SWEETEN THE DAY

with a chocolaty treat

Chicken soothes stomachaches

Chicken is packed with a helpful amino acid called

L-tryptophan that your intestines quickly convert into the painkilling, digestion-enhancing hormone serotonin. No wonder three separate studies suggest that adding 4 oz. of skinless chicken to a meal can ease abdominal pain in as little as 30 minutes. What’s more, studies prove you’ll also cut your risk of future stomachaches in half if you enjoy a serving of chicken daily.

Chocolate fosters regularity

If warm-weather diet changes are making your bowels a bit loose, savoring 2 oz. of rich and creamy dark chocolate daily can get you back to normal in 48 hours, plus help prevent future flare-ups if you indulge daily, report researchers in The Journal of Nutrition. Dark chocolate compounds (flavonoids) coat and soothe the digestive tract lining, improving fluid absorption so stools are less watery.

Almonds prevent heartburn

Munching on four almonds at the end of each meal and snack could prevent heartburn as effectively as OTC medications, Canadian scientists say. Almonds’ mix of healthy plant fats and minerals speeds stomach emptying, reducing pressure on the tiny valve between your stomach and throat.

Popcorn speeds digestion

As the temperature creeps up, fluid intake often doesn’t, and that leads to uncomfortable bouts of constipation for 40% of us. The good news: Finnish scientists say snacking on 3 cups of fiber-rich air-popped popcorn stimulates intestinal muscle contractions, providing relief within 40 minutes, and enjoying popcorn daily lowers your constipation risk by 52%.

Cantaloupe calms queasiness

Eating 1 cup of cantaloupe when your tummy is feeling “off” can reduce feelings of queasiness by as much as 50% in 15 minutes. That’s the word from British researchers, who say cantaloupe’s distinctive aroma calms the nausea center of the brain, plus this fruit’s rich stores of beta-carotene tamp down indigestion-triggering inflammation in the stomach lining.