Gastritis Diet Guide: What to Eat and Avoid for Relief

What is Gastritis?

Gastritis is commonly known as inflammation of the stomach lining, which is the protective barrier of the stomach. Digestive enzymes, acids, and microorganisms pass through the stomach during digestion, and this protective lining protects the stomach from these acids, enzymes, and microorganisms. When your immune system detects a threat to this protective lining, gastritis occurs. Inflammation is your body’s defence mechanism to fight the infection and begin the process of healing.

Symptoms and Causes of Gastritis

When gastritis is not severe, it does not cause noticeable symptoms. If it causes noticeable symptoms, it means its severity is high or it has developed over some time.

Symptoms

• Stomach pain and bloating

• Nausea and vomiting

• Burping and farting repeatedly

• Loss of appetite

Causes

When your immune system senses that your stomach lining is under attack, it sends inflammatory cells there. The defence mechanism causes inflammation to help repair the tissues and infections.

The stomach lining is compromised due to various causes, which are:

• Autoimmune Disease: If you have an autoimmune disease, your body attacks your organs and causes inflammation.

• Infection: Infections are the most common cause of acute gastritis. Bacterial, viral and fungal infections can cause gastritis.

• Chemicals: Regular consumption of alcohol leads to chronic gastritis, and the severity of mucosal lesions is directly related to the duration of excessive alcohol consumption. Certain medicines, NSAIDS (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) ibuprofen and aspirin, cause gastrointestinal side effects.

Why Does Diet Matter with Gastritis?

If you suffer from gastritis, you know that your stomach lining is inflamed and compromised. The protective barrier of the stomach becomes sensitive. Choose a diet that does not make this condition worse.

Spicy, sugary, fatty and highly processed food can trigger acid reflux. It can make your gastritis worse. So, it is best to avoid these types of food, which aggravates the condition.

Fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and protein are the best food groups to choose from, as these are less likely to cause any disturbance to your stomach lining.

Food Items You Should Consume During Gastritis

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Non-citrus fruits such as apples, pears, bananas, and berries are good choices for promoting good digestive health. Bananas and pears can reduce the amount of gastric juice production, which helps protect the stomach lining.

• Dairy: Low-fat or fat-free yoghurt can be the best addition to the gastritis diet. Yoghurt is a probiotic that contains a good mix of gut-friendly bacteria, which improve gut health and boost the immune system. Nutritionists suggest adding a small bowl of yoghurt with each meal to people who are suffering from gastritis.

• Millets: Foxtail millet, barnyard millet, and little millet are the easiest for the stomach to digest. These millets are gut-friendly, easy to digest and anti-inflammatory. These properties of millets make them the best food choice for people with gastritis. They do not irritate the stomach lining, soothe the gut and help in relieving the symptoms of gastritis.

• Fermented Foods: Fermented food items such as idli and dosa are probiotics packed with good bacteria. These help improve gut health and boost the immune system. They reduce stomach inflammation, which is beneficial for people with gastritis. Moreover, a study found that these food items reduce the incidences of stomach ulcers and are good for people with severe gastritis. [4] These food items are acidic, so you should consume them in smaller quantities.

• Whole Grains: Rice, wheat, oats, quinoa and pulses have a good fibre content overall. They have a significant amount of fibre, which is important for better digestive health.

• Protein: Eggs are excellent sources of protein and beneficial for people with gastritis. They should not be prepared with too much oil, butter or spices, as they can irritate the gut and lead to acid reflux. Lentils and pulses prepared with minimum spices and oil are great sources of protein-rich diet for vegetarians. Make sure to soak them for 8-10 hours before cooking, as it helps reduce the amount of anti-nutrients such as tannins and polyphenols, which interfere with digestion.

• Beverages: Almond and coconut milk are better than cow milk in gastritis. Herbal, green tea and ginger-turmeric tea are good for relieving stomach discomfort. Chamomile tea is a light, flavourful, and soothing tea. It helps treat issues such as bloating, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Pear and cranberry juices can also reduce the symptoms of gastritis and reduce acid reflux.

• Spices: Oregano, basil and sage are good spices for people with stomach discomfort. Ginger and turmeric have anti-inflammatory properties and reduce nausea and chronic pain.

Food Items You Should Avoid During Gastritis

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Avoid citrus fruits such as orange, pomelo, grapefruit, tomatoes and sour fruits. These fruits can cause acid reflux, which makes gastritis worse.

• Dairy: Avoid full-fat dairy items such as milk, yoghurt, cream, mayonnaise and cheese completely as these have a high-fat amount, which is not good for people with gastritis.

• Highly Processed Food: Bread, crackers, and pasta containing refined flour have the least fibre content which can lead to indigestion and aggravate existing gastrointestinal symptoms in people with gastritis. These food items should be avoided to help cope with gastritis.

• Protein: Avoid red meat, ground beef, bacon, and sausages. Nuts and nut butter have high protein, but their higher fat content makes them difficult to digest if you have gastritis so it is best to avoid them.

• Beverages: Avoid consuming high amounts of caffeinated products and alcoholic beverages, as they can increase gastric acid secretion.

• Spices: Red pepper, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder can irritate the stomach, and foods containing these spices can cause stomach discomfort in certain people.

When to See a Doctor?

Gastritis is common. The symptoms of stomach discomfort, nausea and vomiting subside within 2-3 days. However, if your symptoms persist for more than a week after taking all the precautions and avoiding food items that are not suitable for you, then you must see a doctor.

If your vomiting does not subside, and your stomach can not hold any food items, it is best to consult a specialist. When you feel dizzy due to stomach discomfort and can not cope, it needs medical intervention. In case your vomit or stool has blood or the stool that is black in colour, it needs urgent medical intervention as it can suggest a chronic ailment.

Final Words

Gastritis is common and can occur due to various reasons. Symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea and vomiting can cause discomfort and limit your ability to function well. It is best to avoid highly processed food and sugary and fatty foods to help manage gastritis well. If you or someone you know have had symptoms of gastritis for more than a week, then you can Book an appointment with our gastroenterologist at your nearest super-speciality hospital.

FAQs

1. What is a good diet for gastritis?

   Home-cooked meals with the least spices, oil and butter are the best diet for gastritis. Fresh fruits, vegetables, millet, whole grains, and fermented items are the best food choices to manage gastritis.

2. What not to eat when you have gastritis?

   You should avoid highly processed food, sugary, fatty food items, caffeine, and alcohol if you are suffering from stomach discomfort due to gastritis.

3. Is it okay to eat eggs if you have gastritis?

   Yes, it is completely fine to have eggs when you have gastritis as they are the best source of protein.

4. Is yoghurt good for gastritis?

   Yes, absolutely. Yogurt contains good bacteria which help relieve the symptoms of gastritis and boost immune health.

5. When to see a doctor for someone who suffers from gastritis?

   If the symptoms do not subside after more than a week, it is best to consult a doctor. If a person vomits frequently or has blood in vomit or stool then too it is recommended to see a doctor.