Last month, Baron Davis, a pro basketball player for the L.A. Clippers missed a big game because of stomach problems. Now, I‘m a huge sports fan, so I hate to see a player miss a game because of something that‘s so easy to fix! Shame on his trainers! They should have given Davis an all-natural plant seed that can soothe even the sourest of stomachs.

Stomach problems -- like Davis‘s -- can hit you out of the blue...even if you follow a healthy diet. But there‘s something that can help: Fennel.

Fennel is a member of the carrot family. And for thousands of years, the seeds of the fennel plant have been used to treat bouts of gas, cramping, and bloating. You see, these tiny seeds are full of minerals, especially magnesium, which soothes even the unruliest gut. Fennel seeds also contain nutrients that can help: prevent spasms in your stomach push gas bubbles through your colon smooth out the muscles in your intestinal tract.

Plus, if you have a hard time passing a bowel movement, fennel seeds can help to get things moving again.

You can add a teaspoon of fennel seeds to a glass of warm water and drink it before bedtime. It‘s probably not the tastiest drink, I‘ll admit. But you can also try NorthStar Nutritionals product called Digesulin.

Digesulin comes in tablet form and contains freeze-dried fennel seeds as well as vegetable charcoal, known to soak up excess gas in your stomach. A good friend of mine takes one small Digesulin tablet before meals when she‘s traveling to prevent stomach discomfort! But you can really take them any time a sour stomach strikes.