What can you eat when you have gastritis?
When it comes to gastritis and diet, the main thing is to avoid further irritating the stomach lining, if possible. Many patients with acute gastritis therefore eat nothing at all for the first one or two days. During fasting, however, you should always drink enough fluids.
Which teas help with gastritis?
Many sufferers wonder which tea is good for gastritis. Here, for example, chamomile tea is considered anti-inflammatory and well tolerated. Peppermint tea is usually beneficial, but not suitable for everyone or a treat. Non-carbonated mineral water is an alternative. Low-fat broth is also recommended. It provides the body with important electrolytes as well as fluids.
First food abstinence, then diet
This type of diet for gastritis essentially means a diet that does not include certain foods. Doctors advise against this and instead recommend eating everything that one can tolerate.
The length of time that such a diet should be followed varies from person to person. In most cases, the acute symptoms improve within a few days if food intake is completely avoided or only small portions are eaten. However, it is often advisable to avoid intolerable foods permanently.
Gastritis diet plan
A gastritis diet plan with “adapted whole foods” looks different for everyone and usually contains different types of fruit and vegetables in addition to cereal products and meat or fish. A diet considered well tolerated by gastritis or gastritis answers common questions about foods such as:
- Which fruit? Low acid apples, strawberries, melons, peaches.
- What plant foods? Potatoes and vegetables such as carrots, spinach, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, beans
- What meat or fish? Poultry meat and low-fat fish such as cod or plaice
Other elements of a stomach-friendly diet that can usually be eaten without problems in gastritis are:
- Carrot soup
- Oil sates such as linseed and various oils (for example linseed and rapeseed oil)
- Turmeric, it is also said to have anti-inflammatory effects. In science, however, opinions differ on its effectiveness.
Some investigations found beside it a positive effect of certain kinds of honey (Manuka honey) with Gastritis.
Since the measures mainly have an effect on the symptoms and less on the cause, the recommendations for the diet in chronic gastritis type A, B or C do not differ fundamentally.
“Adapted whole food” for gastritis.
The “adapted full diet” corresponds to a wholesome, balanced diet that provides the body with sufficient amounts of all necessary nutrients. It differs from the “normal” full diet only in that certain foods and beverages that cause individual intolerances are avoided.
Slow diet build-up
Although you do not have to go without, it is still advisable to proceed slowly during and after gastritis treatment. If you have been fasting because of the symptoms, start eating again with a “light build-up diet” consisting, for example, of gruel, rusks and tea. Rice, white bread, mashed potatoes, cooked lean meat, fish, scrambled eggs and easily digestible vegetables are also suitable.
So pay attention to your gut feeling and leave out what causes you a stomach ache. Nevertheless, it is advisable to prefer to prepare foods that are low in fat so as not to overload your stomach.
Gradually add more foods to your gastritis menu, such as low-fat milk or dairy products (like yogurt, kefir and quark), low-fat pastries (like sponge cake, yeast pastries), light casseroles and puddings – the rule is: anything you can tolerate is allowed in gastritis.
To find out which foods you tolerate well, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) advises you to keep an individual diet and symptom diary. This makes it easier to put together the right diet plan for you with all the important nutrients. If you are unsure or have questions, consult your doctor or a nutritionist.
What else should I pay attention to when eating for gastritis?
Try to eat your meals slowly and in a relaxed atmosphere without stress. To do this, sit down at a dining table, chew each bite well and avoid other activities during the meal, such as reading or watching TV. This is recommended in general – not just for gastritis. Nutrition is vital and affects our well-being and health in many ways. Therefore, always pay full attention to your meals.
Which foods should be avoided?
Many sufferers wonder, “What can’t or shouldn’t be eaten with gastritis?” Unfortunately, there is no completely clear answer to this question. But even though everyone reacts differently to foods, there tend to be more tolerable and less tolerable products. The same is true when it comes to food preparation. Some foods irritate the sensitive stomach lining (additionally) in some people.
These include, for example, strongly spiced foods and very cold and hot foods or drinks. Acidic foods such as some citrus fruits or tomato sauce, high-fat, low-fiber foods, coffee, alcohol and tobacco also often have an unfavorable effect on the stomach lining in gastritis.
It is also recommended to avoid the following foods in gastritis, or to avoid them altogether if you have any intolerance to them:
- Very sugary foods, for example fruit such as bananas. Eating ice cream, i.e. sweet ice cream, is also rather unsuitable in gastritis.
- Salty, high-fat snacks such as chips
- Ginger because of its spiciness and essential oils
