Authored by Ceetee Sheckels in Diseases
Published on 10-29-2009
If you have gastritis, you probably have two main concerns. You want to feel better; and you want to ensure that the condition does not become worse. Some alterations to your diet is one step which you can take to assist with both.
When the stomach lining is inflamed, soothing it will improve both how you feel and the condition itself. The quicker you eliminate harmful foods and beverages from your diet, the sooner you will begin to see positive results. Gastritis patients should start by eliminating coffee, tea and alcohol from their everyday dietary routine. Foods which are highly spiced, fried, or greasy, should also be eliminated. The reason for this is that all of these types of foods and beverages irritate the lining of the stomach. Removing them from your diet is essential in helping your stomach to heal.
An appropriate diet for gastritis patients generally consists of bland foods which promote healing. Starchy foods will cause this effect while helping you to feel better at the same time. Cereals such as oatmeal, potatoes, and bread are in this category. You will see better results if you eat these types of foods plain. If you have the habit of adding butter or other condiments to your food, it should not take long for you to begin enjoying these foods in the natural, healthier state.
Low-fat dairy products are also useful to the gastritis patient. A few servings of milk and cottage cheese per day can be included in the gastritis diet if the individual person does not experience excess gas or bloating from these products. Most people are less prone to experiencing these problems when they consume low-fat dairy products instead of whole products.
Fresh fruit can be helpful to the person who is suffering from gastritis. Some people who have stomach conditions feel worse if they consume citric acid. If this describes you, you should avoid grapefruit and other fruits which are in this category. However, there are fruits which do not contain citric acid, which most people who suffer from gastritis can benefit from adding to their diets. Apples and bananas are two examples of fruits which will not harm even the most sensitive stomachs.
While eliminating harmful products and focusing on products which will aid in your healing is important, there are other dietary factors which must be adhered to in the treatment of gastritis. You should assess your eating habits, and change them if necessary. This means eating small, healthy meals on a regular basis. As gastritis is often caused by overindulging in food and erratic eating patterns, this step will make a world of difference.
Second, reducing the amount of stress in your life can help prevent the recurrence of gastritis. As stress causes the natural reaction of producing more acid in the stomach, an overabundance of stress can lead to the inflammation of the stomach lining. In addition to doing what you can to reduce your stress, you may also benefit from learning healthier ways of coping with the stress that does occur in your life.
