Diet Tips for Managing Gastritis: Foods to Eat and Avoid
Manage gastritis effectively by incorporating anti-inflammatory and probiotic-rich foods like honey, broccoli, garlic, and yogurt into your diet. Meanwhile, avoid high-fat, citrus, and caffeine-laden drinks that can worsen symptoms. Proper dietary choices can aid in reducing inflammation and promoting healing of the stomach lining, making gastritis easier to control and recover from.
Diet Recommendations for Gastritis Relief
Foods to Include or Steer Clear Of for Gastritis Management Gastritis occurs when the stomach lining becomes inflamed or damaged, sometimes due to autoimmune responses. A primary cause is H.pylori bacterial infection, which leads to acute or chronic inflammation. Common symptoms include nausea, bloating, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort. Around 30% to 35% of adults in the region experience this condition. Despite seeming concerning, gastritis is relatively manageable through dietary and lifestyle adjustments.
While antacids are often recommended for symptom relief, many mild cases can be eased with simple home remedies. Here, we explore foods beneficial for gastritis and those to avoid during treatment.
Recommended foods to support gastritis recovery
Honey
Honey is a natural remedy that can be added to teas or spreads. Its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities help combat H.pylori bacteria, making it a helpful addition during gastritis treatment.
Broccoli
Enjoy broccoli raw, steamed, or roasted. Rich in sulforaphane, a compound effective against H.pylori, broccoli helps reduce infection. Broccoli sprouts contain up to 50 times more nutrients than mature florets, making them particularly beneficial. Supplements with sulforaphane are also available if fresh broccoli is not accessible.
Garlic
Garlic has strong antimicrobial properties that inhibit H.pylori bacteria. Crushing garlic cloves and consuming the extract, or using aged garlic supplements, can provide potent effects against gastritis symptoms.
Probiotic-rich foods
Including foods like yogurt, kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, and sourdough bread can help restore the balance of gut bacteria, aiding the repair of the stomach lining damaged by infection.
Foods to avoid during gastritis treatment
High-fat foods
Excessive fatty foods, especially processed, fried, or fast foods, can exacerbate inflammation and worsen symptoms.
Dairy products
While yogurt may be beneficial, other dairy items like milk, cheese, and cream can increase acid reflux and irritate the stomach lining.
Citrus fruits
Citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges, and grapefruits can aggravate symptoms by irritating the stomach and causing acid reflux. It is advisable to avoid these until symptoms improve.
Beverages
Beverages like soda, caffeinated drinks, energy drinks, and alcohol can trigger stomach irritation and should be eliminated to promote healing.
