Author: Mark Velov
Time for reading: ~12
minutes
Last Updated:
August 31, 2022
What is gastritis, what does it happen. Does the type of gastritis affect the choice of food. Is it possible to alleviate the course of the disease with the help of nutrition. Does a diet for gastritis really consist of bland and tasteless food.
Content
Gastritis is an inflammatory disease of the gastric mucosa. According to statistics, this is one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). It affects 50% to 80% of adults, and the frequency of the disease can increase with age.
The modern rhythm of life dictates its own conditions, and often people with various problems with the health of the digestive tract either ignore discomfort, or diagnose themselves on their own, or treat the diagnosis made by the doctor superficially, without seeking treatment.
All this is very dangerous, because if left untreated, even a simple gastritis can lead to serious disorders in the body:
Even if the symptoms appear rarely, in no case should they be left unattended. Indeed, behind the usual intestinal upset, indigestion, pain and heaviness in the abdomen, heartburn, sour belching, constipation, nausea and vomiting in children and adults, not only gastritis can be hidden, but also other serious problems - from functional disorders to peptic ulcer.
And the first step in working with them is to establish nutrition. A properly structured diet can both prevent the development of gastritis and help treat the disease at any stage and in various forms.
There is an erroneous opinion that food for gastritis is a rigid diet in which you can’t eat anything, but you don’t want what you can. This is probably why people often ignore the presence of gastritis and do not try to think through the menu in such a way as to prevent complications. And if they begin to pay attention to what they eat, then only during exacerbations, when the stomach already hurts.
In recent years, nutritional science has advanced, and the right menu for gastritis can be tasty and varied. To do this, you need to learn how to choose products for the stomach, based on their effect on the work of the digestive tract.
Nutrition for gastritis depends on the characteristics of the disease. First of all, you need to understand what kind of gastritis you have.
There are different classifications of gastritis. For the formation of a suitable diet that fulfills its role, it is important to take into account the classification according to the form of the course of inflammation and the secretory activity of the stomach.
Gastritis, like other diseases, can occur in acute and chronic forms:
Consider the causes of chronic gastritis in more detail.
It is impossible to list all the causes of gastritis, as this is a complex disease, which can be based on many internal and external factors.
Types of gastritis in terms of the cause of its occurrence:
The main cause of gastritis is a widespread H. pylori infection. According to various statistics, from 65% to 92% of the adult population is infected with it. Normally, everyone can have this bacterium, but when smoking, reducing acidity and weakening the immune function of the stomach, Helicobacter begins to multiply, damaging the gastric mucosa and causing gastritis.
Testing for H. pylori is the first step in diagnosing and treating gastritis. In the presence of an infection, therapy should be carried out aimed at the destruction of Helicobacter, without which it is impossible to cure gastritis. Treatment is prescribed only by a specialist, patients are forbidden to be treated on their own.
The basic rule of the diet for any gastritis: food should be sparing so as not to injure the already inflamed mucosa. But to choose the type of therapeutic diet, it is important to know the characteristics of the disease, namely:
Is it possible to eat with gastritis balanced, tasty and full? Yes! To do this, it is important to understand the essence of the disease and the peculiarities of the influence of products on the secretory and motor functions of the stomach, on the inflammatory process.
The basis of dietary nutrition for gastritis are:
For other food groups, food is built on the basis of the form of gastritis and the secretory function of the stomach.
To understand why certain foods are harmful in a disease such as gastritis, you need to understand how they affect gastric secretion and the health of the mucous membrane. With this information, the patient will be able to eat in such a way as to be healthy and easily navigate among a variety of foods and dishes.
Consider the products and their effect on the stomach, and then the strategy that needs to be followed for different types of gastritis.
Influence on gastric secretion (synthesis of hydrochloric acid and hormones) (table):
Strongly stimulate secretion Weakly stimulate secretionThis table gives an idea of why some foods are strictly prohibited in gastritis, while others can be consumed depending on the form of gastritis and the secretory activity of the stomach.
Just a ban on alcohol, soda and spicy, for example, can be an empty phrase. But understanding the processes that eating a particular food will cause in the body can make planning and following a diet much easier.
Influence on gastric motility:
This is taken into account when building a therapeutic diet. With gastritis, it is important that food does not linger in the stomach for a long time in order to minimize the effect on the inflamed mucosa. Therefore, it is so important to chew carefully and not to abuse fatty foods.
Products that mechanically irritate the mucous membrane:
Products that promote mucosal healing
Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucosa. Therefore, it is necessary to use in the diet products that envelop it and promote healing. It helps to enrich the diet with foods containing anti-inflammatory substances:
Spices are a healing tool! Download the guide and learn more about the possibilities of using them in the diet.
Consider different types of gastritis and strategies for correcting nutrition, based on the properties of most foods and their effect on the work of the stomach.
In the acute phase of gastritis or exacerbation of the chronic form, it is necessary to give the body time to recover. For about a week, a strict diet with mechanical and chemical sparing is needed, in priority - boiled and steamed dishes, pureed or pureed. To reduce mechanical irritation of the mucosa, it is necessary to limit fiber and fats in the diet, as they delay the evacuation of food from the stomach and can aggravate the painful condition. At this stage, it may be useful to include well-formulated baby food in the diet.
After removing the symptoms of exacerbation, the diet expands to a full one, taking into account the cause and type of gastritis.
In chronic gastritis with high acidity, the principles of a sparing diet are applied. Important features of the diet:
In chronic gastritis with low acidity, the principles of a sparing diet are applied:
Dieting hacks can have an effect comparable to taking drugs.
Increase acidity:
Create healthy recipes that improve digestion, add spices and marinade, pay attention to the quality of the ingredients. Products with a good composition can be found on marketplace websites and offline stores in Moscow.
Reduce acidity:
With gastritis, you can and should eat fully. To do this, first of all, you should contact a specialist and find out what kind of gastritis you have. After making a diagnosis, you need to figure out which products will benefit and which will harm. And then, based on the list of allowed foods, make a complete diet, taking into account your preferences and lifestyle characteristics.