11 Easy-to-Digest Foods, and What to Avoid

If you're experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) distress, eating foods that are easier to digest may offer some short-term relief.

While fiber is an essential nutrient for digestion, too much can cause gas and bloating. High-fiber foods (like raw fruits and vegetables) also take longer to break down in the stomach, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

That's why foods low in fiber are typically recommended when you're dealing with GI distress, as they're easier for the stomach to break down, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM).

Symptoms that indicate you may need to eat easy-to-digest foods include, per the Mayo Clinic:

• Gas
• Bloating
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain/cramping

So what foods are easy to digest, exactly?

This will ultimately depend on your underlying GI issue, per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Ulcers, heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diverticulitis, nausea, vomiting or other digestive conditions can all warrant eating foods that are easier to digest. You may also need to eat a bland diet following illness or surgery, according to the NLM.

Here's a list of common easy-to-digest foods to use as a starting point in relieving your discomfort.

The next time your stomach's upset, try including some of these low-fiber foods into your diet.

While raw veggies aren't on the easily digested foods list, cooked vegetables fit the bill. Cooked, canned or frozen veggies are much gentler on your digestive system than their fresh counterparts because they contain less fiber, according to the NLM.

These include, per the NLM:

• Potatoes
• Yellow squash
• Pumpkin
• Spinach
• Carrots

On a similar note, some lower-fiber fruits are OK to include in your diet. Canned fruits are typically safe to eat (though it's usually best to steer clear of products that include the fruit's skin or seeds), per the NLM.

These include:

• Applesauce
• Canned peaches
• Canned pineapple
• Bananas
• Melon (cantaloupe or honeydew)

As mentioned above, you can cook your vegetables and fruits to reduce the amount of fiber in them. Another good option is juicing.

Fruit and vegetable juice maintains nutrients without all the fiber, as long as they're pulp-free, per the NLM. And those nutrients can be powerful.

Some popular juicing ingredients include:

• Celery
• Apple
• Beet
• Carrot
• Ginger

Low-fat or fat-free dairy products are also low in fiber and among the easiest foods to digest, according to the NLM. Options include:

• Milk
• Yogurt
• Cheese
• Pudding
• Custard

That said, if you're lactose intolerant, dairy products may cause you discomfort. There are lactose-free products on the market, like milk, cheese and yogurt, that you can choose from.

While whole grains are nutritious, they're packed with fiber that could upset your GI tract. So if you're following an easy-to-digest diet, it's best to stick to refined grain products that are easier for your body to break down.

Here are some to try, according to the NLM:

• White bread
• White pasta
• White crackers
• White rice
• Refined hot cereals like Cream of Wheat

Try to avoid products high in added sugars. They don't provide much nutritional value and, over time, can contribute to health issues like high triglyceride levels, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Lean, tender meats are low in fiber, possibly making them easier to digest. Some to try, according to the NLM, are:

• Skinless chicken
• Turkey
• Tender or ground pork

Make sure to prepare lean meats without any added fat (like butter), which could irritate your GI tract, per the NLM.

Fish is another easy-to-digest food to include in your diet, according to the NLM. Some options are:

• Salmon
• Mackerel
• Tuna
• Cod

Steam, bake or grill your favorite fish for a protein-packed meal. Like with meat, avoid preparing fish with any added fat, which could lead to GI discomfort.

Eggs are packed with vitamins, protein and beneficial fats. They're also easy on your digestive tract due to a lack of fiber, according to Keck Medicine of USC.

Just avoid frying eggs: Fried, greasy foods can trigger digestive symptoms for some, according to the NLM.

Tofu is another food to eat when you're following a bland or low-fiber diet, according to the Mayo Clinic. It's full of vitamins, protein and is a food high in healthy fat, making it a nutritious yet easily digestible ingredient to eat.

Avoid frying it, though, as fried foods can worsen your digestive distress, per the NLM.

Peanut butter fans, rejoice. Smooth nut butters are a great addition to any bland diet, according to the NLM.

Nut butter is rich in nutritious protein and fat. Just avoid products with added sugar or chunks of nuts in them, both of which can irritate your intestines while you're following a bland diet.

Soup — especially broth — is a great way to get nutrients and flavor while you're sticking to a low-fiber eating plan, according to the NLM.

Some soup options include:

• Broth
• Chicken noodle soup
• Vegetable soup
• Miso soup

Try making your own stock, or choose store-bought options that are not spicy nor have added sugars, fats or hard-to-digest ingredients like seeds.

Just like there are foods to add, there are also foods to avoid when you experience GI distress. These tend to be harder for the stomach to break down, have lots of fiber and cause bloating and gas.

Foods that are difficult to digest include:

• Spicy food
• Fried food
• Red meat
• Artificial sweeteners (xylitol and sorbitol)
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Raw fruits and vegetables

Your doctor may be able to suggest diet and lifestyle changes to ease your discomfort.

Make sure to talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian prior to making changes to your diet. (Low-fiber diets should only be followed for a short period of time.)

Other tips include:

• Keeping a food diary to bring to your doctor
• Recording how you feel when you eat a certain food, the time of day you eat it and what and when your bowel movements are like
• Drinking plenty of fluids (like water or herbal tea) to stay hydrated and regular while on a low-fiber diet
• Getting tested for underlying GI conditions like IBS, Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, if symptoms worsen or persist