Stomach Pain after Eating – Causes and Natural Treatments!

Stomach pain after eating can happen for a number of reasons such as indigestion, gas, ulcers, gastritis as well as other conditions. In this article I’ll get to the bottom of why many people suffer from stomach ache after eating and I’ll offer many natural remedies to help you relieve the pain in your abdomen. However, you should also be aware that in many cases, an abdominal pain should be checked by your doctor.

Stomach Pain after Eating – Causes and Natural Treatments

Mealtimes are supposed to be enjoyable occasions when we can spend time with family and close friends. However, it can be very frustrating if after eating, you suffer from stomach cramps or abdominal pain. Very often there are some simple home remedies that can help you relieve and treat the pain.

Let’s look at the most common reasons for this type of pain as well as ideas on how to relieve stomach ache after eating.

Indigestion

Indigestion can cause abdominal pain after eating certain foods, especially fatty or very rich foods. Dr. William Blahd on WebMD says that indigestion can also cause a burning feeling in the stomach, bloating, gas and belching, and an acidic taste in the mouth. However, indigestion can often be a sign of an underlying problem.

To relieve indigestion try to chew food slower and drink fluids after meals, not during them. Stress can also make you more prone to indigestion.

You can relieve stomach cramps naturally by using ginger. Ginger is one of the best ingredients to help with digestive issues. Studies have shown that it is effective in keeping the digestive system healthy and reducing inflammation.

You can make ginger tea by chopping or grating 1 inch of ginger root and letting it steep in a cup of boiling water for 10 minutes. You should keep the cup covered. Drink this about 20 minutes before meals.

You can also try these herbal teas that can help you improve your digestion.

Gas

Gas can cause stomach cramps after eating. Family physician, Dr. David T. Derrer says that gas is a normal result of the foods we eat. Gas can also be caused by certain foods like vegetables, beans, fruits, and dairy products. Gas can also be a sign of an underlying medical problem like irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn’s disease.3

To relieve stomach pains that are caused by gas, you can try to identify which foods are causing your gas and eliminate those from your diet.

Peppermint tea can help to relieve gas. The journal Prescrire International reported that peppermint essential oil can help to relieve abdominal pain and flatulence in patients with IBS.4 Some people find it effective to take enteric-coated peppermint oil capsules about an hour before meals to help avoid stomach cramps and gas after eating.

Peppermint tea contains peppermint essential oil. To make peppermint tea all you have to do is tear a few fresh mint leaves and put them in a cup of boiling water. Cover the cup and let it stand for 5 minutes. Drink the tea to help relieve your stomach pains.

Gastritis

Gastritis occurs when the stomach lining becomes inflamed. This can be caused by bacteria, taking certain medications, overuse of caffeine or alcohol, or stress. The Mayo Clinic says that feeling pain in the upper abdomen after eating can be a symptom of gastritis.

Interestingly, potato juice has been shown to help relieve gastritis and reduce the amount of acid in the gastrointestinal system.

To make potato juice you should peel and wash one large potato. Remove any green parts and the sprouts. Grate the potato and then squeeze out the juice. In a glass pour about 2 inches of potato juice and then fill to the top with warm water. Drink in the morning on an empty stomach. For more information, please read my article about the health benefits of potato juice.

Ulcers

If your stomach hurts after eating the cause could be an ulcer. A gastric ulcer will make the pain worse right after eating or drinking but duodenal ulcer will cause pain about 1 or 2 hours after eating.

For gastric ulcers, you can drink potato juice as that helps to repair the stomach lining, reduce inflammation, and improve the digestive system.

Cabbage juice is a safe and effective natural remedy for the treatment of ulcers. According to a research published in the Western Journal of Medicine, 13 patients with peptic ulcers were treated with fresh cabbage juice. The study indicated that the healing time for these 13 patients was rather fast at 10 days. Meanwhile, patients who used standard therapy took approximately 37 days to heal. Cabbage juice also has a wide range of other health benefits.

You can also take probiotics as these can help to restore the natural balance of bacteria that is needed in your gut. A study published in PLoS One showed that a probiotic mixture can help speed up healing a gastric ulcer.

Probiotics are also one of the natural remedies for the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) which can cause peptic ulcers and even stomach cancer.

Heartburn

Dr. Melinda Ratini on WebMD says that the symptoms of heartburn can be discomfort or a burning pain from your stomach to the middle of your chest.9 This happens when the muscle at the end of the esophagus doesn’t close tightly enough and some stomach acid leaks back up the esophagus. Sometimes it’s called acid reflux.

To help treat heartburn and relieve stomach ache after eating, it is important to choose the appropriate diet. It’s best to avoid acidic foods like tomatoes, onions, and citrus fruits. Alcohol, fatty and fried foods, as well as spicy foods, can all cause heartburn. Also, drink plenty of water before and after, but not during your meal.

In my article about the most effective natural treatments for heartburn and stomach ulcers, you can find many natural recipes to treat the symptoms of heartburn. One of these is to use apple cider vinegar (ACV) for heartburn. Mix one or 2 teaspoons of ACV in a glass of water. Drink this before meals or whenever you experience heartburn.

Another option is to use baking soda to treat and prevent acid reflux.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is a more serious form of heartburn which can be accompanied by food coming back up into the mouth, difficulty swallowing, wheezing and chest pain. It also causes pain in your stomach after eating as well as a feeling of something stuck in the throat.

The best way to treat GERD is to make lifestyle changes to reduce the amount of damage to the lining of the esophagus from the acid that comes up. Dr. Melinda Ratni recommends avoiding chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, and alcohol. Also, foods like tomatoes, pepper, and citrus fruits can irritate the esophageal lining.

Baking soda can help to treat GERD symptoms. If you would like to find out how then please read my article on how to use baking soda to treat acid reflux.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

IBS is a very complex medical condition to treat. Among the many symptoms of IBS is abdominal pain and cramping. Medical News Today says that usually, the symptoms of IBS get worse after eating.

One way to relieve the symptoms of IBS, including stomach ache, is to take peppermint oil capsules. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology confirmed that peppermint oil is a safe and effective short-term treatment for IBS.


Alternatively, you can try drinking aloe vera juice to reduce stomach pain associated with IBS. In one study patients were given 30 ml aloe vera juice twice daily. It was found that it was effective in reducing abdominal pain and discomfort, as well as gas.

Crohn’s Disease

Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory condition which can affect any part of the digestive system. One of the symptoms is stomach cramps an hour or two after eating. Crohn’s disease is also one of the reasons for having white blood cells in the stool.

Because the symptoms of Crohn’s disease are similar to IBS, you could try those natural remedies to relieve stomach pain.

Diverticulitis

Diverticulitis occurs when small pockets of the colon become infected. The symptoms of this are stomach pain after eating a meal, especially on the lower left side of the abdomen. A person will usually have a fever, nausea, and bloating.

To prevent or alleviate diverticulitis symptoms it’s important to have a high-fiber diet and enjoy proper exercise. A study published in the journal Canadian Family Physician found that a high fiber diet which was low in fat and red meat can help to prevent diverticulitis.

To find out more on preventing diverticulitis, please read my article about the best home remedies for diverticulitis.

Gallstones

If the right upper side of your stomach hurts after eating fatty meals then this could be a sign that you have gallstones. The University of Maryland Medical Center says that the abdominal pain usually occurs several hours after eating.16

A natural way to help get rid of gallbladder pain and reduce gallstones is to drink lemon water regularly. Squeeze the juice of a quarter or half a fresh lemon into a glass of warm water. Drink this first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and drink one glass in the evening.

Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

SIBO happens when there’s an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine which causes the stomach to bloat. It can have similar symptoms to food intolerances, candida, or a leaky gut. However, SIBO tends to cause more bloating towards the end of the day. One of the symptoms of SIBO is stomach cramps after eating.

Holistic nutrition consultant, Mary Vance recommends the low FODMAP diet to reduce bloating and relive the pain that you feel in your stomach. The low FODMAP diet eliminates certain type of foods which break down easily into sugars and continue to feed the bad bacteria in your small intestine. She has more information on the low FODMAP diet here.

Intestinal ischemia

Intestinal ischemia happens when blood flow to your intestines is blocked and it can develop into a serious condition. There are a number of symptoms of intestinal ischemia including sudden abdominal pain, frequent forceful bowel movements, blood in your stool, nausea, and fever. Chronic intestinal ischemia can also cause abdominal cramps after eating.17

If you suspect you have intestinal ischemia, it is always best to visit your doctor because it requires medical procedures to restore proper blood flow to your intestines.

Other Ways to Relieve Stomach Pain after Eating

There are some other practical ways that can help to ease the ache in your stomach after eating.

Abdominal Massage

An abdominal massage is a great way to ease stomach cramps. This only takes 2 minutes to do and it can help you effectively relieve pain.  To find out how to do this and to read about its many other benefits, please read my article about the amazing benefits of abdominal massage.

Hot Compress

For this, you will need to fill a hot water bottle. All you have to do is lie on your back and place a towel over your stomach and put the hot water bottle on your stomach. The heat from the hot water bottle can help ease your stomach pain.

There can be many different reasons for stomach pain after eating. If you have pain that won’t go away and that you can’t get any relief from, you should always see your doctor.

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