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Gurgling Stomach Cure

Bidisha Mukherjee
You might want to get rid of a gurgling stomach mainly because it causes a lot of discomfort and sometimes, embarrassment. This Story highlights all those measures that can be helpful for gurgling stomach cure.
If you are bothered by the loud noise of gurgling stomach, then let me tell you that you are not alone. It is a common problem among middle aged and elderly people. Some people get it after eating and others may get it in empty stomach. There are some who say that their stomach makes gurgling noise even after smelling food or seeing images of foods!
When you hear such noises occasionally, then you feel slightly awkward. However, when it occurs several times in a day, you may get worried that something is wrong with you. In most cases, it has been found that gurgling stomach is not a serious health issue and does not cause any harm to the digestive health.

Causes

Gurgling noise in stomach is a sign of a normal digestive process. When the food that we eat reaches the stomach, it is broken down into a semiliquid form by water, stomach acids and enzymes that are present there. The paste thus formed is passed on to the small intestine for absorption of nutrients into the body.
Now, there are some foods such as kidney beans, cabbage, melon, etc. that cannot be broken down in the stomach due to lack of digestive enzymes. These undigested food components are then fermented by the natural bacteria present in the stomach, and carbon dioxide, hydrogen and methane gases are produced in the process.
These gases move around the digestive tract and cause gurgling sound after the meals. The noise subsides as soon as these gases are eliminated.
You may have a gurgling stomach when you are hungry. If there is a long gap in between two meals, your brain sends out nerve signals and releases hormones to increase your desire to eat. The stomach also receives a message from the brain to release digestive acids and fluids to get ready for digestion.
The gurgling sound in an empty stomach is triggered by these fluid components released into the stomach. In some cases, stomach gurgling can be a symptom of gastrointestinal disorder like irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, stomach flu, etc. In such cases, rumbling sound is accompanied by other signs like stomach cramps, stomach bloating, diarrhea, etc.

Treatment

Stomach gurgling is one such problem that usually does not require any medicinal cure. You can get rid of it with some changes in your diet, habits and lifestyle. Some helpful suggestions for curing a gurgling stomach are discussed below:
Drink Plenty of Water: You should drink 8 glasses of water daily. Water helps in proper digestion of the food and less amount of gas is produced in the process. It also facilitates faster elimination of trapped gas inside the stomach.
Change the Diet: All such foods and drinks that can cause gas should be avoided. It includes your favorite foods like pizzas, chips, spicy foods, etc. In general, fatty foods, salty foods and also high fiber foods should be avoided. You have to stay away from beverages with caffeine content like coffee and avoid soft drinks. Keep your diet healthy with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, etc.
Have Frequent Light Meals: After you eat a heavy meal, larger quantity of gas is produced in the intestines which means, louder gurgling noise. Therefore, stop taking 2-3 large meals in a day. Divide these meals into 5-6 light meals and spread them uniformly throughout the day. This will reduce the gap in between two meals and thus there will be no growling sound because of empty stomach. Make sure you do not skip any of these meals.
Avoid Swallowing of Excess Air: Many a time, you end up swallowing a lot of air unknowingly which later on causes those gurgling sounds. This happens if you have the habit of talking a lot while eating. Chewing gum, licking candies and drinking with a straw can also trigger this problem. Hence, you must stop them to minimize the chances of air swallowing.
Take Herbal Tea: Gurgling stomach after eating can be stopped with the help of a cup of herbal tea. You can have peppermint tea, caraway tea or chamomile tea as per your preference after every meal. These teas ensure faster digestion of the food and calm down the stomach.
Eat Ginger and Jaggery: This is a good combination which when taken together, can help you to get rid of gurgling stomach. Crush an inch of ginger root and mix it with about 10 grams of jaggery. Take this mixture when you have those rumbling noises and you will get relief almost instantly.
Avoid Smoking and Drinking Alcohol: Those of you who are smokers should quit this habit as it aggravates this kind of problem further. If you are a heavy drinker, then you must cut down on your alcohol intake in order to not experience gurgling sounds in the stomach.
In case, all these remedies do not help in curing your gurgling stomach within a week, then you may have to visit a doctor for the treatment of an undiagnosed digestive problem. If this stomach issue is accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, etc., then also you must pay a visit to your doctor.