Gastritis is a collective term for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach or esophagus.It is believed that up to 80% of gastrointestinal diseases are associated with it.In this case, the cause of gastritis is usually not nutrition, but a bacterial infection.
As for the correct menu for acute gastritis, it all depends on whether there is an increase or decrease in the acidity of gastric juice - this affects the list of permitted and prohibited foods.You will find example menus for each case in the material below.
Gastritis - the main rules of nutrition
Medicine believes that the main cause of gastritis is a bacterial infection.The bacterium Helicobacter pylori settles in the lower part of the esophagus and moves within the mucosa, forming microchannels through which hydrochloric acid (the basis of gastric juice) enters.
It is believed that more than half of the world's inhabitants carry this bacteria.At the same time, poor diet and bad habits can acutely provoke gastritis - we are talking about smoking and drinking alcohol (especially beer) and certain foods.
First of all, if you have gastritis, you should not eat spicy, sour or fermentable foods - including thick crackers, relishes, sausages, pickles, as well as carbonated drinks and, in some cases, gluten-containing yeast products (mainly baked goods).
Diet for acute gastritis
Exacerbation of gastritis can be caused by several reasons, including alcohol, poor diet, allergic reaction to food components or use of medications.Acute gastritis can also occur due to consumption of spoiled meat and expired dairy products.
In severe cases (especially if there is dark blood in the vomit and almost black stools), it is recommended to seek medical advice.In mild cases, exacerbation of gastritis can be cured by following a strict diet with a minimum amount of solid foods and switching to viscous, mushy foods.
What can you eat for acute gastritis:
- viscous, well-cooked porridge;
- boiled or stewed vegetables, vegetable puree;
- berry, fruit and dried fruit jelly;
- a small amount of boiled meat, mashed in a blender;
- vegetable fats.
What can you eat – and what can't you?
Nutrition for gastritis depends on whether there is an increase or decrease in acidity.In the first case, it is recommended to avoid foods that stimulate the production of hydrochloric acid, while in the second case they will be useful in the diet.Note that in practice, gastritis with high acidity is more common.
In addition, for any type of gastritis, you should not consume foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach - especially cookies and excessively hot foods.Carbonated drinks, spicy seasonings and excess salt are prohibited.
The diet for gastritis should consist predominantly of liquid, porridge-like foods, eaten hot in small portions.
What not to eat if you have gastritis:
- excessively hot and cold foods;
- rough foods that can harm the stomach;
- products that cause fermentation;
- heavy fatty foods;
- most spices (including peppers);
- most sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard);
- carbonated drinks;
- alcoholic beverages;
- strong tea, coffee and chocolate.
What can you eat?
The diet for gastritis should be based on the consumption of fresh vegetables (they are alkaline in nature and reduce the acidity of gastric juice), natural products (well-cooked whole grains), lean meats and eggs.Pasta and a small amount of fresh bread are acceptable, but it is best to avoid sweet pastries, cookies and crackers.Food must be chewed well.
Please note that with gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice, you can eat a small amount of fruit (mainly citrus fruits) and some dairy products (for example, cottage cheese and cheese) - while with gastritis with high acidity they are not recommended.At the same time, milk is useful if there is excessive acid production, but it is prohibited if there is insufficient acid production (it reduces stomach acidity).
Examples of menus for gastritis
The menu presented below presents recommendations for gastritis with high acidity.To make the stomach's work easier, food should be eaten 5 to 6 times a day, avoiding long breaks.Also, if you have gastritis, it is not recommended to skip breakfast and have dinner no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime.
When choosing food products, preference should be given to fresh and natural foods, excluding dry snacks, ready-made meals, semi-finished products and canned foods.Legumes (from peas to lentils) and other products that provoke 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: rice porridge with raisins in milk, weak hot tea.
- Second breakfast: smoothie with milk, banana and chia seeds.
- Lunch: baked fish with a side of cooked vegetables.
- Afternoon snack: oatmeal, dried fruit compote.
- Dinner: vegetable puree soup, steamed chicken cutlets.
- Before bed: a glass of warm skimmed milk.
Menu for gastritis: example 2
- Breakfast: oatmeal with dried fruits and milk, tea.
- Second breakfast: smoothie cocktail with milk, peach and flaxseed.
- Lunch: chicken broth with pasta and carrots.
- Afternoon snack: fluffy omelet with milk.
- Dinner: sweet potato puree, meatballs.
- Before bed: a glass of warm skimmed milk.
Eating red meat for gastritis is not prohibited, but it is better to give preference to lean, finely chopped or minced meat - 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 eat the dish too hot.
The diet for gastritis is based on avoiding foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach (rough and excessively hot foods) and on eating easily digestible foods.We are talking about boiled, baked and stewed alkaline vegetables, various jams, as well as lean meats (chopped or minced).If you have gastritis with high acidity, you can drink milk;if it has low acidity it is prohibited.