Food should not be of too great a variety at one meal. It must be simple and well prepared; when nerves and muscles are weak it should be served less in quantity but more frequently. Sometimes light food every hour or every two hours is best.
Cheerful constructive thoughts are the very best of medicine for digestive derangements.
A glass of cold water from one-half to an hour before the meal will cleanse the stomach by washing out the mucus and will promote the secretion of saliva and the gastric juices.
The intelligent medical treatment of stomach difficulties is aided by a chemical analysis of the stomach contents. If the stomach is not secreting normal proportions of pepsin or hydrochloric acid, the deficiency of either can be determined. Such chemical analysis will alone determine what elements are lacking.
Permanent relief must lie in gaining a good circulation of blood through the entire body and through the stomach, that it may be strengthened and thus enabled to secrete these elements in proper proportions.
Nervous Indigestion
This is due to the general depleted condition of the nerves. In such cases the entire nervous system should be regulated through exercise, breathing, rest, and a change of thought. Physicians usually recommend change of scene to cause a change of thought.
The diet should be light and laxative, and low in protein. Cream soup, bread and milk, malted milk, buttermilk, cream, fruits, crackers and milk, custards, egg lemonade, and gruels, furnish easily digested food.
Tea, coffee, much meat, fried food, highly spiced food, pastry, candies, pickles, alcohol, and tobacco should be avoided.
When the walls of the stomach are weak and distended or prolapsed, light food served in small quantities at regular but more frequent periods is preferable to a hearty meal, which further distends the stomach walls. The stomach does not secrete sufficient gastric juices to digest a meal large enough to supply the needs of the system, if food is taken only three times a day.