5 eating habits thought to be good turn out to be harmful to the stomach

The stomach is a key digestive organ, so many people always focus on “nourishing” this part. However, Dr. Hoang Hien, specialist in Internal Medicine and Emergency Resuscitation, said that the stomach does not need extreme protection. Instead, it needs to be properly stimulated, operate in a regulated manner, and maintain a state of dynamic balance.

On his personal page, Dr. Hoang shared that he often meets patients who claim to be “nourishing their stomachs” by only drinking porridge, abstaining from meat, drinking milk, and eating soda crackers. He warns: “If the stomach only has to handle foods that are too soft, too monotonous and too ‘safe’ for a long time, it will be like a muscle that is not exercised, gradually becoming weaker.”

Below are 5 common mistakes in stomach care compiled by doctors:

Eat porridge continuously

Eating porridge for a long time will make the stomach become “lazy”. Doctors recommend that when the symptoms of acute indigestion have improved, the patient needs to gradually return to a normal diet to maintain contractile function.

Drink milk

Milk can cause a “reverse reaction” of stomach acid secretion (acid rebound). Especially for some people, drinking milk even makes abdominal discomfort worse.

Use soda crackers

Soda crackers only temporarily neutralize stomach acid due to their mild alkaline nature. If abused for a long time, this type of food will disrupt the natural balance of acid levels in the stomach.

Eat ginger to “warm your stomach”

Ginger is only suitable for people with “cold taste” (stomach loses its ability to contract). On the contrary, for people with “heat taste”, eating ginger can increase the burning sensation.

Vegetarian diet nourishes the stomach

The process of restoring the stomach lining requires protein. Prolonged protein deficiency on a vegetarian diet will significantly reduce the stomach’s ability to repair and recover.

Doctor Hoang Hien emphasized that the core of stomach care is not “avoiding food” but “recovering function”. He advised:

• Eat regularly: Maintain a stable schedule.

• Chew thoroughly and swallow slowly: Reduces the mechanical burden on the stomach.

• Balanced nutrition: Pay special attention to adequate protein supplementation.

• Limit stimulation: Reduce oil and hot spicy foods.

• Stress management: The stomach is known as the “emotional organ”, unstable mood will directly affect digestion.