The Turks are very paranoid about upset stomachs and have a number of natural remedies to prevent them. As I child was given old advice on preventing a bad stomach which (apparently) can cause a wide number of ailments, including bad sperm and headaches – or throw your plans off on a vacation.
Only some of these are backed by science, and the others may just be old wives tales but won’t hurt to try especially if you’ve got a sensitive stomach.
Keep Your Feet Warm
Don’t walk on cold surfaces, tile, or bare floors without putting something on your feet to keep them warm. The standard recommendation is slippers although shoes or socks will do, they are sub par. Apparently cold feet can cause an upset stomach (and bad sperm) so make sure to bundle up on flights as well. I couldn’t find any scientific data to back up this claim, but you’ve got my mom’s word for it.
Eat Yogurt
Although the jury is out on cold feet and stomach aches there is a lot of evidence to support the health and tummy benefits of yogurt. Eating yogurt regularly replenishes the beneficial bacteria that lives in your stomach and intestines. A good way to stay regular, avoid traveler’s constipation, and reduce the effects of lactose intolerance.
Don’t Mix Hot and Cold Food Or Drinks
There is some anecdotal evidence to support this advice but many more questions. The old saying goes that it’s hard on the stomach to drink very hot or cold liquids right after each other. Like having some ice cream immediately after a hot bowl of soup. It’s probably a good idea not to eat or drink very cold things too fast since it can cause the “ice cream effect” otherwise known as a headache; but there’s no scientific evidence that shows mixing hot and cold causes stomach aches.
No Yogurt With Your Fish
Having any dairy products, even the stomach friendly yogurt while eating fish is going to give you a bad stomach…supposedly. This combination may even poison you, although I’ve done it on many occasions and haven’t had any ill effects. Meat and dairy is also not kosher, and the taboo may have originated when it was difficult to keep meats, fish, and dairy from spoiling (and actually poisoning you).
Although the line between fact and fuzzy logic here isn’t all too clear, it is important to be aware of your digestive balance, especially when you’re away from home or in isolated places. An upset stomach can set you back on your plans and adversely affect your health. I’m sure there are local remedies for an upset stomach you grew up with as a child and I’d really like to hear about them in the comments.
[photos by: jasonloo, Dalboz17, ex.libris, sean dreilinger]
Mother knows best! 🙂
@ Deniz:
Of course!
Hi,
I’m sure I’m part of the warm-feet-jury, since I have been uttering my veto ever since I set foot on Istanbul soil. As an expat, coming from a country where in-house barefoot walking is the rule and slippers are the exception, I’ve been struggling for over two years now convincing my mother-in-law that walking barefoot on cold tiles does not equal stomach aches.
This doesn’t mean that I urge people to get cold feet of course. On the contrary. But let’s face it, after a day’s hard work, stuck in shoes and sometimes resulting in overheated soles, the acquired coolness and freedom is a blessing. And never ever did I have a stomach ache because of that. But maybe it’s because the way one is brought up, and the feet-training (no, there is no extra layer of skin on mine) they received.
All the other tricks you mentioned however work and are thanks to the Turkish tradition a nice addition to my repertoire.
Cheers,
Max
@ Max:
It’s funny since I don’t see the connection either (despite all of the warnings I’ve heard), but I always have to have something on my feet indoors. Some part of me subscribes to the theory and I’m always slightly uncomfortable when I see people barefoot on tiles.
It’s hard to deny our cultural backgrounds, no matter what that background is!
I totally agree with the equation that cold feet often leads to an upset stomach!
Have you heard is before somewhere else too?
@ Max…I feel your pain. I’ve been here for three months and will go crazy if I hear it one more time! Now my dog is sick because I feed him meals from the fridge!?!?! And a vet tells me this?!?! Are you kidding me? I only found this piece because I’m desperately trying to find some scientific evidence to prove MYSELF wrong. I miss home.
I don’t know of any scientific evidence about the feet – as for the dog food I don’t see any reason to refrigerate unless (during the summer months) you buy a lot and need to keep some fresh. Where in Turkey are you at the moment?
Oh….no no no. I cook his food for him. I don’t buy the kibble here. He was eating holistic brands in the US, which aren’t available in Turkey. American pet fanatics, like myself, won’t touch most common pet foods after the melamine issue a few years ago. I feel much safer cooking. We’re in Etiler, Istanbul now.
And, a great thing about Turkey Anil, the food is sooooo cheap! Cooking is actually more affordable than kibble:)
Ah gotcha – yes the food is cheap which is wonderful 🙂 I’m surprised you can’t order any holistic brands from Istanbul at any of the local vets or stores. Interesting to know – I’m based out of Fethiye for the next few months with my dog as well…
What is the white liquid our mothers made for us when we had a stomach ache? Was it made from corn starch?
I don’t recall actually being given something like that as a child…