What to Eat If You Have Gastritis

Gastric Diet Tips

Changing your diet can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Meal planning and preparing meals in advance can help keep you on track. With your own gastric diet recipes, you can keep a stash of safe meals in your freezer to heat up instead of getting takeout.

If you find it difficult to stick to the diet or feel deprived over the food you shouldn’t eat, talk to your healthcare provider. They may recommend a therapist who works with people who have food issues.

The gastritis diet can provide all of your nutritional needs. The key is to eat a wide variety of approved foods whenever possible.

It can help to talk to a dietitian who can suggest a well-rounded meal plan based on the guidelines of the gastritis diet and your personal dietary preferences.

Avoiding foods that cause stomach irritation should make you feel better physically. This should help keep you motivated.

In addition, many of the foods on the gastritis diet are nutritionally dense and heart-healthy. Avoiding heavily processed foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt can also improve your overall health.

If you have chronic gastritis or an ongoing medical condition that you take medicine for, talk to your healthcare provider about your diet and any nutritional supplements you take.

Most medications used to treat gastritis are not likely to interact with foods on the approved list. However, it is always a good idea to discuss dietary changes with your healthcare provider. There is always a potential for foods and drinks to affect certain drugs.

Drinking alcohol can counteract the benefits of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prescribed to treat gastritis. PPIs reduce the amount of stomach acid, while alcohol increases acid production. This can worsen symptoms of gastritis or make the condition worse.

Common PPIs include:

• Prilosec ()
• Nexium ()
• Prevacid ()
• Protonix ()

Pepcid, another type of acid-reducing medication, is also less effective for the same reason when combined with alcohol.

Gastritis caused by infection with the bacteria H. pylori may require antibiotics. These can interact with foods or drinks. Certain classes of antibiotics also interact with medications used to treat gastritis.

How food factors into your social life, such as dining out with friends or holiday meals, may need to be tweaked.

• Before going to a restaurant, check the menu online.
• Grilled, broiled, or poached fish or poultry with a side of grains and vegetables are generally good options.
• Steer clear of dishes labeled “blackened”—the pepper and other spices used can inflame your stomach.
• Garlic, onion, pepper, and tomatoes are common ingredients that can be problematic for people with gastritis. Ask if meals contain these ingredients or if they can be omitted.
• Ask for dressing, sauce, or gravy on the side.
• If you choose to eat something that can aggravate gastritis, don’t overdo it and indulge in only one thing at a time. For instance, if you want to have cake for your birthday, keep your main meal low-fat and bland.
• Bring antacids or other symptom-relieving medications with you. Even if you are careful to order safe foods, they may contain ingredients (like black pepper) that can spur symptoms.

Summary

Gastritis—inflammation of the stomach lining—is a painful condition that is treated with diet and medication.

The gastritis diet eliminates fat, sugar, certain spices (like garlic and pepper), and acidic fruits and vegetables (like oranges and tomatoes). These foods commonly irritate the stomach lining.

What You Can Eat

For the most part, you’ll focus on avoiding reflux trigger foods on the acid reflux diet. Trigger foods include spicy foods, fried and high-fat foods, coffee, citrus, dairy, and carbonated beverages. You’ll replace those foods with vegetables, whole grains, and other healthy foods that may improve symptoms.

Ultimately there’s no single acid reflux diet that works for everyone — instead, you should experiment with removing foods and adding them back in to find your particular trigger foods.

Red meat and fatty meats have been associated with heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms, so you should stick to lean proteins like skinless chicken breasts, fresh turkey breast, ground turkey, and lean cut pork chops. You can also eat fish and seafood.

Citrus fruits are acidic and can increase acid reflux. Melons, bananas, pears, and apples are great choices. Eat berries and cherries in moderation.

Vegetables and Greens

Pretty much any vegetable is a go on the acid reflux diet because vegetables are low in sugar and fat, and may help to reduce stomach acid. Leafy greens, asparagus, and squashes are great choices.

Note that broccoli and cauliflower, as well as other highly cruciferous vegetables, may be harder for the body to breakdown, resulting in gas and bloating, which can worsen reflux symptoms. If these vegetables cause discomfort, you may want to try cooking them instead of eating them raw. You can also play around with portions of vegetables, as large volumes of fiber-rich foods may be challenging for digestion.

Beans and Legumes

Foods like kidney beans, black beans, edamame, and lentils pack a serious punch of fiber and protein. Most varieties also contain ample phosphorus, magnesium, folate, and other micronutrients.

Potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, rutabagas, turnips, parsnips, and other starchy vegetables can be a staple of your acid reflux diet. Starchy veggies have lots of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and can make you feel satiated while providing sustained energy.

Some Whole Grains

You don’t have to cut out grains on the acid reflux diet. In fact, oatmeal is thought to be one of the best foods for dampening reflux symptoms. Other excellent choices include quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, whole wheat, barley, and many varieties of rice.

Eggs and egg whites are a fantastic source of protein, and you should enjoy them freely on the acid reflux diet.

It’s recommended that you moderate your intake of healthy fat on the acid reflux diet. When cooking, opt for oils like extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil over canola. You can also get healthy fats from walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and other nuts and seeds. Keep an eye on portion sizes, as dietary fat digests more slowly than protein and carbohydrates, which may cause acid reflux.

Is the Acid Reflux Diet a Healthy Choice for You?

In general, the acid reflux diet can be a healthy diet for most people because it emphasizes nutrient-dense, whole foods with lots of fiber and micronutrients. There are many pros and cons of the Acid Reflux diet, but ultimately, you may want to work with your health care provider to ensure dietary changes are appropriate for your individual needs.

Remember, foods on the “compliant” and “non-compliant” lists may not be the same for you as they are for someone else. For example, you may not tolerate dairy well, while someone else may do just fine with cow’s milk and cheese.

Always make sure to account for food allergies and intolerances on any diet. Consult a physician or registered dietitian if you’re unsure about whether the acid reflux diet is right for you.

Generally, the acid reflux diet can be a nutritious, therapeutic diet choice. It relies on lean proteins, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans and legumes, and eliminates many heartburn-causing ingredients.

Which foods can I eat and drink?

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Foods You Should Add To Gastritis Diet

• Green tea
• Fresh fruits
• Beans and legumes
• Low acid vegetables
• Low salt chees
• Oats and barley
• Probiotic-rich foods
• Foods rich in protein

Foods to avoid on the gastritis diet

Foods to avoid on the gastritis diet differ from person to person. It is generally agreed that there is still the need for greater research on the relationship between the symptoms and diet of chronic gastritis. However, participants in this 2020 study by Beijing University of Chinese Medicine reported that meats, fried foods, sour foods and salty foods all played a part in their symptoms. This is likely due to the fact that they irritate the damaged lining of the stomach.

Foods that may exacerbate gastritis:

• Acidic foods – tomatoes, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruits
• Spicy foods – hot chillies, hot curries, hot peppers, hot sauces
• Salty foods – crisps, tortillas, salted nuts, smoked meat or fish
• Meat – particularly red meat, such as beef, lamb and pork or barbecued meat, such as sausages, burgers, kebabs, chops
• Alcohol and caffeine – Beer, wine, spirits, coffee, black tea

In addition, to which foods they ate, people in the study also said that the way in which they ate played a part too.

• Eating leftover food
• Eating too fast
• Irregular mealtimes
• Dining in restaurants

What is a diet for stomach ulcers and gastritis?

A diet for ulcers and gastritis is a meal plan that limits foods that irritate your stomach. Certain foods may worsen symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, or indigestion.

Living With

Diet alone won’t restore your stomach acid, but these guidelines may help improve your digestion while living with hypochlorhydria:

• Eat protein first. Protein at the beginning of your meal helps to stimulate acid production.
• Drink fluids later. Save drinks until at least 30 minutes after you’ve finished your meal. This gives your stomach more time to produce acid and metabolize proteins.
• Eat probiotic foods, including yogurt, miso and sauerkraut, to help boost your good gut bacteria and keep harmful bacteria in check.
• Avoid overly fatty and processed foods, which are harder to digest and offer little nutrition.
• Fortify your vegetarian diet. Many of the deficiencies associated with low stomach acid, including protein, iron, calcium and vitamin B12, are most abundant in animal-sourced foods, such as meat, fish and dairy products. If you’re a vegetarian, make sure you’re supplementing these nutrients. This might be easiest with a quality health shake blend.
• Eat smaller meals and chew thoroughly to give your digestive system its best chance to break the food down.
• Finish your last meal two to three hours before bedtime. Give your body time to digest before lying down.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid, is a relatively underdiagnosed condition that may be more common than we know. Symptoms commonly associated with hyperchlorhydria, or high stomach acid, including heartburn and reflux, may actually stem from hypochlorhydria. Medications to treat high stomach acid can contribute to low stomach acid, making digestive problems worse. Successful treatment requires careful diagnosis and testing. Medical tests can identify high or low stomach acid as well as other important factors that may be contributing to your symptoms. With the right information, your healthcare provider can help you make a plan to treat the causes and effects of hypochlorhydria.

Gastritis diagnosis and treatments

There are a number of methods to diagnose gastritis and if you think you have it you should speak to your doctor. As well as adapting your diet, a range of medical treatments are also available.

Registered dietician Sophie Medlin explains: “Most people will get diagnosed by their GP and given a medication called a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) which reduces the acid in the stomach, allowing the lining to heal. If that doesn’t work, you may be referred for an endoscopy. Patients with ‘red flag’ symptoms like blood in their vomit or stools or weight loss should be referred straight for a camera test.”

• a stool test – to check for infection or bleeding from the stomach
• a breath test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection – this involves drinking a glass of clear, tasteless liquid that contains radioactive carbon and blowing into a bag
• an endoscopy – a flexible tube (endoscope) is passed down your throat and into your oesophagus and stomach to look for signs of inflammation
• a barium swallow – barium solution, which shows up on X-rays as it passes through the digestive system, will be given

If a doctor confirms you have gastritis, treatment may include:

Other things which may help include:

• Eating smaller, more frequent meals
• Giving up smoking
• Finding ways to manage your stress

Video of the Week:

What Is Gastritis?

Gastritis problem is quite a common problem among people. It is an inflammation, erosion, or irritation of the lining of the stomach. It, however, at the start is acute but can turn into a chronic condition. Or in other words, gastritis is the membrane of the stomach gets disturbed and further, leads to the secretion of acids.

Foods Not To Add To Gastritis Diet

While suffering from any problem, what is important is to know what is right for you and what is not. Similarly, during gastritis, you should know which foods not to add to your diet.

• acidic foods like tomatoes and some fruits
• alcohol
• carbonated drinks
• coffee
• fatty foods
• fried foods
• fruit juices
• pickled foods
• spicy foods
• tea

Management and Treatment

Treating hypochlorhydria is a three-pronged process.

• Address underlying causes. If your healthcare provider has been able to identify the cause of your hypochlorhydria, the first step will be to address that. This might mean adjusting your medication prescriptions, treating an underlying health condition, or fighting a bacterial infection with antibiotics.
• Supplement hydrochloric acid. To treat the hydrochloric acid deficiency itself, your healthcare provider may prescribe an HCI supplement (betaine hydrochloride) to take with meals. HCI supplements are often combined with the enzyme pepsin. These supplements can help your digestion. Sometimes, they help your stomach acid gradually return to normal levels, and you can discontinue taking them. They are available over the counter, but they are not for everyone, so you should talk to your healthcare provider first before self-prescribing.
• Supplement nutritional deficiencies. If your low stomach acid caused other deficiencies, such as iron, calcium or vitamin B12, your healthcare provider may recommend supplements to help replace those nutrients.

How to Prepare the Acid Reflux Diet & Tips

Avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller more frequent meals, chewing thoroughly, and healthy cooking and bedtime habits are important for success in relieving acid reflux.

It is also helpful to keep a detailed symptoms journal including food and beverage intake, sleep, and stress levels. This will help you to determine if the elimination diet has relieved symptoms and if any particular food causes your symptoms.

• Try sautéing, roasting, baking, braising, steaming, or roasting your food rather than deep-frying it.
• Choose healthier fats like olive oil and ghee over mixed vegetable oils and butter.
• Make the majority of your plate fiber-rich vegetables or whole grains.

When you eat a large meal, you increase pressure in your stomach and lower esophagus, your stomach produces more acid to aid digestion. All these factors contribute to acid reflux. Eating smaller meals makes digestion easier and decreases pressure in your digestive tract.

There is one meal you should time carefully: Your last meal of the day. Many people experience acid reflux symptoms at night and eating too soon before bedtime can exacerbate symptoms. Try to eat dinner at least two hours before getting some shuteye, but preferably even three to four hours—lying down with a full stomach causes even more pressure on your digestive tract, which can force stomach contents back up your esophagus.

Sample Shopping List

• Low-Fat Proteins (Chicken Breasts, Ground Turkey, Salmon)
• Non-Citrus Fruits (Apples, Pears, Bananas)
• Leafy Greens (Spinach, Kale, Cabbage)
• Beans (Kidney Beans, Black Beans, Edamame)
• Starches (Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Carrots)
• Whole Grains (Buckwheat, Barley, Quinoa, Rice)
• Nuts and Seeds (Walnuts, Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds)

Benefits

The gastritis diet is designed to ease symptom flare-ups and prevent the condition from worsening.

The broad goal of a gastritis diet is to reduce stomach inflammation. Inflammation in the stomach lining causes a breakdown in the production of protective mucus.

Gastric juice is an acidic liquid that breaks down food during digestion. Mucus coats the stomach lining to prevent damage from gastric juice. If there’s not enough mucus, ulcers and other complications can occur, including:

• Anemia, a lack of oxygen-carrying red blood cells due to bleeding
• Pernicious anemia or B12 deficiency, due to poor absorption of B12
• Peritonitis, a potentially fatal condition in which ulcers break a hole through the stomach wall, causing stomach contents to leak into the abdominal cavity
• Stomach cancer

Managing gastritis symptoms through diet can help to prevent gastritis from progressing into more serious health problems.

In addition, the gastritis diet may also help ease pregnancy-related nausea and heartburn.

The gastritis diet reduces the stomach inflammation of gastritis. This helps to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

Gastritis symptoms

Gastritis symptoms can vary in severity, from an occasional annoyance to regular intense pain. Some people will experience acute gastritis, where the pain comes on suddenly and severely, while for others the condition will be chronic and the symptoms will last for a long time. Most people will recover quickly as long as they allow their stomachs to heal properly. However, sometimes stomach ulcers can be caused in cases of erosive gastritis, when the stomach lining has been worn away.

Typical gastritis symptoms include:

• Indigestion
• Burning stomach pain
• Feeling or being sick
• Feeling full after eating

Registered dietician Sophie Medlin says: “Most people will experience stomach pain under their ribs or high in their stomach and some may also get pain between their shoulder blades. You’re also likely to experience nausea, bloating, indigestion, hiccups and loss of appetite. More worrying symptoms would include vomiting up blood which can look like coffee grinds or black tarry stools which is old blood from the stomach.”

A Word From Verywell

Note that GERD or acid reflux may require medical treatment for some individuals. Always speak with a health care provider if you believe dietary interventions are not improving your symptoms, as medication may be indicated.

If your goal is weight loss, remember that losing weight isn’t necessarily the same as being your healthiest self, and there are many other ways to pursue health. Exercise, sleep, and other lifestyle factors also play a major role in your overall health. The best diet is always the one that is balanced and fits your lifestyle.

Diagnosis and Treatment for Gastric Problem

To know any health problem, there are certain tests that have to be done to diagnose the cause and so is for gastritis problems.

This test is also, called esophagogastroduodenoscopy or OGD in which your esophagus, small part of the intestine, and stomach are examined. The doctor puts an endoscope which is a thin and flexible tube in your mouth and proceeds through the throat into the food pipe, intestines, and stomach. Further, there is a camera placed at the end of the tube which enables the view of the stomach and intestine thoroughly.

2. Blood Tests

To diagnose other diseases, causes, and symptoms doctors also, do blood tests, However, doctors may recommend Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) to look for the bacterium that usually is the cause of gastric problems.

3. Stool Test Or Fecal Occult Blood Test

A stool culture checks if there are any bacteria present in the digestive tract that may cause gastritis problems.

However, once the cause and the stage are diagnosed, the procedure of treatment starts.

Treatment For Gastritis Involves:

further, treatment includes,

• Antacids and other drugs are prescribed to reduce stomach acid.
• If the gastritis is caused due to bacterial infection or viral, then to reduce heartburn you will be provided with medications.

Day 1

On day 1, breakfast for gastritis patients is not very boring as this includes vegetable poha or indori poha which is healthy and flavorful. This diet will not be that boring, trust Fitelo.

South Indian is my favorite of all, and stuffed idli is the first thing that comes to mind, so why not add it to your diet as well?

Call it jeera water or elaichi water, both aid in weight loss and gas problems. So, it is, however, important to add to your diet.

Third last day of the diet, and probably you must be feeling better, but this does not mean you will stop here. Make sure you complete the 7-day course of the whole diet chart. Enjoy palak dal khichdi on day 5!

Vegetable Dalia is a perfect choice to add to your diet, as it helps in weight loss and bloating as well. On this day, you have the same meal, and you can add your choice of vegetables to it.

Surely, you must be okay till now and your gas must have said bye-bye. Today there is an interesting meal for you which has missi roti with curd. Have a happy meal and stay healthy.

Transformation That Improved Gastritis Also

So, here is an amazing transformation, where there was not only weight loss but also, an improvement in her acid or gas problems.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=-6920_wj_XE%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Anti-inflammatory foods

• Berries – Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries,
• Green leafy vegetables – Kale, spinach, cabbage
• Other vegetables – Broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, fennel
• Oily fish – Salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel, herring
• Unsalted nuts – Almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, walnuts and pistachios
• Teas – green tea, Ginger tea, Liquorice tea
• Aloe vera juice
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Spices – turmeric, garlic, ginger

What other guidelines may be helpful?

• Do not eat right before bedtime. Stop eating at least 2 hours before bedtime.
• Eat small, frequent meals. Your stomach may tolerate small, frequent meals better than large meals.

Care Agreement

The acid reflux diet provides lots of fiber-rich vegetables and low-fat foods, while avoiding spicy foods, high-fat and fried foods, acidic foods, and citrus fruits. The acid reflux diet aims to minimize and even eliminate symptoms of acid reflux, which include heartburn, chest pain or tightness, the feeling of a lump in your throat, and a bitter taste in your mouth.

Note that there is no gold standard for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Dietary interventions, such as those outlined by the American College of Gastroenterology, may provide relief of GERD symptoms.

Reflux occurs when the contents of your stomach, particularly stomach acid, wash back up into your esophagus. That’s what causes the burning sensation you get in your throat when you experience reflux.

What Experts Say

“The acid reflux diet limits foods that can exacerbate symptoms of reflux. Experts agree that food, and other lifestyle factors, can have a major effect on symptoms. It’s helpful to work with an expert when limiting foods to ensure nutrient balance and satisfaction are maintained.”

-Willow Jarosh, MS, RD

Symptoms and Causes

The most significant causes include:

What are the symptoms of hypochlorhydria?

Immediate symptoms involve indigestion, including:

• Abdominal pain.
• Bloating.
• Gas.
• Diarrhea.
• Constipation.
• Undigested food in poop.
• Reflux.
• Heartburn.

Prolonged hypochlorhydria may produce symptoms of nutritional deficiencies, including:

• Brittle fingernails.
• Hair loss.
• Paleness.
• Fatigue.
• Weakness.
• Numbness or tingling in hands and feet.
• Memory loss.
• Headaches.

Other contributing causes may include:

• Advanced age. Cells age as we do, and over time, the cells that produce stomach acid can begin to die off.
• Chronic stress. This doesn’t mean common, everyday stress. But if you have significant stress sustained over a long period of time, it can affect your stomach acid production.
• Stomach surgery, including gastric bypass surgery, is known to affect stomach acid production.

What risk factors are associated with hypochlorhydria?

• Prolonged use of antacids or PPIs.
• H. pylori infection.
• History of gastritis or stomach ulcers.
• History of stomach surgery.

Tips To Control Gastric Problems

There is no problem that does not has a solution to it. So, below are the tips mentioned for you, which will help you control gastritis problems.

• Make sure, you drink plenty of water which also, includes lemon and baking soda into it. Drinking a glass of cold milk, buttermilk, and mint juice also helps.
• Also, drinking tea, fennel water, chamomile tea or ginger tea helps solve bloating and prevent gastritis.
• Add whole grain foods, vegetables, and fruits to your diet making your meals healthy.
• Most importantly, avoid junk food, and fried, and substitute your unhealthy meals with healthy ones.
• Moreover, eat proper 8 meals instead of skipping and eating one meal in a big quantity.

Essential Tips to Prevent and Treat Gastritis

Eating a healthy and balanced diet helps to cure or stay away from most diseases. A balanced diet consists of all kinds of nutrients and minerals the body requires. Plus, regularising meal timings and having small frequent meals throughout the day is more beneficial when gastritis causes an upset tummy. Personalised nutrition based on your lifestyle and dietary preferences is made easier by subscribing to HealthifyMe.

Cooking Tips

It is vital to understand how harmful smoking is to your health. Try immediately quitting this habit, especially if you suffer from health issues. For example, it will reduce the possibility of gastritis disease.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration will help your body reduce acidity and will provide relief. In addition, drinking the proper amount of water recommended daily can help regulate stomach acidity.

Avoid Alcohol

The irritant alcohol is known to weaken the digestive system and produce acidic reactions inside our bodies. But although some individuals may see an increase in symptoms after just one drink, others can handle small amounts. It is recommended to minimise alcohol consumption as much as possible. Then, gradually quit the habit.

Stay Away from Caffeinated Beverages

Caffeinated drinks, including sodas, tea, and coffee, should be mostly avoided. These beverages irritate the stomach lining, which can lead to inflammation and pain. If you do buy a beverage, make sure to drink in moderation.

• Watermelon juice
• Whole grain bread with scrambled egg

• Apple
• Tender coconut water

• Whole grain rice
• Grilled chicken breast

• Boiled vegetables
• Roasted fish fillet

Day 2

• Strawberry smoothie
• Bread with ricotta cheese

Day 3

• Papaya
• Scrambled eggs with soft cheese

• Green tea
• Tofu salad

• Decaffeinated coffee
• Bread toast

Diagnosis and Tests

The symptoms of hypochlorhydria — symptoms of indigestion, nutritional deficiencies and possibly bacterial infection — can be caused by many things. Hypochlorhydria is only one possible cause. If you have several of the risk factors associated with low stomach acid, you might suspect that is your problem. But there’s no way to know for sure without taking a stomach acid test.

The baking soda test

The theory behind this at-home is that baking soda combined with stomach acid produces carbon dioxide (C02), which will cause you to burp. For the test, you’ll drink half a glass (4 ounces) of cold water combined with a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, on an empty stomach. Then time how long it takes you to burp. If it takes longer than three to five minutes, the theory goes, you don’t have enough stomach acid.

How is hypochlorhydria diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam and listen to your symptoms and health history. If they suspect hypochlorhydria, they will suggest one of several stomach acid tests.

Medical tests to diagnose stomach acid include

• The Heidelberg pH test. For this test, you’ll swallow a small capsule with a radio transmitter that measures the pH levels in your stomach. After taking a baseline measurement, you’ll drink a baking soda solution to neutralize your stomach acid. Then the test measures how long it takes your stomach to return to baseline acid levels. This tells healthcare providers how well your stomach produces and secretes acid.
• The SmartPill test. The SmartPill is another wireless transmitter that you swallow. Unlike the Heidelberg test, which measures pH levels, the SmartPill measures gastric acid levels.
• The gastric string test. This test involves swallowing a capsule attached to a string, then pulling it out by the string after 10 minutes. The string is tested with pH paper. Normal stomach acid has a pH level of one to two, which is highly acidic, with zero being the most acidic level on the scale. If you have hypochlorhydria, your stomach acid might be more in the range of three to five. Above five is a severe condition called achlorhydria, which means you have virtually no hydrochloric acid.

Understanding which food products you should entirely avoid is critical. We will discuss all the dietary irritants you should avoid while dealing with or recovering from gastritis.

It’s crucial to refrain from eating any fast food. For example, eating a burger on the way to work is highly bad for your body, no matter how convenient it might be. Even if you cannot identify the difference at the moment, it is still likely to increase the acid secretions in the stomach.

Other food items that you need to avoid are:

High-Fat Foods

Fried and fatty foods may relax the lower oesophagal sphincter, increasing the likelihood of stomach acid reflux into the oesophagus and also delaying stomach emptying of these foods.

Reducing your daily overall fat intake can help because eating high-fat foods increases your risk of gastritis. It includes all fried food items like french fries, onion rings, and other products like deep-fried beef, pork, lamb, and chips.

Citrus Fruits

In a healthy diet, fruits and vegetables are essential. However, some fruits, especially those with a high acid content, might worsen or trigger gastritis symptoms. If you frequently get acid reflux, it may be a sign of damaged stomach lining. Therefore, you should cut back on or altogether avoid fruits like lemons, limes, pineapple, tomatoes, oranges, and grapefruit.

Spicy Food

Many people have heartburn after eating sour and spicy meals with onions and garlic. Track your meals carefully in your diary if you consume a lot of onions or garlic. In addition to overeating spicy food, rapidly eating it can also irritate your stomach.

The HealthifyMe Note

You must avoid high-fat foods, fried foods, citrus fruits, and spicy foods while on a gastritis diet. In short, abstain from consuming anything acidic. Instead, increase the number of alkaline food items in your diet. It will assist in balancing the body’s acid levels and guard against stomach lining damage.

Gastric Problem Causes

However, behind gastric issues, there can be several reasons. Some that are often to be blamed are below.

This is known as aerophagia in which you swallow the gas, in the below forms,

• Chewing gums
• Smoking
• Loose dentures
• Drinking through straw
• Eating too fast

2. Lower Intestinal Gas

This is the situation when intestinal bacterias act on the undigested food present in the large intestine and further, gas is excreted out of the body in flatus form. These foods include,

• Starch foods like potatoes, pasta, corn, etc.
• Fatty and spicy foods
• Vegetables include cabbage, beans, onion, asparagus
• Fruits like apples, pears, and peaches
• Being empty stomach for a long time or eating excessive spicy food and drinking alcohol.
• Taking too much stress, tension, and anxiety or disturbance of mental health are also, the major reasons for this problem.
• Also, if you do not chew your food properly even then you can have a gas problem.
• Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori): This is the bacteria living in the mucous lining of the stomach and if you do not treat it on time, it further, leads to ulcers or stomach cancer.
• Bile reflux: This is another reason for gastritis in which backflow of bole in the stomach from the bile tract.
• Other causes, that you should not ignore are acidity, indigestion, bloating, heartburn, bacterial infection, constipation, etc.

• Can I eat eggs with gastritis?Yes, plain eggs are a good source of protein to eat when you have gastritis. A few caveats: Avoid eggs that are fried, cooked in butter, or mixed with cheese. Pepper and other spices can aggravate the stomach lining. If dining out, be sure to specify no pepper.
• Are potatoes safe to eat if you have gastritis?Yes, potatoes are a bland food and are unlikely to aggravate gastritis. However, people with gastritis should avoid excess fat, so skip French fries and instead opt for baked, roasted, or boiled potatoes served with little or no butter.
• What spices should be avoided when you have gastritis?Spices to avoid when you have gastritis include all types of pepper (black, red, cayenne, or chili pepper), garlic, mustard, and nutmeg. People with gastritis should also avoid tomato products, onions, and sugar.

Symptoms Of Gastritis Problem

Feeling gas in the stomach is quite common, and there can be many symptoms for it some most common ones are mentioned for you.

• Nausea or recurrent upset stomach
• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Vomiting or blood vomiting
• Indigestion or stomach pain
• Ulcers or burning in the stomach
• Loss of appetite or black, tarry stools

Probiotic foods

Probiotic foods have also been found to combat bad bacteria that can lead to stomach infections, such as H. pylori. Recent research has shown this to be the most common cause of gastritis – around 60 to 70 per cent. Some studies (opens in new tab) suggest that probiotics can also help to diminish the frequency of gastrointestinal occurrences. However, more research is needed in this area.

Foods that contain natural probiotics:

• Natural yoghurt
• Sourdough bread
• Kefir (a fermented milk drink)
• Miso ( a fermented paste used for flavour and soups)
• Kimchi (fermented vegetables used as a side dish or for flavourings)
• Sauerkraut (fermented cabbage used as a side dish or for flavourings
• Tempeh (a meat replacement, made from fermented soybeans)

Sophie Medlin, who is director of City Dietitians (opens in new tab), says: “In general, people with gastritis need to prioritise medical treatment. However, what you eat can certainly aggravate things further. Good foods to eat when you have gastritis include root vegetables, lower acid fruit like melon and banana, lean meats and fish, white or brown bread (but not seeded), cereals like porridge, pasta, rice, and potatoes.”

Sophie’s suggested meal plan for a day:

• Breakfast – Porridge with lacto-free milk, banana and berries
• Snack – Crackers with hummus
• Lunch – Vegetable soup with bread
• Snack – Melon and grapes
• Dinner – Roasted root vegetables with chicken or fish

Frequently Asked Questions

Ans. In gastritis, you can eat fruits like blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, or citrus fruits that will enable the growth of H pylori.

Can You Add Eggs To Gastritis Diet?

Ans. Yes, you can eat eggs while suffering from gas, as it will help repair your damaged stomach.

Is It Ok To Eat Yogurt In Gastritis Diet?

Ans. Yogurt, is, however, one of the vitamin B 12-rich foods, and is also, a good choice to have during gastritis.

Which Liquids Are Best To Add To Gastritis Diet?

Ans. Water, herbal tea, non-dairy milk, low sugar, and low-acid beverages are, however, the best beverages to drink during gastritis problems.

Can You Drink Milk On Gastritis Diet?

Ans. Well, sometimes milk can be a good option to drink to temporary relief stomach pain but usually, it can worsen gastritis symptoms as it can increase the production of acid in the stomach.

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This blog post was written to help you to make healthy and better food choices altogether. So, be aware and take care. The important thing to consider is your own health before starting a diet that is restrictive. Always seek advice from a doctor/dietitian before starting if you have any concerns.

Eat Healthy, Live Healthy. Enjoy a long happy life.

What to Eat

• Beans and legumes (as tolerated)
• Eggs, egg whites, or egg substitutes (not fried)
• Seafood, shellfish (not fried)
• Low-acid vegetables (cucumber, white potato, carrots)
• Low-sugar, low-acid fruit (pumpkin, blueberries, strawberries, apples)
• Mild, low-salt cheese
• Peppermint, ginger, turmeric
• Plain, low-fat yogurt
• Probiotic-rich foods (sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha)
• Skinless, lean poultry (chicken, turkey)
• Whole grain bread and pasta

Fruits and Vegetables

Avoid acidic produce, such as citrus fruit and tomatoes. In addition, avoid vegetables used to add flavor and spice, such as onions and hot peppers.

Choose low-acid fruits and veggies. Apples, berries, pumpkin, and carrots are good options that are also good sources of fiber. Bananas stimulate mucus production that protects against acids in the stomach, and they add soluble fiber to the diet. In some people, though, they may add to digestive symptoms.

Include whole grains, like bread, brown rice, and pasta. These are ideal foods because they are bland and have fiber, which is important for gastrointestinal health. Oats, barley, and quinoa are other nutritious options.

However, if you are experiencing symptoms that make eating difficult, plain white rice or white potato can be easier to digest.

Avoid corn and anything made from corn, such as cornbread, certain gluten-free pasta, and other products.

Fat can irritate the gastric lining and cause symptoms. Avoid full-fat dairy products. You can include low-fat dairy products. Low-fat, low-sugar yogurt is a good option. Look for a brand that contains gut-healthy probiotics. You may be able to tolerate some hard cheeses in small portions.

Avoid sauces, fillings, or puddings made with rich, heavy cream or soft cheeses. If you indulge on a special occasion, keep your portions small.

Eggs, egg whites, and egg substitutes are excellent sources of protein any time of day. Avoid preparing them with butter, milk, and seasoning (even black pepper). And skip the side of salty, processed breakfast meat like bacon or sausage.

Avoid red meat, which is high in fat and can cause gastritis symptoms. Choose lean poultry and grilled or broiled seafood (not fried).

Nuts and nut butter are high in protein, but also high in fat. This can be problematic for some people with gastritis. Legumes and beans are high in protein and fiber, which can sometimes aggravate symptoms. Keep portions small at first to see what you are able to tolerate.

Soups that are broth-based, like chicken soup, are better choices than cream or dairy-based soups.

Foods high in fat or sugar can cause symptoms and should be avoided on the gastritis diet. This includes baked goods, pastries, ice cream, puddings, and chocolate.

Berries with a low-fat non-dairy whipped topping or fat-free ricotta cheese make a sweet dessert that shouldn’t irritate your stomach.

Ingredients used in desserts that may soothe a stomach include a little honey, ginger, peppermint, and turmeric.

Avoid caffeine, sugary drinks, soda, energy drinks, acidic juices (orange or tomato juice), and alcohol, including wine, beer, and cocktails.

While you should avoid caffeine, some people with mild gastritis can tolerate weak tea or coffee with a splash of low-fat milk or non-dairy creamer.

Water, herbal tea, non-dairy milk, and low-sugar/low-acid juices are your best options.

When to Eat

When your digestive system is under stress or not working at its best, the amount of food you eat and how long you go between meals may contribute to irritation.

If you are prone to having an upset stomach due to gastritis, you may find it helpful to change the timing of your meals and snacks. Try eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day as opposed to sitting down to three larger ones.

If you don’t feel as satisfied when eating less at each meal, add a couple of healthy snacks throughout the day.

Does Fasting Help Gastritis?

It’s likely better to maintain your diet with “safe,” acid-free foods eaten in smaller meals than it is to try fasting. Some studies suggest that people who fast (as with Islamic faith practice during Ramadan) show a rise in gastric acid, which presents a bleeding risk in those with an existing condition like peptic ulcer disease. Check with your healthcare provider before you try fasting to treat gastritis.

If you have other health conditions with their own dietary restrictions, you may need to adjust the gastritis diet. Gastritis is often caused by medical conditions, certain medications, and lifestyle factors.

While there is a long list of foods to avoid on the gastritis diet, there is still plenty of variety to choose from. The gastritis diet is easily modified to fit personal food preferences and health conditions. These include:

• Celiac and gluten sensitivity: Gluten-free pasta and other foods are often made from corn, which should be avoided if you have gastritis. Be sure to read the ingredient label on gluten-free foods.
• Food allergies: There is a wide variety of foods to choose from on the gastritis diet. Just avoid eating food you are allergic to.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: You have increased nutritional needs at these times, so work with your healthcare provider or dietitian to make sure you’re getting enough calories and nutrients in your diet.
• Vegetarian diets: Most plant-based proteins are approved for the gastritis diet. Check with your healthcare provider or nutritionist to ensure you get enough protein.

What causes gastritis?

Various lifestyle choices and health conditions can cause gastritis. Smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, bacterial infections and stress are all known contributors to it. The symptoms of gastritis may be acute and come on quickly and severely or chronic and last a long time. Not treating the problem can also lead to stomach ulcers.

Heliobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacterial infection H. pylori is a common stomach infection and does not usually cause symptoms. So many people may not even realise they have it. However, it can also cause inflammation of the stomach lining, which can lead to recurring indigestion. This is often common in older age groups and usually causes chronic long-term cases. There has been some research that has linked high salt intake with H. pylori.

Excessive use of alcohol or cocaine Both excessive alcohol and cocaine use can damage the lining of the stomach, due to an increase in acidity levels. For example, one study (opens in new tab)which looked at 69 males who had been chronically drinking between five and 37 years, found it predisposes the gastric mucosa, the mucous membrane layer of the stomach, to inflammation. Plus, the inflammation was worse due to the duration of the addiction.

Regularly taking aspirin, ibuprofen or other painkillers Studies (opens in new tab) have shown that when taken for several weeks or months, some medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen can lead to gastritis. This may be the case for people who need to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for other conditions they may have. NSAIDs are usually used to relieve symptoms ranging from headaches and painful periods to colds and flu. However, long-term conditions, such as arthritis, can also be treated by them.

Outlook / Prognosis

This condition can often be reversed, or at least successfully treated, with HCI supplements. It’s important to address the underlying causes, however. If you have an infection, disorder or inflammatory condition, these will continue to cause problems, including hypochlorhydria and others. Make sure to get a thorough medical screening before treating with HCI supplements. Your healthcare provider can help ensure you’re treating the causes and effects of hypochlorhydria, including specific nutritional deficiencies.

What You Cannot Eat

Red meat and other fatty proteins, like chicken thighs with skin, have been associated with symptoms of acid reflux, particularly heartburn. Avoid these foods for a few weeks and see if your symptoms improve.

There is conflicting evidence when it comes to cholesterol intake and reflux. Some research suggests that cholesterol is linked to acid reflux and GERD, so you may want to avoid foods like egg yolks, organ meats, overly processed cheese, lunch meats, sausages, and hot dogs, and fast food.

Dairy is a trigger food for many people with acid reflux, but not everyone. Avoid dairy for a few weeks to see if you notice a reduction in your symptoms. Some people find that only full-fat dairy irritates their reflux, but have no problem with low-fat or fat-free dairy products.

Oils and Fried Foods

Oils to avoid include canola, soybean, corn, cottonseed, and mixed vegetable oils, as they can be inflammatory and trigger symptoms. Be cautious of any fried foods, especially if you didn’t make it yourself. Fried foods are high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium and may exacerbate GERD symptoms.

Peppers, onions, and spices trigger acid reflux symptoms in many people, as do tangy foods like garlic and onions. Try cutting these foods out of your diet for a few weeks, and slowly add them back in to find out if they trigger your symptoms.

Caffeine has been associated with acid reflux symptoms because it might relax your lower esophageal sphincter, which allows stomach contents to travel upward. Coffee itself is very acidic, so it may worsen acid reflux symptoms. Anecdotally, if you’re a big coffee drinker and are struggling from GERD, reducing coffee intake generally reduces acid reflux symptoms fairly quickly.

Carbonated drinks may trigger reflux because of the carbonation itself, or because of the caffeine found in many sodas. Carbonation may increase pressure in your stomach, which can lead to acid reflux. Some people can have carbonated drinks with no problem, so try reducing them to see what happens.

Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruits, and pineapple have a high acid content and may contribute to reflux. However, some people find they only react to citrus later in the day. Try limiting citrus to breakfast time.

Like citrus fruits, tomatoes are highly acidic and may contribute to reflux in some people. Refrain from eating tomatoes or anything made with tomatoes, such as salsa, spaghetti sauce, chili, or pizza, to see if your symptoms improve.

Similar to coffee, chocolate contains compounds that may trigger acid reflux symptoms—in this case, a substance called methylxanthine is thought to induce symptoms despite its apparent health benefits. If you do eat chocolate, eat it in moderation.

The 7-Day Diet Plan

There are several foods that are believed to contribute to acid reflux, including spicy and fatty foods, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol. Removing these foods, in theory, should relieve symptoms. However, there is only anecdotal evidence to support this. Some people with acid reflux may find some relief by avoiding certain foods, while others can eat the same foods without any issues.

The acid reflux diet should be customized for each individual, but most people start by eliminating all potentially non-compliant foods first and gradually adding things back in to see if it causes a reaction.

• Day 1: Chia pudding with fruit; apples, pears, or bananas; avocado chicken salad; skinless chicken breasts with sweet potato
• Day 2: Egg white omelet; broccoli and squash soup; fresh turkey breast with roasted asparagus and squash
• Day 3: Sweet potato breakfast hash with scrambled egg whites; trail mix with walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and dehydrated bananas; turkey sandwich; ground turkey lettuce cups
• Day 4: Edamame beans on toast; kale salad with squash and lentils; roasted salmon with quinoa
• Day 5: Scrambled eggs with kale; vegetables with steamed fish; lean cut pork chops with rice
• Day 6: Oatmeal with apples; turkey sandwich; baked cod with steamed vegetables
• Day 7: Coconut milk yogurt; quinoa salad with roasted vegetables; grilled tofu with potatoes

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.