When experiencing stomach discomfort, many people's first reaction is to "eat something bland," like a bowl of congee to let the stomach rest. This sounds reasonable, but for those experiencing gastrointestinal issues such as stomach pain or acid reflux, eating congee might make things worse!
Why Can Congee Become a Burden on Your Stomach?
1. Skips Oral Digestion, Increasing the Stomach's Workload:
Eating solid food requires significant chewing, which stimulates the salivary glands to secrete a large amount of salivary amylase to promote digestion. However, when eating congee, people often slurp and swallow it directly. Without the preliminary processing by saliva, all the digestive pressure falls directly on the stomach, increasing its workload.1, 2
2. Increases the Likelihood of Acid Reflux:
Congee is a semi-liquid food. During gastric peristalsis, it is prone to refluxing into the esophagus due to pressure, which may worsen the heartburn caused by acid reflux and excess stomach acid.3
If Not Congee, What Should You Eat for Stomach Discomfort?
1. Soft-Cooked Rice
Benefits:
Compared to congee, soft-cooked rice contains less water and will not overly dilute stomach acid. Meanwhile, compared to regular rice, it requires less chewing, which helps balance the stomach's workload.
Suggested Preparation:
Cook white rice with a little extra water to make it soft or simmer leftover rice with a small amount of water.
2. Tofu
Benefits:
As a plant-based protein processed to filter out coarse fibers, tofu has an extremely soft texture and requires no heavy "grinding" by the stomach.
Suggested Preparation:
Simply steam silken tofu. Do not add soy sauce; just add a very small pinch of salt.
3. White Bread / Plain Steamed Bun (Mantou)
Benefits:
Crustless white bread or plain steamed buns have a soft texture and serve as an ideal carbohydrate source that places a low burden on the stomach.
Suggested Preparation:
Eat them plain without spreading butter, jam, or peanut butter. Whole wheat bread has coarse fibers and is not recommended when experiencing stomach pain.4
The three options above are low-risk foods, but if you experience any adverse reactions after eating, please consult a doctor immediately for further treatment.
Conclusion
While congee is traditionally considered a gentle recovery food, its high fluid volume and minimal requirement for chewing can increase the stomach's workload and worsen stomach discomfort. For optimal gastric rest, patients should instead choose easily digestible options, such as soft-cooked rice, tofu, plain white bread, or mantou.
Relieve Stomach Discomfort with Weisen-U
Managing gastric symptoms such as stomach pain and acid reflux requires both a proper diet and a trusted medication. Weisen-U remains the premier choice; it is Hong Kong’s No. 1-selling gastrointestinal medication for 12 consecutive years, with a 67-year history in the market.
Weisen-U is a dual-layer tablet consisting of an inner layer and an outer layer:
The strong antacid in the outer layer dissolves quickly after intake and neutralizes excessive gastric acid, relieving stomach pain and promoting digestion.
Afterwards, the Methylmethionine Sulfonium Chloride (Vitamin U) contained in the inner layer penetrates the damaged sections of the stomach, quickly treating the affected areas, and promoting the recovery of the gastric mucosa.
Unlike other single-action stomach medicines, Weisen-U is effective against multiple types of gastric discomfort. Learn more about the product details here.
Available across Hong Kong—check our store locator.
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Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Stomach pain can have many causes, some of which may be serious. Always consult a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment, especially if symptoms persist or worsen. The distinctions here are general guidelines based on common patterns and should not be used for self-diagnosis.
References:
- Peyrot des Gachons, C., & Breslin, P. A. S. (2016). Salivary Amylase: Digestion and Metabolic Syndrome. Current Diabetes Reports, 16(10). Link
- Lapis, T. J., Penner, M. H., Balto, A. S., & Lim, J. (2017). Oral Digestion and Perception of Starch: Effects of Cooking, Tasting Time, and Salivary α-Amylase Activity. Chemical Senses, 42(8), 635–645. Link
- Ghosh, S. K., Kahrilas, P. J., & Brasseur, J. G. (2008). Liquid in the gastroesophageal segment promotes reflux, but compliance does not: a mathematical modeling study. American Journal of Physiology-Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology, 295(5), G920–G933. Link
- National Library of Medicine: Medical Encyclopedia → Bland diet. Link
