garlic contain fructans, a difficult-to-digest carbohydrate that can cause water to enter the intestinal lumen. This can lead to abdominal pain. If you want to replace onions and garlic in your diet, think about celery and fennel. They are able to give food a similar taste and do not cause stomach discomfort.
Broccoli and cauliflower.
These cruciferous vegetables are rich in fiber and nutrients, but they are difficult to digest. In people who are not accustomed to a high-fiber diet, cauliflower and broccoli can cause flatulence and stomach pain. In this case, it is better to gradually add dietary fiber to the diet.
Fast food.
Fatty and fried foods are rich in saturated fats and contain almost no fiber. This is not only unhealthy, but can also cause stomach pain.
Alcohol.
Drinking alcohol can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea the next day. If the dose of ethanol is critical, the liver cannot process it on its own. A poison called acetaldehyde accumulates in the body, causing problems with the stomach.
Thus, abdominal pain can be caused not only by an intestinal infection, but also by certain foods. The reason may be both food intolerance and excessive consumption of hard-to-digest foods. If you notice a link between the pain and one of the products listed above, try to eliminate it from your diet. You also need to see a doctor who will help you identify the cause, choose the food and drugs that will improve your well-being (eg, Colofac, Creon 10000).