Best And Easy Juices For Stomach Upset And Indigestion

on January 6, 2021 | Reviewed By Arya Krishnan

A healthy digestive system is a result of a healthy diet and lifestyle. The human digestive system is a complex series of organs and glands meant for processing food. Digestion problems are fairly common, especially among those who consume excessive amounts of fried and cheesy foods or heavy meals.

Around 1 in 4 people in India are affected by digestion problems. Digestive problems such as an upset stomach and indigestion occur when the food is not digested properly or due to underlying problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease, ulcers or gallbladder disease, bile duct issues or food intolerances, which can in turn cause symptoms like bloating, gas, nausea, vomiting, feeling full after a meal, or burning pain in the chest and stomach (heartburn) [1][2].

Stomach upset and indigestion can be caused by many reasons such as an unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, lack of fruits and vegetables in the diet, limited sleep, overeating, and insufficient water intake [3].

Lucky for you, there are some home remedies that can help your digestion and ease indigestion and other minor stomach issues. Studies point out that one can improve the health of their stomach through the consumption of vegetable and fruit juices that cleanses, flushes toxins and soothes the internal lining of the stomach [4]. Here are some natural juices or smoothies that help boost digestion and prevent indigestion, and also ease an upset stomach.

1. Apple, Cucumber And Lettuce Juice

This juice improves digestion, helps ease constipation, soothes the stomach and intestines [5]. It is also a good source of probiotics (good bacteria), that keeps your digestive system healthy. It also helps to flush out from the digestive tract and is good for heartburn, hyperacidity and gastritis [6].

How to make:

Ingredients: 3 cucumbers (peeled), 3 organic hearts of lettuce and 2 apples (cored), ½ lemon.

Directions: Peel the cucumbers and apple and wash the lettuce and chop off the ends. Add these three ingredients into the mixer or juicer and squeeze lemon on top of it. Serve immediately.

2. Orange, Aloe Vera And Spinach Juice

This juice is rich in vitamin C and citric acid which help increase the acidic medium of the stomach and thereby, aids in digestion [7]. It treats constipation and cleanses the digestive tract. It also soothes ulcers and reduces internal bleeding in the digestive tract due to the astringent effect of aloe vera, and also help improve your metabolism [8].

How to make:

Ingredients: 1 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed), 1 cup fresh spinach and ½ cup aloe vera pulp.

Directions: Combine orange juice, spinach, and aloe vera pup into a blender and blend until consistency is smooth. Pour into a glass and drink right away, or chill in the refrigerator.

3. Broccoli, Papaya And Mint Juice

This combination of healthy veggies and fruit with a herb contains enzymes that aids in digestion. It treats gas problems and bloating and is good for overall digestive health. Mint present in this juice soothes and relaxes stomach muscles and also increases bile production and thereby improve very slow digestion of fats too [9].

How to make:

Ingredients: ½ cup raw broccoli, 1 cup papaya chunks, ½ cup ice cubes, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lime juice and 8 fresh mint leaves.

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth.

4. Red Grapes, Cabbage And Celery Juice

A healthy combination of grapes, cabbage and celery help cleanse the digestive tract by improving bowel movements. It is also good for diarrhoea and helps reduce inflammation of stomach and intestines. It is rich in antioxidants that remove toxins from the digestive tract [10].

How to make:

Ingredients: 2 cups purple cabbage (chopped), 2 cups red/black grapes, 1 tbsp lemon juice,

2 small-medium stalks celery and 1.5 cups water.

Directions: Combine all the ingredients (except lemon juice) in a blender. Blend until smooth and add the lemon juice and blend again. Store any leftover juice in the fridge and consume within a couple of days.

5. Sweet Potato, Carrots And Bell Pepper Juice

Though the combination may not be as appetising as the previous ones, this juice help keep your digestive tract in good health as it contains carrots. Also, juicing extracts the sweetness and micronutrients of the sweet potatoes and removes the starch. This smoothie aids in digestion and treats constipation. It relieves inflammation and pain of stomach and treats stomach ulcers and soothes the inner lining of the stomach [11].

How to make:

Ingredients: 1 small or medium sweet potato (cut into cubes), 2 carrots, 1 large (or two small) red bell pepper, 2 large stalks celery and 2 tbsp ginger (grated).

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a juicer and serve immediately.

6. Pear, Celery And Ginger Juice

A mixture of these herbs and fruit help boost digestion soothes the stomach and flushes toxins from the digestive tract. The fibre present in this juice makes bowel movements smooth and thereby helps in cleansing the system. This juice is rich in antioxidants and may help reduce the risk of ulcers [12].

How to make:

Ingredients: 2 small pears, 2 stalks celery and 1 small ginger (grated). Chop pear, celery, and a slice of ginger into small pieces.

Directions: Combine all the ingredients in a juicer, chill and serve. You can add a little honey and add some water to make it a little thin.

7. Cabbage, Mint And Pineapple Juice

This smoothie is one of the best natural remedies to aid digestion as it stimulates the secretion of digestive juices. It is also rich in various vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Apart from this, it contains folic acid that is needed for good digestive health and is beneficial for people who are anaemic [13].

How to make:

Ingredients: ¼ medium size red cabbage, ¼ ripe pineapple (peeled cored and cut into cubes) and 8 fresh mint leaves.

Directions: Juice the cabbage, pineapple and mint leaves in a juicer and stir well.

8. Zucchini, Lettuce and Orange Juice

This green combination with the citrus of orange help hydrate your body and helps in removing toxins. One of the best smoothies to cleanse the intestines, this juice also helps treat constipation and aids in digestion [14]. It reduces the risk of colon cancer as it removes cancer-causing substances from the intestines.

How to make:

Ingredients: 1 zucchini (cubed), 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup lettuce (chopped) and 5 ice cubes.

Directions: Place the zucchini, ice cubes, orange juice and lettuce into a blender. Cover, and blend until smooth (for about 1 minute).

9. Swiss Chard, Pineapple And Cucumber Juice

One of the best juices for indigestion, this combination can help treat almost all digestive problems from indigestion to gastritis. It has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as it is rich in vitamin C, A, and carotenoids and helps relieves gastric discomfort and stomach pain [15].

How to make:

Ingredients: 1 cup swiss chard (chopped), 1 cup (frozen) pineapple pieces, ½ cucumber, 1 cup cold water and handful ice cubes.

Directions: Place ingredients in a blender and blend until everything is smooth and creamy.

On A Final Note…

Considering that digestion is amongst the most important functions required for you to stay alive and healthy, having weak digestion can pose several health complications. In some cases, weak digestion is an indication for large groups of evidently unrelated diseases. However, you can help improve your digestion by adopting a healthy lifestyle.

Arya KrishnanEmergency Medicine

MBBS

Know more