Gastritis is a general term for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach or esophagus.It is believed that up to 80% of gastrointestinal diseases are related to it.In this case, the cause of gastritis is often not nutritional but rather a bacterial infection.
As for the right menu for acute gastritis, it all depends on whether the acidity of gastric juice increases or decreases - this affects the list of allowed and prohibited foods.You'll find menu examples for each scenario in the documentation below.
Gastritis - the main rules of nutrition
Medicine believes that the main cause of gastritis is bacterial infection.Helicobacter pylori bacteria settle in the lower esophagus and move into the mucosa, forming microvessels through which hydrochloric acid (the basis of gastric juice) enters.
It is believed that more than half of the world's population is carriers of this bacteria.At the same time, poor nutrition and bad habits can cause gastritis in acute form - we are talking about smoking and drinking alcohol (mainly beer) and certain foods.
First of all, if you have gastritis, you should not eat spicy, sour or fermented foods - this includes crackers, condiments, sausages, pickles, as well as carbonated drinks and in some cases, yeast products containing gluten (mainly baked goods).
Diet for acute gastritis
Worsening of gastritis can be caused by a number of reasons, including alcohol, poor diet, allergic reactions to food ingredients, or medication.Acute gastritis can also occur from consuming spoiled meat and expired dairy products.
In serious cases (especially if there is dark blood in the vomit and almost black stools), medical advice should be sought.In mild cases, more severe gastritis can be cured by following a strict diet with minimal solid foods and switching to gelatinous and mushy foods.
What can you eat when you have acute gastritis:
- The porridge is thick and well-cooked;
- boiled or stewed vegetables, pureed vegetables;
- jelly from berries, fruits and dried fruits;
- a small amount of boiled meat, crushed in a blender;
- vegetable fats.
What can you eat - and what can't you eat?
Nutrition for gastritis depends on whether acidity is increased or decreased.In the first case, foods that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid should be avoided; in the second case, they will be useful in the diet.Note that in reality, gastritis with high acidity is more common.
Also, with any type of gastritis, you should not eat foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach - mainly crackers and very hot foods.Carbonated drinks, spicy spices and excess salt are prohibited.
Diet for gastritis should consist mainly of liquid and porridge-like foods, drunk warm in small portions.
What should you not eat if you have gastritis:
- food is too hot and cold;
- Raw foods can cause stomach damage;
- fermentation products;
- foods high in fat;
- most spices (including bell peppers);
- most sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard);
- carbonated drinks;
- alcoholic beverages;
- strong tea, coffee and chocolate.
What can you eat?
Nutrition for gastritis should be based on the consumption of fresh vegetables (they are alkaline and reduce the acidity of gastric juice), natural products (thoroughly cooked whole grains), lean meat and eggs.Pasta and small amounts of fresh bread are acceptable, but it is better to avoid cakes, cookies and crackers.Food must be chewed thoroughly.
Note that with gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice, you can eat small amounts of fruits (mainly citrus fruits) and some dairy products (for example, cottage cheese and cottage cheese) - while with gastritis with high acidity it should not be eaten.At the same time, milk is useful if there is too much acid produced, but prohibited if there is not enough acid produced (it reduces the acidity of the stomach).
Example of menu for gastritis
The menu presented below gives recommendations for gastritis with high acidity.To ease the work of the stomach, it is recommended to eat food 5-6 times a day, avoiding long breaks.In addition, if you have gastritis, you should not skip breakfast and should have dinner no later than 2-3 hours before going to bed.
When choosing food products, preference should be given to fresh and natural foods, and dry snacks, ready-made meals, semi-finished products and canned foods should be excluded.Legumes (from peas to lentils) and other products that cause gas formation (onions, cabbage, radishes) pose a separate danger - they should not be consumed if you have gastritis.For the same reason, rye and yeast products are prohibited.
Menu for gastritis: example 1
- Breakfast: porridge with raisins in milk, light warm tea.
- Breakfast 2: milk smoothie, banana and chia seeds.
- Lunch: grilled fish with stewed vegetables.
- Afternoon snack: oatmeal, dried fruit.
- Dinner: pureed vegetable soup, steamed chicken cutlets.
- Before going to bed: a glass of warm skimmed milk.
Menu for gastritis: example 2
- Breakfast: oatmeal with dried fruit and milk, tea.
- Second breakfast: smoothie cocktail with milk, peaches and flaxseeds.
- Lunch: chicken broth with pasta and carrots.
- Afternoon snack: soft omelet with milk.
- Dinner: mashed sweet potatoes, meatballs.
- Before going to bed: a glass of warm skimmed milk.
Eating red meat for gastritis is not prohibited, but it is better to give preference to lean beef, finely chopped or minced - you can use it to make cutlets, meatballs or simply lightly fry and add to porridge (buckwheat and quinoa).Frying is also not prohibited, but it is important to use only a small amount of vegetable oil and not to eat too hot a dish.
Diet for gastritis is based on avoiding foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach (raw foods, overheating) and eating easily digestible foods.We are talking about alkaline vegetables in stewed, baked and boiled form, various stocks, as well as lean meat (chopped or minced).If you have highly acidic gastritis, you can drink milk;if you have low acidity, it is prohibited.