The Role Of Vitamin C
Its important to keep in mind that vitamin C is an important nutrient in the management of these digestive problems due to its ability to stimulate collagen synthesis. Were talking about the most abundant protein in the body, which is part of all tissues. However, most of the foods that contain this element have an irritant potential or are very acidic.
Because of this, it may be a good strategy to resort to supplementation. This will help the stomach wounds to heal and the situation internally to normalize.
Get to know more: A Healthy Diet for Gastritis
Honey Can Help Prevent Ulcers
Modern medicine has finally caught on to a folk remedy thats been used for centuries. Because honey fights bacteria, hospitals and clinics sometimes apply it to burns and other open wounds. For the same reason that it can help heal a skin ulcer, honey may help thwart H. pylori. Researchers from New Zealand tested honey made from the nectar of the Manuka flower on bacteria from biopsies of gastric ulcers and found that the honey inhibited bacterial growth. Other researchers have been successful in using other types of honey to halt the growth of H. pylori.
Recommended dose: Start by taking a tablespoon of honey in the morning and at night to calm a fiery belly. Spread it on toast or a cracker to keep it in the stomach longer. Because H. pylori is slow growing, be sure to keep up your honey regimen until ulcer symptoms are long gone.
Our Team Is Ready To Help You Manage These Symptoms
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then theres a chance you may have a stomach ulcer or gastritis.
But the good news is that these two conditions are manageable with the proper diet and lifestyle. Our treatment plans include proper nutrition and diet strategies as well as lifestyle modifications so you can maintain a high quality of life even after being diagnosed with any of these two conditions.
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How Your Diet Contributes To Gastritis
Adjusting your diet is one important step in helping the stomach lining heal and preventing inflammation from developing in the first place or from returning. Thats why you want to follow a gastritis diet treatment plan if you have this condition. Acute gastritis and stomach ulcer symptoms usually go away within several weeks when someone removes the irritants that cause stomach inflammation and erosion to develop. Studies suggest that other steps to reduce gastritis and stomach ulcers include limiting or eliminating use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , quitting smoking, lowering alcohol consumption, reducing stress, and improving immune function.
Certain foods can make gastritis symptoms worse and should be avoided on a gastritis diet to help control symptoms while you heal. These include very acidic foods, spicy or hot foods, alcohol , caffeine, and processed/packaged foods. On the other hand, foods high in fiber, antioxidants like vitamin C, electrolytes like magnesium and calcium, vitamin B12, probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids can help lower inflammation and boost digestive health.
A healing gastritis diet that features mostly vegetables, fruits, high-quality proteins and healthy fats can help manage painful symptoms, allow you to maintain a healthy weight, and prevent deficiencies in critical vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can lead to further complications down the road.
Facts About Gastritis:
Prohibited Foods In Gastritis And Ulcer
Some foods and drinks should be totally avoided, in order to reduce the symptoms of gastritis and ulcers. Almost all of them arent recommended in the context of almost any nutritional guideline, as they dont provide any quality nutrients.
- Alcohol: This substance is toxic, regardless of the dose consumed. Its inflammatory and increases the incidence of many chronic and complex pathologies. This is evidenced by research published in the journal Drug Metabolism Reviews.
- Spicy foods: Although beneficial to health due to their ability to activate the metabolism, they have an irritant potential. If theres damage to the digestive tract linings, they should be avoided in order to control the symptoms.
- Sauces: These are usually very fatty, which delays gastric emptying. They may also contain artificial additives, elements that can damage the diversity and density of the intestinal microbiota.
- Ultra-processed foods: All foodstuffs with a high content of trans fatty acids should be excluded. These elements increase internal inflammation and oxidation, leading to DNA damage.
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When Should You Be On A Bland Diet
The premise of a bland diet is avoiding or at least limiting your intake of foods that can irritate the digestive system. A bland diet is therefore recommended for individuals dealing with certain health conditions or recovering from surgery.
Some of these conditions include acid reflux or frequent heartburn, diarrhea, eosinophilic esophagitis, ulcers, frequent gallstones, and hiatal hernia. People who are looking to lose weight and breastfeeding women who have a sensitive stomach can benefit from a bland diet, too.
Yogurt Sauerkraut Kefir And Kombucha
Probiotics or certain fermented foods can be looked upon as dietary vaccinations supplying your gut with live microorganisms to boost immunity.
Caution: Those with weakened immune systems, including post-surgery and critically ill patients, and very sick infants should avoid probiotics as the side effects are not completely understood and can be severe.18
Consume probiotic foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and kombucha. These are loaded with healthy bacteria that can help combat gastritis. They do so by forcing your immunity to fight back and by directly competing with H. pylori bacteria for nutrition and space.19
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Dietary Fibre & Vitamin A
Research shows that a high fibre diet decreases the risk of developing ulcer disease. Although both insoluble and soluble fibres demonstrate this association, there is a stronger association between diets high in soluble fibre and a decreased risk for developing ulcers.
Foods that are high in soluble fibre include oats, psyllium husk, legumes, flax seeds, barley, nuts, and certain vegetables and fruits, such as oranges, apples, and carrots.
Findings from a prospective cohort study that included 47,806 men, showed that a diet rich in vitamin A from all sources might reduce the development of duodenal ulcer, as might diets high in fruits and vegetables, possibly due to their fibre content.2 A prospective cohort study follows, over time, a group of similar individuals who differ with respect to certain factors under study, to determine how these factors affect rates of a certain outcome however, more research is necessary to verify results because there are so many other factors involved with this type of study that could confound the data.
Animal studies demonstrate that vitamin A increases the production of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract. Impaired mucosal defense can allow ulcers to develop. Therefore, vitamin A may have a protective effect against the development of ulcer disease.3
Good sources of vitamin A include liver, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and collard greens.
Foods To Avoid When Suffering From Gastritis
A diet for chronic gastritis will help eliminate any irritation in the stomach. At first it might seem difficult to kick coffee and sugar, but once you realize how much diet plays a part in healing, it wont be an issue for long.
Below are the beverages and gastritis foods to avoid in your diet if you suffer from gastritis.
- Coffee
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Fruits Vegetables Whole Grains And Other Foods High In Fibre Can Prevent Ulcers
Add another star to fibres crown. Besides keeping you regular, fibre has a role in keeping ulcers at bay, especially those in the duodenum. A number of studies have found that people who eat high-fibre diets have a lower risk of developing ulcers. In the Physicians Health Study from Harvard, researchers looked at the diets of 47,806 men and found that those who ate 11 grams or more of fibre from vegetables had a 32 per cent lower risk of developing duodenal ulcers.
Scientists arent sure how fibre helps, but it may be thanks to the fact that it slows the emptying of the stomach and thus reduces the amount of time the stomach lining and duodenum are exposed to digestive acids. Soluble fibre, the kind found in oats, beans, barley, peas, and pears, also forms a slippery goo in the stomach that acts as a barrier between the stomach lining and corrosive stomach acids.
Recommended dose: General health guidelines suggest getting 25 to 35 grams of fibre a day.
Find out 30 painless ways to sneak more fibre into your diet.
The Causes & Symptoms Of Gastritis
The most common symptoms of gastritis include:
- burning sensations in or above the stomach/abdomen, especially around the time of eating
- stomachaches or pains
- loss of appetite, feeling very full quickly and possibly experiencing changes in weight
- hiccups and burping
- changes in bowel movements and the appearance of stools
What causes gastritis to develop?
Gastritis is triggered by inflammation of the stomach and erosion of the stomachs protective lining. Digestion of the foods you eat first begins in your mouth, before partially digested foods makes their way to your stomach, where theyre coated with acids and enzymes. Every time you eat something your stomach pumps out acids that are actually strong enough to cause damage to the lining of your GI tract however, normally these acids are buffered by a special type of mucous that blocks the acids effects.
Sponge-like mucous coats and protects the lining of the stomach and builds a defense against the painful effects of acids, so when mucous production is decreased for some reason, burning sensations and stomach ulcers in the digestive system are usually experienced. There are a number of different underlying reasons that inflammation develops in the stomach and mucous production is altered.
Risk factors for gastritis include:
Final Thoughts on the Gastritis Diet
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Which Foods Should You Eat
The cornerstone of successful management of ulcers is not about avoiding specific foods, says Walters. More important are simple lifestyle changes that include balanced, healthy eating, weight reduction, decreased alcohol consumption and smoking cessation, she says.
These are Walterss top tips for ulcer management:
Our Team Can Help You Manage Your Stomach Ulcers And Gastritis
We are the experts who can help you maximise your treatment for your stomach ulcer or gastritis. We will collaborate with you in developing a plan which includes better nutrition and lifestyle choices so you can experience an improvement in your current symptoms, overall health, and quality of life.
We are the authority in the areas of gut and bowel conditions, diet, and nutrition, and were confident we can help you manage your stomach ulcer or gastritis successfully.
Call us now at 3071 7405 to book an appointment with any of our qualified nutritionists and dietitians.
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Benefits Of Juicing Cabbage
Alcoholic Drinks And Beverages
Since alcohol has been implicated as one of the causes for gastritis, you would do well to avoid it altogether or cut down consumption at the very least.8 While social pressure or an addiction may stand in your way, bear in mind the potential damage you may cause to your stomach. Motivate yourself to not give in.
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Avoid Smoking And Overuse Of Pain Killer
Smoking cigarettes can damage the lining epithelium of the stomach and increases the risk of developing stomach cancer.
Overuse of analgesics such as aspirin and ibuprofen might damage the stomachs lining epithelium aggravating hyperacidity.
You must eliminate these bad habits from your life if you want a solution on how to cure gastritis permanently.
What Causes Gastritis
It can be due to irritation by excessive alcohol use, chronic vomiting, stress, or the use of certain medications like aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs. It may also be for the following reasons:
- Helicobacter pylori : A bacteria that lives in the lining of the stomach without treatment, the stomach can lead to ulcers, and in some people stomach cancer.
- Bile reflux: A backflow of bile into the stomach from the bile tract.
- Infections caused by bacteria and viruses.
If this condition is left without treatment it leads to loss of blood and may increase the risk of stomach ulcer or stomach cancer. So its better to follow all the tips on how to cure gastritis permanently.
Recommended Reading: Can You Get Ulcers In Your Intestines
Why Change My Diet
There are so many benefits to changing your diet if you suffer from stomach ulcers that it would be foolish not to. When you follow a diet that primates healthy stomach and gut health you will:
- Obtain the protein and nutrients that your body needs to repair itself.
- Help you to remove all foods that are aggravating the small intestine and stomach lining.
- It can help to minimize or control the symptoms of related conditions like bacterial infections, Crohns disease, or celiac. These can aggravate ulcer symptoms.
- Help to fill in any contributing nutritional deficiencies.
Certain foods help to repair the gastrointestinal lining that erodes form long term use of anti-inflammatory drugs or bacterial infection.
More Attacks On Gastric Mucosa
In addition to H. pylori and NSAIDs, alcohol, vinegar, many spices, and excess bile salts can damage the gastric mucosal barrier as well. Deficiency in vitamin A and the trace elements of zinc and folic acid also predispose to mucosa damage. An excessive amount of salt encourages H. pylori growth in the stomach as well. Sleep deprivation can worsen the effect of the NSAIDs indomethacin-induced damage in the mucosa. Sleep deprivation also increases gastric acidity, histamine, and gastrin and reduces blood flow to the mucosal barrier.6
Acute stress and fear can also prove damaging to a healthful stomach lining. Irregularity in meals and sleep can imbalance the autonomic nervous regulation of the stomach.
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Foods To Help Prevent Gastritis
Green tea and fresh fruits and vegetables the body from gastritis. These are good sources of antioxidants, which can help ward off cell damage and disease by reducing levels of unstable compounds called free radicals in the body.
Foods that may help inhibit the growth of H. pylori and reduce gastritis and ulcer formation include:
- cauliflower, swede, cabbage, radishes, and other Brassica vegetables
- berries, such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries
- turmeric, a mild spice that may have
Antioxidants may also help prevent a wide range of other diseases. Here, learn more about antioxidants and the foods that provide them.
Gastritis Treatment With Other Medicines:
Oddly, gastritis is often treated with some of the very medicines that can cause it.
ANTACIDS:
Antacids are often used to reduce the acid in your stomach, with the thought that this will resolve the gastritis. This does not address the damage to the stomach lining that has often already been caused. Antacids also only act to mask the symptoms. While they can provide temporary relief, they can make the problem of gastritis more pronounced over time, and do nothing to address the underlying issues, such as poor gut health, bacterial infections, etc.
H2 BLOCKERS:
When antacids dont work, doctors will often then resort to medicines called H2 blockers, like ranitidine , famotidine , nizatidine , and cimetidine . These medicines also reduce the production of acid in the stomach, yet fail to address the underlying cause or causes of gastritis. H2 blockers can also cause numerous unpleasant side effects.
PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS :
When these medicines dont work, allopathic medicine usually then resorts to using a proton pump inhibitor such as lansoprazole or omeprazole. These medicines also work on the cells of the stomach to reduce the production of acid.
Proton Pump Inhibitors can also cause the body to have difficulty absorbing much-needed nutrients, as well as severe diseases ranging from heart attacks to kidney disease.
IMPROVE YOUR DIET:
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