Diet plays a crucial role in managing gastritis as certain foods can aggravate symptoms, while others can alleviate them. Additionally, some people experience gastritis due to food allergies. Therefore, it is important to identify and avoid foods that cause gastritis.
Table of Contents
Highlights:
- Gastritis is a stomach issue caused by the inflammation of the stomach lining.
- Indigestion occurs due to gastritis.
- Certain medications, including antacids, alginates, and antibiotics can treat gastritis.
- Avoid spicy food and eat lean proteins, low-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and herbal teas to alleviate the symptoms of gastritis.
What is Gastritis?
Gastritis is a stomach problem caused by the inflammation of the stomach lining. It is painful and results in indigestion and sickness. Gastritis is caused by many factors, including infections, autoimmune disorders, medications, and stress.
Symptoms of gastritis include bloating, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, burping, and farting. Gastritis can be treated with medications including antacids, alginates, and antibiotics. Certain foods can help with gastritis symptoms, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, bananas, apples, coconut, and whole wheat, especially oats, barley, and quinoa. Sometimes, gastritis may not cause any symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose.
However, if left untreated, it may cause complications like stomach ulcers, bleeding, or cancer. Gastritis is diagnosed by undergoing physical examination reviewing symptoms, and tests such as blood tests, stool tests, and imaging studies.
Which Foods Can Reduce The Symptoms Of Gastritis?
If you experience gastritis, avoid fried foods and include these in your diet:
1. Fiber-rich Foods
Fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans promote regular bowel movements, preventing constipation and gastritis. These foods absorb excess stomach acid and reduce acid reflux, which aggravates gastritis. Fiber-rich foods are rich in prebiotics, that promote gut health. Improved gut health reduces the risk of developing gastritis. If experiencing gastritis, you must take oatmeal, porridge, or barley as they are rich in fiber.
2. Low-fat Foods
Eating low-fat foods reduces the workload on the digestive system, decreasing inflammation of the stomach lining. Reduction in the inflammation of the stomach lining reduces the symptoms of gastritis. Low-fat foods are easier to digest, which reduces the symptoms of gastritis. Eat low-fat foods such as chicken, turkey, fish, milk, yogurt, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
3. Less Acidic Foods
Food such as lemons, limes, plums, grapefruits, and blueberries are highly acidic and increase stomach acid, leading to gastritis. Avoid such foods and eat less acidic foods, as they decrease stomach acid and inflammation. Less acidic foods that you might eat can be soy, tofu, yogurt, potatoes, mustard, millet, and lentils.
4. Non-Carbonated Drinks
Stay hydrated with non-carbonated drinks such as water, herbal tea, fruit juice, and coconut water. Avoid carbonated beverages, including soft drinks, wine, or seltzer water, as they increase stomach acid, giving rise to acid reflux and gastritis.
5. Caffeine-free Beverages
Research studies in 2010 claim that caffeine intake increases acid production in the stomach, which causes acid reflux, leading to gastritis. If you have gastritis, always prefer caffeine-free beverages, such as non-citrus fruit juices. Non-citrus fruit juice may include apple juice, guava juice, or grape juice. Herbal teas like ginger and peppermint tea are also helpful in reducing the symptoms of gastritis.
6. Probiotics
Research studies conducted in 2016 claim probiotics, such as yogurt and low-fat milk help reduce the symptoms of gastric ulcers in patients with severe gastritis. If you have gastritis, add these probiotics to your daily intake.
However, if you are experiencing gastritis persistently, find a doctor to discuss your symptoms for optimal therapeutic plan.
Which 7-Day Meal Plan Should You Follow For Gastritis?
If you’re suffering from gastritis, you may follow this 7-day meal plan:
- Eat two soft or hard-boiled eggs with three toasts and drink chamomile tea at every breakfast.
- Have grilled chicken breast with boiled spinach or mashed potatoes with white pasta in your lunch.
- As snacks, eat either bananas or apples, not both.
- Include boiled chicken legs with steamed vegetables in your dinner.
Which Cooking Methods Should Be Used For Preparing A Gastritis Diet?
Gastritis patients should avoid fats, especially butter, fried foods, and heavy cream as they increase the inflammation of the stomach’s lining. To avoid this, low-fat cooking methods must be used, which include:
- Baking
- Boiling
- Poaching
- Steaming
For preparing your gastric diet, don’t use spices for seasoning food, which includes:
- Black or chilli pepper
- Garlic
- Mustard
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- Sugar
- Vinegar
Avoid these ingredients as they aggravate gastritis. Instead, choose spices that maintain stomach health, such as astragalus, licorice, turmeric, barberry, and omega-6 fatty acids.
What Are The Causes Of Gastritis?
Gastritis is caused by several factors, including:
- Certain medications, especially Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS) or aspirin
- Stomach infection, especially caused by Helicobacter pylori bacteria
- Consumption of a highly acidic diet
- Overproduction of gastric juices in response to stress
- Damaged stomach lining
- Few allergic or immune conditions, especially pernicious anemia
- Upper abdomen or lower chest radioactive treatments
- Stomach surgery
If you are experiencing these symptoms, consult the best gastroenterologist in Lahore now.
Conclusion
Symptoms of gastritis can be managed with diet. People suffering from gastritis should avoid eating saturated fats, and spicy, acidic, and fried foods. They must take fiber-rich, low-fat, and less acidic foods, which include yogurt, legumes, coconut water, ginger tea, and milk.
FAQs
1. Did Certain Foods Decrease Gastritis Symptoms?
The diet helps a lot with the symptoms of gastritis. Eat whole-grain foods, like porridge, oatmeal, and barley to alleviate gastritis. Fruits like bananas, apples, melons, and coconut also reduce gastritis.
2. What Is The Fastest Way To Cure Gastritis?
If certain foods are not helpful for gastritis, take acid blockers, especially histamine (H-2) blockers. These drugs reduce acid production in the stomach and promote healing.
3. Does Yogurt Reduce The Symptoms Of Gastritis?
Yogurt is a probiotic, containing bacteria that improve gut health by controlling acid production. However, eat low-fat yogurt instead of high-fat, as it will aggravate the symptoms of gastritis.
