To eat or not to eat is an age-old question plaguing those with persistent issues, and indianexpress.com finally got to the depth of it to try and understand what's the best way forward when it comes to treating a stomach problem. "Skipping meals on a stomach upset can cause the stomach to produce more acid in anticipation of food, causing even more abdominal discomfort from bloating, belching, acidity and reflux," said Vedika Premani, clinical dietician, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital. "Fasting or skipping meals, when your stomach is upset depends totally on the severity of the situation, and the cause of the discomfort," shared Dt. Prerana Solanki, Dietitians, Consults on Practo. According to her, if the symptoms are mild, eating small frequent meals, easily digestible foods, and non-spicy and fatty foods is recommended. And if the symptoms are severe, one should consider short- term fasting for a few hours to let your stomach rest but focus on hydration. Solanki shared that when you have an upset stomach, fasting or skipping meals can sometimes provide relief by giving your digestive system a chance to rest. However, it is important to understand that our liver and kidneys naturally detoxify the body without the need for fasting. But she added that sometimes and allow the stomach lining to heal if it's irritated or inflamed. "Even if you fast, it's crucial to stay hydrated. Drinking clear fluids like water, herbal teas, or clear soups helps prevent dehydration, especially if you're experiencing vomiting or diarrhea," she said.  Pay attention to how your body reacts to different foods (Source: Freepik) What is the best way of going forward? "Also, once initial symptoms subside, one can reintroduce food gradually with the BRAT diet, which stands for banana, rice, applesauce and toast. Lastly pay attention to how your body reacts to different foods. If a food causes discomfort, avoid it until your stomach feels better," she said. "Bland foods, clear liquids like soups, toast and white rice can help ease diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting," shared Dr Prathana Shah, Integrative Health Coach. Dr Shah suggested eating things like bananas help with the potassium levels, as they work on your electrolytes and are comforting foods. "Hydrating foods such as coconut water also helps to replenish lost fluids, calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium when you're sick. Potatoes as well as toast are quite helpful, as they help absorb stomach acids," she added.