Gastritis is a condition in which the stomach lining becomes inflamed. Indigestion, nausea, bloating, and burning stomach pain are all symptoms of this painful condition. Symptoms are frequently aggravated after consuming fatty or spicy foods.
A gastritis diet is recommended to alleviate symptoms and prevent the condition from worsening. The key to avoiding gastritis is to not consume acidic and spicy foods and replace them with low-acid, low-sugar foods.
The article discusses the most beneficial foods to eat if you have gastritis and foods to avoid if you have gastritis.
What To Eat
Fiber-rich Foods
High-fiber foods such as legumes, nuts and seeds, green vegetables, and berries, are good for the entire digestive system, so it’s no surprise that a gastritis diet is high in fiber. Broccoli is especially beneficial to gastric health because, in addition to being high in fiber, it also has high levels of sulforaphane, a compound that kills H. pylori bacteria, which is known for causing inflammation and irritation in the stomach lining.
Probiotic drinks & foods
Probiotics like yogurt, kimchi, kefir, kombucha, and sauerkraut can help relieve gastritis symptoms. First, as good bacteria, they compete for space and food with H. pylori, reducing its load. Second, they help your immune system fight disease. Third, they help the gut absorb the nutrients it needs to heal.
Healthy Fat Foods
While fatty foods aren’t ideal for people with gastritis, foods high in healthy fats are. Inflammation of the stomach lining can lead to H. pylori-induced gastritis and other gastrointestinal disorders. Avocados, olive oil, and various nuts and seeds contain healthy fats.
Protein-rich foods
Protein helps repair stomach lining damage caused by gastritis. But not all proteins are alike. When you have gastritis, you should eat lean proteins because animal fat (except omega-3-rich fatty fish) can aggravate the condition. Lean protein sources include chicken, turkey, egg whites, tuna, and beans. Also, if you are consuming Isolate Whey Protein, have it in a recommended dosage as too much of it can worsen your gastritis issue.
Flavonoid-rich & Antibacterial Foods
Flavonoids have antibacterial properties, inhibiting bacteria growth, including H. pylori. Flavonoids are found in onions, garlic, cranberries, and celery. Antibacterial foods include ginger, honey, and turmeric.
What Not To Eat
Fatty Or Fried Foods
In rare cases, high cholesterol found in fried and high-fat foods has been linked to an elevated risk of gastritis. Naturally, if you already have gastritis, you should avoid these foods to avoid aggravating it.
Acidic foods
Some foods and drinks raise blood acidity levels. And we all know that cola and too much sugar are bad for us, right? But do you know there are other seemingly harmless foods that can irritate the stomach lining such as grains, coffee, and even antioxidant-rich foods like tomatoes are acidic and can aggravate the condition?
Alcohol
Because alcohol is one of the causes of gastritis, avoiding (or at least limiting) alcohol consumption is critical. Alcohol irritates and erodes the stomach lining, exposing it to acids and preventing it from healing.
Heavily Spicy & Seasoned Foods
Spicy foods and seasonings like wasabi, hot peppers, horseradish, and mustard worsen an already inflamed stomach. However, some seasonings can be helpful in treating gastritis like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric which help in fighting bacteria.
Do you have gastritis? What you do to keep it at bay. We’d love to hear them in the comments!
