Gastritis is a general term for inflammation of the gastric or esophageal mucosa.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 at all, but a bacterial infection.
As for the correct menu for acute gastritis, it all depends on whether the acidity of the gastric juice increases or decreases - this affects the list of allowed and prohibited foods.You will find menu examples for each situation in the material below.
Gastritis - the main rules of nutrition
Medical science believes that the key cause of gastritis is bacterial infection.Helicobacter pylori colonizes the lower part of the esophagus and moves inside the mucosa, forming microchannels into which hydrochloric acid (the basic component of gastric juice) enters.
More than half of the world's inhabitants are believed to be carriers of this bacterium.At the same time, acute gastritis can also be triggered by poor nutrition and bad habits – we are talking about smoking, drinking alcohol (mainly beer) and certain foods.
First, if you have gastritis, you shouldn't eat spicy, sour or fermentable foods - including crackers, spices, sausages, pickles, as well as carbonated drinks and, in some cases, yeast products (mainly baked goods) that contain gluten.
Diet for acute gastritis
Exacerbations of gastritis can be caused by a variety of causes, including alcohol, a poor diet, allergies to food ingredients, or medications.Consuming stale meat and expired dairy products may also lead to acute gastritis.
In severe cases (especially if there is black blood in the vomitus and the stool is almost black), it is recommended to seek medical treatment.In mild cases, exacerbations of gastritis can be cured by following a strict diet, minimizing solid foods and switching to sticky and mushy foods.
What can you eat for acute gastritis:
- The porridge is cooked to a thick consistency;
- Boiled or stewed vegetables, pureed vegetables;
- jellies made from berries, fruits and dried fruits;
- A small amount of cooked meat, minced in a blender;
- Vegetable fats.
What can and cannot be eaten?
Nutrition for gastritis depends on whether acidity increases or decreases.In the first case, it is recommended to avoid foods that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, while in the second case they can be useful in the diet.Note that in practice, high acidity gastritis is more common.
Also, with any type of gastritis, you should not eat foods that can cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach - mainly crackers and overheated foods.Carbonated drinks, spicy spices and excess salt are prohibited.
The diet for gastritis should consist mainly of liquids and porridge foods, with a small amount of heat.
What not to eat if you have gastritis:
- Food is too hot or cold;
- Rough food can damage the stomach;
- Products causing fermentation;
- high-fat foods;
- 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 fresh vegetables (its alkaline nature reduces the acidity of gastric juices), natural products (cooked whole wheat cereals), lean meat and eggs.Pasta and small amounts of fresh bread are acceptable, but sweet pastries, cookies and crackers are best avoided.Food must be chewed thoroughly.
Please note that people with gastritis with low acidity in the stomach can eat small amounts of fruits (mainly citrus fruits) and some dairy products (such as cottage cheese and cottage cheese), while those with gastritis with high acidity are not recommended.At the same time, milk is useful if there is too much acid production, but if there is not enough acid production (it reduces the acidity of the stomach), it is forbidden to drink milk.
Gastritis menu example
The menu below provides suggestions for high-acidity gastritis.In order to reduce the burden on the stomach, you should eat 5-6 times a day and avoid long breaks.In addition, if you suffer from gastritis, it is not recommended to skip breakfast, and dinner should be eaten no later than 2-3 hours before going to bed.
When choosing food, give priority to fresh, natural foods and avoid dry snacks, cooked foods, semi-finished products and canned foods.Beans (from peas to lentils) and other products that cause gas formation (onions, cabbage, radishes) pose a separate danger - you should not eat them if you have gastritis.Rye and yeast products are also banned for the same reason.
Gastritis Menu: Example 1
- Breakfast: raisin milk porridge, light warm tea.
- Second breakfast: smoothie, banana and chia seeds.
- Lunch: Grilled fish with stewed side dishes.
- Afternoon snack: oatmeal, candied dried fruits.
- Dinner: Vegetable puree soup, steamed chicken steak.
- Before bed: A glass of warm skim milk.
Gastritis Menu: Example 2
- Breakfast: Oatmeal with dried fruits and milk, tea.
- Breakfast No. 2: Smoothie cocktail with milk, peaches and flax seeds.
- Lunch: Chicken soup with pasta and carrots.
- Afternoon snack: fluffy milk omelet.
- Dinner: mashed sweet potatoes and meatballs.
- Before bed: A glass of warm skim milk.
It is not prohibited to eat red meat to treat gastritis, but it is better to give preference to finely chopped or minced lean beef - you can use it to make cutlets, meatballs, or simply fry it and add it to porridge (buckwheat and quinoa).Frying is not prohibited either, but it is important to use only a small amount of vegetable oil and not to eat it too hot.
The dietary principles for gastritis are to avoid foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach (rough, overheated foods) and to eat foods that are easy to digest.We are talking about stewed, roasted and boiled alkaline vegetables, various preserves and lean meat (chopped or minced).If you suffer from gastritis with hyperacidity, you can drink milk; if the acidity is low, it is prohibited.