Do you have gastritis and you don’t know what to eat or what diet to follow? We talk about which are the most recommended foods and which ones you should avoid every day, easily.
If there is a very common disease that mainly affects our stomach, gastritis is considered one of the most common, and can be acute when it arises and occurs in a rather short period of time, or chronic if it lasts for at least 6 months.
It basically consists of inflammation of the stomach lining; that is, in the gastric mucosa, which is the layer formed by different cells that lines the interior of the stomach, and that protects it against the acidity of the different gastric juices.
This inflammation causes, among other symptoms, pain (which is usually located in the upper part of the stomach), and in many cases it can be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Due to this, it is usually very common for the person affected by gastritis to feel inappetent, and that they hardly feel like eating, especially if they are afraid of how they might feel later, after having eaten, since it is common for the symptoms associated with gastritis appear shortly after eating something.
Of course, we must differentiate gastritis itself with nervous gastritis, which is that inflammation of the stomach lining caused by nerves (especially stress and / or anxiety). However, among the most common causes of gastritis we can mention: poor eating habits, Helicobacter Pylori infection and the abuse of certain medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
What foods to avoid with gastritis?
If you suffer from gastritis, one of the main recommendations to take into account is to follow a proper diet, which should be characterized by being based on soft foods that do not irritate or inflame the stomach.
Broccoli is a common food to avoid with gastritis:
For example, there are a series of foods that we should avoid when we have this digestive condition, as well as certain habits when consuming them. The most common are the following:
- Fatty dairy: Fatty dairy should be avoided, such as whole milk, aged cheeses and cream.
- Flatulent vegetables: Cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, cucumber, Brussels sprouts, artichokes and peppers stand out.
- Acidic foods: Mainly the tomato stands out.
- Fruits: Avoid citrus fruits (due to their high acidity), as well as fruits that have not fully ripened.
- Fatty meats and sausages: Avoid any type of fatty and red meat, such as veal or beef. Sausages and cold cuts should also be avoided.
- Pastries and cakes: The consumption of any type of pastry and pastry products should be avoided. Also, cookies are not suitable either.
- Drinks: Carbonated drinks, coffee, tea or cola drinks.
What foods can we eat when we have gastritis?
In addition to avoiding the foods and drinks that we have indicated in the previous section, there are a number of foods that are suitable.
What’s more, you will find below some foods whose group would have been named above, but depending on the type of cooking chosen, they could be accepted. They are as follows:
- Semi-skimmed or skimmed dairy: It is advisable to opt for semi-skimmed or skimmed dairy, fresh cheese and skimmed yogurt.
- Vegetables and vegetables: Any type of vegetable and vegetable, avoiding flatulence vegetables. It is also advisable to always cook boiled, and never consume them raw.
- Legumes: It is always advisable to opt for the gentle cooking of legumes, and pass them through the food mill in order to eliminate the skin, which is the one with the highest fiber content.
- Meats and eggs: It is advisable to opt for white meats (such as chicken or turkey), in addition to eggs. Although sausages are not recommended because they are unhealthy, turkey breast and sweet ham can be consumed.
- Fish: Depending on your tolerance, white fish is also recommended.
- Fruits: Ripe fruits are recommended, in the form of compotes (cooked) or baked. Apple or pear, for example, are highly recommended.
- Drinks: Water, infusions made from mild medicinal plants (such as chamomile, fennel, lemon verbena or lemon balm), and mild defatted broths are recommended.
Other useful tips to keep in mind.
In addition to the dietary advice indicated in the previous lines, there are also some recommendations that can be very useful. For example, it is not advisable to eat large meals, but to eat 4 or 5 times a day (that is, in a fractional or spaced manner).
We must eat slowly and chew food well, which will help our stomach to digest it better and not cause us discomfort. On the other hand, it is not advisable to have dinner and go to bed immediately. On the contrary, it is advisable to have dinner between 2 to 3 hours before going to bed.
