5 Smoothies for Indigestion

Banana-oat, papaya-yogurt, and cantaloupe-yogurt smoothies are three options for indigestion, although none is proven to relieve it. They are three of the five options below; the ai symptom analyzer may help you organize symptoms, but it cannot diagnose their cause. For more choices, see the best drinks for indigestion.

Indigestion can include upper abdominal discomfort, feeling unusually full during or after a meal, bloating, or nausea. A smoothie may be a convenient way to take in food and fluid when a large meal is unappealing, but ingredients that feel comfortable for one person may bother another.

5 smoothies for indigestion

These recipes use modest amounts of familiar ingredients and leave out citrus juice, added sweeteners, and high-fat additions. They are not ranked by effectiveness: We found no studies that establish any smoothie as a treatment for indigestion.

Each recipe makes one small smoothie. Start with part of a serving if you tend to feel full quickly, and save the rest only if it still appeals to you.

1. Banana-oat smoothie

Banana and cooked oatmeal make a simple blend without dairy or citrus. Diluting it with water gives you control over the thickness, though neither ingredient is proven to relieve indigestion. Oats contain fiber, which some people tolerate well but others may find increases bloating.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 mL) sliced ripe banana
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) plain cooked oatmeal, cooled
• 3/4 cup (180 mL) water

Steps

1. Measure the banana and cooled oatmeal into a blender.
2. Add the water and blend until smooth.
3. Pour a small portion and sip slowly; add a little more water if you prefer a thinner texture.

Use plain oatmeal cooked with water, rather than a flavored preparation with ingredients you already know bother you. This is a food option, not an evidence-backed indigestion remedy.

2. Papaya-yogurt smoothie

Papaya gives this smoothie a soft texture, while plain low-fat, lactose-free yogurt provides a creamy base. Choosing lactose-free yogurt may be useful if lactose causes your bloating, although it will not prevent symptoms caused by other ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 mL) peeled, chopped ripe papaya
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) plain low-fat, lactose-free yogurt
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) water

Steps

1. Add the papaya and yogurt to a blender.
2. Pour in the water and blend until smooth.
3. Serve a small portion and refrigerate any remainder promptly.

Papaya contains digestive enzymes, but that does not establish that the fruit in this recipe relieves indigestion. There is no established clinical evidence for this smoothie as a treatment, so judge it by your own tolerance rather than by enzyme claims.

3. Cantaloupe-yogurt smoothie

Cantaloupe offers a different flavor without citrus, which may be useful if acidic foods aggravate symptoms for you. Low-fat, lactose-free yogurt keeps the recipe free of lactose and avoids a particularly rich base; neither choice guarantees that the drink will be comfortable.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 mL) peeled, chopped ripe cantaloupe
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) plain low-fat, lactose-free yogurt
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) water

Steps

1. Put the cantaloupe and yogurt in a blender.
2. Add the water and blend until no chunks remain.
3. Pour into a glass and drink slowly.

Try this option when you want a lighter-tasting blend than a banana smoothie. Evidence that cantaloupe or this combination relieves indigestion is lacking; stop drinking it if it makes you feel worse.

4. Banana-yogurt smoothie

This blend combines a soft fruit with a small amount of yogurt and water. Its main practical advantage is flexibility: You can make it thinner or leave out the yogurt if dairy products do not agree with you. Lactose-free yogurt still contains milk proteins and is not suitable for someone with a milk allergy.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 mL) sliced ripe banana
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) plain low-fat, lactose-free yogurt
• 1/2 cup (120 mL) water

Steps

1. Place the banana and yogurt in a blender.
2. Add the water and blend until smooth.
3. Taste the smoothie and add more water if needed for a consistency you prefer.

Use this as a small snack rather than forcing yourself to finish it when you feel full. No clinical evidence establishes banana-yogurt smoothies as a treatment for indigestion, and lactose-free yogurt is not necessary if you already tolerate regular yogurt.

5. Cantaloupe-oat smoothie

Cantaloupe and cooked oatmeal make a dairy-free alternative for someone who prefers not to use yogurt. The water helps loosen the cooked oats, but blending does not guarantee that the fiber will be comfortable if you are prone to gas or bloating.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup (120 mL) peeled, chopped ripe cantaloupe
• 1/4 cup (60 mL) plain cooked oatmeal, cooled
• 3/4 cup (180 mL) water

Steps

1. Measure the cantaloupe and cooled oatmeal into a blender.
2. Add the water and blend until smooth.
3. Serve a small portion, adding more water if the smoothie is too thick.

Choose this recipe if you want to avoid both dairy and citrus, not because it has been shown to settle the stomach. As with the other recipes, there is no established clinical evidence that this particular blend relieves indigestion.

How can you make a smoothie easier to tolerate?

Keep the portion comfortable. A large drink can feel unpleasant when fullness is already a problem. Try a small amount first, sip rather than drink quickly, and stop if you notice increasing discomfort.

Change one ingredient at a time. If a smoothie bothers you, note what was in it and how much you drank. Trying a simpler combination on another occasion can help you identify a possible trigger, although it cannot determine the medical cause of indigestion.

Skip your known triggers. Some people notice symptoms after acidic foods, high-fat ingredients, or dairy containing lactose. Others may find that fruit or fiber increases bloating. Avoid ingredients that repeatedly bother you rather than assuming a recipe labeled gentle will work for everyone.

Handle ingredients safely. Wash fruit under running water before cutting it, and use a clean blender. Let cooked oatmeal cool before blending, refrigerate prepared ingredients and leftover smoothies promptly, and avoid blending hot liquids in a sealed blender.

Who should be careful, and when should you see a doctor?

If you have diabetes, consider how a fruit-based smoothie fits your usual eating plan and discuss persistent changes in your blood glucose with your clinician. If you have kidney disease or follow a prescribed diet, ask your care team whether the ingredients and portions are appropriate. People with milk allergy should avoid yogurt made from milk, including lactose-free yogurt.

Calcium-containing dairy can interact with some medicines, including certain antibiotics and thyroid medicines. Ask your pharmacist about timing if that applies to you; do not stop or change prescribed medication on your own. During pregnancy, or when indigestion affects a child, seek advice from a clinician if symptoms persist or interfere with eating and drinking.

Arrange medical care for recurring or persistent indigestion, trouble swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or persistent vomiting. Seek urgent care if you cannot keep fluids down or have signs of dehydration. Get emergency help for severe or sudden abdominal pain, vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, black tarry stools, or chest pressure accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw.