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The stomach is an important part of the human digestive system, responsible for food storage and initial digestion, and can kill bacteria in food through stomach acid. With the fast pace of modern life, many people have irregular diets, staying up late has become a norm, leading to frequent stomach health issues.
Especially for adults over 35 years old, it is important to pay attention to stomach health. Many people feel confused about their dietary choices, especially common foods like garlic. So, can people with stomach problems eat garlic? This is a question that needs serious discussion.
The impact of garlic on the stomach
Garlic is a common seasoning in our daily lives, popular for its unique antibacterial and gastrointestinal stimulation effects. Garlic contains rich sulfur compounds that can stimulate gastric mucosa, promote gastric juice secretion, and aid in digestion. However, for people with stomach issues, the stimulating nature of garlic may have adverse effects.
Dr. Li pointed out that although garlic helps digestion, its stimulant effect can damage the stomach mucosa, especially for those with gastritis or stomach ulcers, garlic may worsen symptoms, leading to stomach pain, bloating, and even nausea and vomiting. For individuals with stomach problems, especially those already suffering from stomach diseases, it is best to avoid consuming garlic to prevent exacerbating the condition.
Foods to Avoid for Stomach Patients
In addition to garlic, stomach patients should also be cautious of a few other foods that can easily irritate the stomach. Firstly, spicy foods. Spicy foods such as chili, peppercorn, and pepper can strongly irritate the gastric mucosa, causing symptoms like stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. Stomach patients should avoid consuming these spicy foods to protect the gastric mucosa and alleviate stomach discomfort.
Cold foods, cold drinks, cold meals, and ice cream, among other cold foods, can affect gastric acid secretion, reduce the action of digestive enzymes, leading to poor digestion. Our stomach prefers a warm environment, cold foods can chill the stomach, causing stomach spasms and pain. Stomach patients should try to consume warm foods and avoid exacerbating stomach symptoms caused by consuming cold foods.
High-fat and fried foods also impose a significant burden on the stomach. Fried and high-fat foods are not easily digested, increase stomach acid secretion, leading to stomach pain, bloating, and discomfort. For instance, high-fat foods like French fries, fried chicken, cream cakes, are best avoided by stomach patients. High-fat foods stay longer in the stomach, easily causing indigestion and stomach discomfort.
By understanding these dietary taboos, stomach patients can better manage their diets and protect their stomach health. Choosing appropriate foods, developing good dietary habits are crucial for improving stomach disease symptoms.
New Dietary Recommendations
In addition to the common dietary taboos mentioned above, Dr. Li also specifically pointed out some commonly overlooked dietary habits that also have a significant impact on stomach health. Sugary drinks and snacks pose a significant hidden danger in modern diets.
Many people enjoy sugary drinks such as carbonated beverages, fruit juice drinks, which contain a large amount of sugar, leading to excessive gastric acid secretion and stomach discomfort. Desserts and high-sugar snacks also increase the stomach’s burden, causing indigestion and bloating. Individuals with stomach issues should try to reduce the intake of sugary drinks and snacks, opting for sugar-free beverages and healthy snacks instead.
Coffee and strong tea are also beverages that require attention. Coffee and strong tea contain a lot of caffeine, stimulating gastric acid secretion, leading to stomach discomfort. Especially when consumed on an empty stomach, coffee and strong tea are more likely to cause stomach pain and acid reflux. Dr. Li advises stomach patients to moderately intake coffee and strong tea, opt for low-caffeine beverages, or choose warm water, light tea instead to reduce stomach stimulation.
Processed foods are another hidden health hazard. Processed meats like sausages, bacon, ham often contain a large number of preservatives and additives that can irritate the stomach, affecting digestive function. Convenient foods such as instant noodles, frozen foods, also contain plenty of additives and high salt content, impacting stomach health negatively. To protect the stomach, Dr. Li suggests choosing fresh natural ingredients, reducing processed food intake as much as possible.
Healthy Diet and Lifestyle
Healthy dietary habits are crucial for stomach patients. Dr. Li emphasizes that eating less but more frequently is a very effective method. Eating until 70% full per meal can reduce stomach burden and aid digestion. A light diet, consuming more vegetables and fruits, is beneficial for stomach health. Particularly fiber-rich foods like green leafy vegetables, whole grains, not only help gastrointestinal motility but also promote digestion and absorption.
Establishing regular routines and managing stress scientifically are also essential factors in maintaining stomach health. Modern life imposes significant stress, long-term mental tension can lead to excessive gastric acid secretion, damaging the gastric mucosa. Techniques like meditation, yoga, deep breathing can effectively alleviate stress, reduce stomach discomfort. Maintaining a regular schedule, avoiding staying up late, contributes to self-repair and normal operation of the stomach.
Dr. Li also mentioned that eating should be slow and deliberate, chewing food thoroughly can reduce stomach stimulation, aiding better digestion and absorption. Binge eating not only increases the stomach burden but also leads to stomach distension, causing pain and indigestion. Maintaining moderate food intake, developing good dietary habits are particularly important for stomach patients.
Through comprehensive management of diet and lifestyle, stomach patients can significantly improve stomach health. Avoiding garlic, spicy foods, cold foods, high-fat fried foods, and reducing intake of sugary drinks, coffee, strong tea, and processed foods are important measures to protect the stomach. Maintaining healthy dietary habits and regular lifestyles can effectively prevent and alleviate stomach disease symptoms.
Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle not only benefits stomach health but also contributes to overall health improvement. Regular check-ups and professional medical advice are indispensable. Through scientific management and long-term persistence, stomach patients can enjoy a higher quality of life. We hope that you can benefit from this information, take care of your stomach, and maintain a healthy body.
Finally, do you have any experiences or opinions to share? Feel free to leave them in the comments section!
