Stomach diseases are a common problem for many people, especially the middle-aged and elderly. Gastritis, gastric ulcers, excessive stomach acid, and other stomach diseases not only affect daily life but may also lead to more health issues. Managing diet is an important part of treating and relieving symptoms for stomach disease patients. Proper diet can help reduce stomach discomfort, promote stomach health, while incorrect diet may worsen the condition.
The impact of diet on stomach diseases is very direct. For example, some foods may stimulate the secretion of stomach acid, leading to worsened stomach pain; while others may increase the burden on the stomach, making stomach disease symptoms more pronounced. Therefore, understanding which foods need to be avoided and how to adjust dietary habits is an important step for stomach disease patients to manage their health. Through scientifically reasonable diet arrangements, stomach disease patients can not only relieve symptoms but also promote stomach repair and health to a certain extent.
Food Stomach Disease Patients Should Eat Less
High-fat Foods: Avoid Excessive Stomach Stimulation
High-fat foods include fried foods, fatty meats, cream, and some high-fat dairy products. Fatty foods take a longer time to digest in the stomach, increasing the stomach’s burden. When the stomach processes these foods, it needs to secrete more stomach acid and digestive enzymes, which not only increases the stomach’s workload but may also lead to excessive stomach acid, thereby triggering or worsening stomach pain and heartburn.
Research shows that a high-fat diet may cause inflammation of the stomach mucosa, increasing the risk of stomach discomfort. For example, the fat content in fried foods can stimulate the stomach wall, exacerbating stomach irritation. The high-fat nature of fatty meats and cream can also cause increased stomach acid secretion, further leading to stomach pain and indigestion. Therefore, stomach disease patients should reduce the intake of such foods as much as possible and choose low-fat or fat-free alternatives, such as lean meat, fish, and vegetable oils.
Spicy Foods: Reduce Stomach Inflammation
Spicy foods, such as chili peppers, black pepper, ginger, and spicy condiments, can irritate the stomach mucosa, increase stomach acid secretion. These foods not only directly irritate the stomach wall but may also cause stomach burning and discomfort. The stimulatory effect of spicy foods makes the stomach mucosa prone to damage, aggravating inflammation and worsening stomach disease symptoms.
Studies show that spicy foods may cause acute or chronic inflammation in the stomach, which is particularly detrimental to stomach disease patients. For example, the spicy component in chili peppers called capsaicin can increase stomach acid production, exacerbating the burning sensation and pain in the stomach. To protect the stomach, stomach disease patients should avoid consuming spicy foods and choose mild, non-irritating seasonings, such as small amounts of salt or herbs.
Acidic Foods: Reduce Stomach Acid Burden
Acidic foods, such as lemons, oranges, vinegar, can increase the acidity in the stomach. This can exacerbate stomach acid secretion, irritate the stomach mucosa, and trigger or worsen stomach discomfort. For stomach disease patients, it is especially important to note that while these foods may taste delicious, they impose a significant burden on the stomach and may lead to excessive stomach acid, further damaging the stomach wall.
For example, the acidic components of lemons and oranges can directly stimulate stomach acid secretion, leading to stomach pain and discomfort. The acidic substances in vinegar can also cause stomach discomfort. It’s best for stomach disease patients to avoid these acidic foods and choose foods that are less irritating to the stomach, like bananas, pears, which have natural soothing properties to help relieve stomach discomfort.
Cold Foods: Avoid Stomach Discomfort
Cold foods, such as cold drinks, ice cream, and cold foods, can trigger stomach spasms and discomfort. The stimulating effect of cold foods on the stomach can cause stomach blood vessels to constrict, affecting the stomach’s normal function. This cold stimulus may cause discomfort in the stomach, even leading to stomach pain.
Research indicates that cold food can affect the stomach’s normal digestive function, potentially causing stomach discomfort and pain. The low temperature of cold drinks and ice cream can reduce blood flow to the stomach, affecting its normal operation. Stomach disease patients should try to avoid consuming excessively cold foods and choose foods at room temperature or slightly warm to reduce stimulation to the stomach.
Food Stomach Disease Patients Should Eat Less Of: Avoid These Hazard Zones
For stomach disease patients, dietary adjustments are crucial to control symptoms and prevent condition worsening. While some foods may seem harmless to the general population, they can trigger discomfort or worsen conditions for individuals with delicate stomach function. These several types of foods require special attention.
High-fat Foods: Invisible Stomach Burden
High-fat foods, such as fried foods, fatty meats, are usually off-limits for stomach disease patients. These foods are difficult to digest, increasing the stomach’s workload. Because fat stays in the stomach for a long time, it can stimulate increased stomach acid secretion, aggravating symptoms like stomach acid reflux and bloating. Long-term intake of high-fat foods can also affect the repair function of the stomach mucosa, making stomach disease more stubborn.
In daily diet, reduce the intake of foods rich in saturated fats such as fried foods, bacon, cream, etc. Also, while some seemingly healthy nuts are rich in beneficial fats, their high-fat content should also be moderately controlled.
Spicy Foods: Adversaries to Stomach Mucosa
Spicy foods like chili peppers, black pepper have a strong stimulant effect on the stomach mucosa. Even for healthy stomachs, consuming a large quantity of spicy foods can easily lead to burning sensations, acid reflux, and other discomforts. For stomach disease patients, spicy foods are even more dangerous, potentially causing stomach pain, excessive stomach acid secretion, and even inducing gastric ulcers.
Spicy foods can also affect the process of food digestion and absorption, leading to increased gastrointestinal burden. Considering these effects, stomach disease patients should try to avoid seasonings like chili peppers, black pepper, curry, and even be cautious in selecting foods containing stimulating spices.
Acidic Foods: Catalysts for Excessive Stomach Acid
Acidic foods like lemons, vinegar, tomatoes can increase stomach acid secretion, potentially putting greater pressure on the already damaged stomach mucosa. For patients with excessive stomach acid secretion, acidic foods can easily trigger symptoms like stomach pain, acid reflux, heartburn, and even worsen the formation and progression of gastric ulcers.
Although acidic foods like lemons are rich in vitamin C, beneficial for the general population, stomach disease patients need to be especially cautious when consuming them. They should reduce the use of strongly acidic seasonings like vinegar, sour oranges, choosing milder alternatives instead.
Cold Foods: Culprits Making the Stomach “Chilled”
Cold foods like cold drinks, ice cream, lettuce exert a significant impact on the temperature sensitivity of the stomach. Stomach exposure to cold can cause vasoconstriction of the stomach mucosa, leading to symptoms such as stomach spasms, stomach pain. Especially in cold seasons, cold foods may trigger acute gastritis or worsen chronic stomach diseases.
To protect stomach health, stomach disease patients should avoid consuming icy foods and raw cold ingredients. Instead, they can opt for warm foods like warm water, hot soup, which help maintain stomach warmth and reduce the risk of stomach disease outbreaks.
Stomach Disease Patients Recommended Foods: Choose the Right Foods for a Comfortable Stomach
Stomach disease patients not only need to avoid food hazards but also carefully select foods that help repair the stomach mucosa, reduce stomach irritation. The following types of foods are considered relatively friendly to the stomach, aiding in stomach disease recovery:
Easy-to-Digest Foods: Reduce Stomach Workload
Easily digestible foods like rice porridge, steamed vegetables, chicken breast are the top choices for stomach disease patients. These foods have simple structures, are easily absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract after cooking, and do not exert additional pressure on the stomach mucosa. Rice porridge, a classic stomach-nourishing food, not only aids digestion but also provides essential energy. Steamed vegetables such as carrots, pumpkins, potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, promoting stomach mucosa repair and regeneration.
For protein intake, chicken breast is an ideal choice. Compared to red meat, chicken breast has lower fat content and delicate fibers, making it easy for the stomach to digest and absorb after proper cooking. Additionally, proteins are essential materials for stomach mucosa repair, contributing positively to stomach health.
Warm Seasonings: Healthy Seasoning Choices
For stomach disease patients, selecting mild seasonings is crucial. Natural mild food items like ginger tea, honey water not only enhance food flavor but also alleviate stomach discomfort to a certain extent. Ginger tea has a stomach-warming effect, promoting blood circulation, particularly suitable for patients with cold-stomach conditions. Honey water can neutralize stomach acid, helping to relieve stomach burning sensation.
Furthermore, using a moderate amount of salt and oil for seasoning is acceptable, but overuse should be avoided to prevent increasing stomach burden. Spices like onions, ginger, when used appropriately, can aid in food digestion, preventing excessive food retention in the stomach.
High-Fiber Foods: Promote Gastrointestinal Motility
High-fiber foods such as oats, brown rice, pumpkin are beneficial for stomach disease patients. These foods are rich in dietary fiber, promoting gastrointestinal motility, reducing the time food stays in the stomach, decreasing stomach acid stimulation on the stomach mucosa. However, care should be taken with the amount of fiber intake; excessive fiber intake may cause stomach bloating, so adjustment should be based on individual tolerance.
Choosing appropriate foods can significantly reduce the frequency of stomach disease flare-ups while promoting stomach recovery and health. These recommended foods not only help reduce the stomach burden but also provide balanced nutrition, effectively supporting overall health management for stomach disease patients.
