Gastritis is a collective term for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach or esophagus.It is estimated that up to 80% of gastrointestinal diseases are associated with it.In this case, the cause of gastritis is most often not nutrition, but bacterial infection.
As for the correct menu for acute gastritis, it all depends on whether the acidity of gastric juice increases or decreases - this affects the list of permitted and prohibited foods.You will find sample menus for each case in the material below.
Gastritis - the main rules of nutrition
Medicine believes that the main cause of gastritis is bacterial infection.The bacteria Helicobacter pylori settles in the lower part of the esophagus and moves inside the mucosa, forming microchannels into which hydrochloric acid (the basis of gastric juice) penetrates.
It is estimated that more than half of the world's population carries this bacteria.At the same time, poor diet 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 suffer from gastritis, you should not eat spicy, sour or fermentable foods, including coarse crackers, spices, sausages, pickles, as well as carbonated drinks and, in some cases, yeast products containing gluten (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 taking medications.Acute gastritis can also occur due to consumption of stale 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 consult a doctor.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 and pasty foods.
What can you eat with acute gastritis:
- viscous, well-cooked porridge;
- boiled or stewed vegetables, vegetable puree;
- berry, fruit and dried fruit jelly;
- 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 increasing or decreasing 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.
Also, with any type of gastritis, you should not eat foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach - mainly crackers and too hot foods.Carbonated drinks, hot spices and excess salt are prohibited.
The diet for gastritis should consist mainly of liquid and porridge-type foods, taken hot in small portions.
What not to eat with gastritis:
- excessively hot and cold food;
- coarse foods that can damage the stomach;
- products causing fermentation;
- heavy fatty foods;
- most spices (including pepper);
- most sauces (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard);
- soft 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 grain cereals), lean meat and eggs.Pasta and a small amount of fresh bread are okay, but it's best to avoid sugary pastries, cookies and crackers.Food should be chewed thoroughly.
Note that with gastritis with low acidity of gastric juice, you can eat a small amount of fruits (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 for excessive acid production, but is prohibited for insufficient acid production (it decreases stomach acidity).
Sample menus for gastritis
The menu presented below provides recommendations for gastritis with high acidity.To facilitate the work of the stomach, food should be taken 5-6 times a day, avoiding long breaks.Also, if you suffer from gastritis, it is not recommended to skip breakfast and you should have dinner no later than 2-3 hours before bedtime.
When choosing food products, preference should be given to fresh and natural foods, while dry snacks, ready 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 eaten if you suffer from gastritis.For the same reason, rye and yeast products are prohibited.
Menu for gastritis: example 1
- Breakfast: rice porridge with raisins in milk, slightly warm tea.
- Second breakfast: smoothie with milk, banana and chia seeds.
- Lunch: baked fish with a side of stewed vegetables.
- Afternoon snack: oatmeal, dried fruit compote.
- Dinner: vegetable puree, steamed chicken cutlets.
- Before going to bed: a glass of lukewarm skimmed milk.
Menu for gastritis: example 2
- Breakfast: oatmeal with dried fruits and milk, tea.
- Second breakfast: smoothie cocktail with milk, peach and flax seeds.
- Lunch: chicken broth with pasta and carrots.
- Afternoon snack: soft omelette with milk.
- Dinner: sweet potato puree, meatballs.
- Before going to bed: a glass of lukewarm 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 eat the dish too hot.
The diet for gastritis involves avoiding foods that cause mechanical and thermal damage to the stomach (rough and excessively hot foods) and eating foods that are easy to digest.We are talking about cooked, baked and boiled alkaline vegetables, various compotes, as well as lean meat (minced or minced).If you suffer from gastritis with high acidity, you can drink milk;if you have low acidity, it's a no-go.