Flax Seeds For Gastritis

Content

• What is gastritis.
• Causes of gastritis.
• Effective ways to restore the gastric mucosa.
• Flax seeds. Benefits and effects on the gastric mucosa and gastrointestinal health.

What is gastritis

Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa, leading to disruption of its regeneration, dystrophic changes, disorders of the secretory, motor and endocrine functions of the stomach. Inhibition of the endocrine function of the stomach is that gastritis disrupts the production of hormones such as motilin, gastrin, cholecystokinin, secretin, on which the work of the entire gastrointestinal tract depends. Accordingly, with gastritis, the work of all other organs of the gastrointestinal tract will be disrupted.

In other words, with gastritis, the internal mucous membrane of the stomach becomes inflamed and thinner, which protects the organ from the effects of hydrochloric acid, which leads to pain in the stomach, heartburn, nausea, belching, and heaviness in the stomach after eating. Moreover, gastritis can be accompanied by both increased acidity of gastric juice, and reduced.

The danger of gastritis is associated not only with unpleasant symptoms, but also with the fact that gastritis can develop into other diseases if the health of the stomach is not restored in time. Inflammation is accompanied by a deficiency of protein and iron.

Causes of gastritis

The health of the stomach is based on the physiological balance between protective factors and factors of aggression on the gastric mucosa.

• Protective factors include epithelium, mucus, prostaglandins, bicarbonates, and blood flow.
• Harmful factors include infections, Helicobacter pylori, autoimmune factors, delayed gastric emptying, increased production of hydrochloric acid, bile reflux (GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease, reflux of duodenal contents and bile into the stomach), NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), alcohol and smoking.

When damaging factors outweigh the scales, gastritis begins to actively develop. Inflammation develops, the regeneration of the mucous layer is disturbed, which leads to its atrophy.

All this is aggravated by eating on the run, poor chewing of food, frequent consumption of spicy or salty, too hot or too cold dishes.

Gastritis are of different types:

• helicobacter pangastritis;
• reactive;
• autoimmune;
• granulomatous;
• eosinophilic;
• lymphocytic.

The main complaints of gastritis:

• pain in the stomach;
• reduction of pain after eating;
• belching;
• heartburn;
• nausea;
• lack of appetite in the morning.

One of the important components of the treatment of gastritis is diet therapy. With gastritis (especially during periods of exacerbation), it is not recommended to use:

• pickles;
• smoked meats;
• rich soups;
• marinades;
• spicy seasonings;
• fried meat and fish;
• alcohol;
• strong tea and coffee;
• salt in excess.

Effective ways to restore the gastric mucosa

The fundamental factor in the treatment of gastritis, in addition to the medical part, is the restoration of the gastric mucosa, that is, an increase in protective factors.

Flax seeds for gastritis is a fairly effective remedy, which we will discuss in detail.

Flax seeds. Benefits and effects on the gastric mucosa and gastrointestinal health

Flax has been cultivated for fiber and oil in Russia since the 10th-11th centuries. Fiber is obtained from flax stalks, oil is crushed from the seeds, and the seeds themselves are eaten. And the most interesting thing is that the healing properties of flax seeds have also been known for a very long time. For example, Hippocrates recommended the use of flax seeds for inflammation of the mucous membranes.

Flax seeds are high in fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Seeds are white and brown, slightly different in composition and taste. The most common are brown flax seeds. For 100 g of flax seeds, there are 18 g of protein, 42 g of fat and only 1.6 g of carbohydrates. And most of the fats are useful omega-3 fatty acids. Flax seeds contain ALA - alpha-linolenic acid, which the body can process into docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids - DHA and EPA. They, in turn, are part of cell membranes, maintain brain health.

Flax seeds are distinguished by a high content of mucous substances. They are able to envelop the inner shell of the stomach, protect it from irritation and accelerate the regeneration process. Interestingly, with an increase in the acidity of gastric juice, the protective properties of these mucous substances also increase due to an increase in their viscosity.

Studies that have studied the effectiveness of the use of flax seed infusion for gastritis show that on the fifth day after the start of the use of flax seed infusion, 78% of the subjects experienced a decrease in the unpleasant symptoms of gastritis (nausea, pain, heartburn and belching). And by the end of the course of administration (on the 27th day), only 9% of the subjects had residual symptoms of the disease.

You can use flax seeds as follows: brew 2 tablespoons of flax seeds with 0.5 liters of boiling water in a thermos and insist for 12 hours (it is convenient to do this at night). Then strain the broth and separate the mucus from the seeds. The resulting mucus should be taken half a cup 3-4 times a day half an hour before meals. After reducing the manifestations of exacerbation, a long-term intake is possible, half a glass 2 times a day on an empty stomach (morning and evening). It is better not to store the finished broth for more than a day and use a new one every day. Duration of admission can be from 2 weeks to a month.

Flax seed cake is also a valuable product for the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases. Firstly, the cake is the concentration of fiber necessary for proper intestinal motility, it is food for a healthy microbiota. Secondly, cake is also a mucus-forming product that promotes the regeneration of the gastric mucosa. Flaxseed meal can be added to cereals and smoothies.

Flaxseed porridge is useful for people suffering from gastritis. It retains mucus-forming properties, it has a soft, gentle texture and does not have an aggressive effect on the damaged organ. The healing properties of flaxseed porridge can be enhanced by adding a baked apple as a source of pectin and bee bread, which has a gastroprotective effect.

With gastritis, an equally valuable product is linseed oil. It is a storehouse of oleic, linoleic and alpha-linolenic polyunsaturated fatty acids. For the health of the gastrointestinal tract and in particular the stomach, these fatty acids are important, as they work as anti-inflammatory agents. This is important, because in order to restore the gastric mucosa and cure gastritis, it is necessary to relieve inflammation, which is exactly what valuable fatty acids can help with.

Flaxseed oil can be added to ready-made meals, salads, or used additionally in capsules. But it is important to consider the rules for choosing and storing flaxseed oil so that it brings maximum health benefits:

• flaxseed oil must be raw-pressed (first cold pressed);
• oil should be stored in a dark glass and with a tightly closed lid. Fatty acids tend to oxidize quickly. To prevent this, it is important to limit the flow of air and light;
• oil should be stored in a dark place (in a cabinet) away from the stove;
• it is better to choose flaxseed oil in small bottles to avoid long storage. In a closed bottle, the oil can be stored from 3 months to 1 year, after opening it is better to use it within 4 weeks, observing all storage rules.

The low cost of flax seeds makes this valuable medicinal product accessible to everyone.

There are other products that have a healing effect on the gastric mucosa.

Potato juice for gastritis. Potato juice is an excellent remedy for the treatment of gastritis and the restoration of the gastric mucosa. Fresh potato juice has anti-inflammatory, wound healing and tonic properties, promotes scarring of ulcers. It is better to use it for gastritis with high acidity, as fresh potato juice can slow down gastric secretion.

Treatment of gastritis with cabbage juice. White cabbage juice, due to the presence of mucin and antiulcer vitamin U, is able to restore the gastric mucosa when it is damaged during gastritis, as well as reduce the manifestation of nausea, heartburn and pain. It is better to use it for gastritis with reduced acidity of gastric juice, with increased acidity, it can aggravate the situation. Acidity can be determined using daily pH-metry.

St. John's wort, calendula, sea buckthorn, strawberries, chamomile are gastroprotective plants. These herbs have a pronounced positive effect on the process of restoration of the gastric mucosa. Their reception is necessary to accelerate the reparative process (tissue repair) in gastritis. They are able to stimulate the digestive glands.

Aloe juice for gastritis. Aloe is effective in the treatment of erosions and atrophic gastritis with low acidity. But not in the acute phase! It has an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and, most importantly, regenerating effect on the mucous membrane, heals wounds.

Perga with gastritis. Perga is a flower pollen of plants. Bee products have long been recognized as an effective remedy for many ailments. Perga and other bee products have a pronounced gastroprotective effect and can be used as an additional treatment for gastritis and peptic ulcer. Perga contains 16 amino acids and 13 fatty acids. It has an antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory effect on the body. Just 1 teaspoon of perga 2 times a day before meals will be a good prevention of gastritis.

Apples for gastritis. By themselves, fresh apples have coarse fiber and can damage the already vulnerable gastric mucosa, causing pain. However, apples contain large amounts of valuable pectin, which is used in cooking as a gelling agent and thickener and can create an additional protective film inside the stomach. During the treatment of gastritis, baked apples can be used as a source of natural pectin.

It is important to remember that the treatment of gastritis should not be limited to the use of flax seeds or other foods. A good result can only be achieved with an integrated approach. For this, it is better to consult a gastroenterologist and an integrative nutritionist to choose the right strategy for restoring stomach health.