Gastritis: Recommendations For A Rich And Healthy Diet

Gastritis is a condition that affects many people and, due to its symptoms, they must change their diet. Despite the restrictions, it is possible to have a rich and healthy diet.

Routine keeps us so stressed and with such a tight schedule that we acquire unhealthy habits that affect our bodies. If we review our daily life, we will realize that we are not eating the right foods for breakfast, we spend hours and hours in traffic, we eat in the car or at the office, and, when we want to be more practical, we leave our kitchen aside and exchange it for fast food restaurants.

We are so used to it that we do not notice how it affects our health until the symptoms begin to appear. Such is the case of gastritis, which consists of the alteration and inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which can be caused by different reasons such as the frequent use of certain painkillers, alcohol abuse, or constantly eating very spicy or seasoned foods, explains Luis Felipe Asteguieta, gastroenterologist at Multimédica.

According to the Mayo Clinic, gastritis is a disease that is usually caused by a bacterial infection that causes most stomach ulcers, although not all cases are. It can be acute, when it occurs suddenly, or chronic, which occurs slowly in the patient. Also, in most people, gastritis is not serious and improves with proper treatment.

What are the risk factors?

There are various habits that, over time, can promote the development of gastritis. According to Asteguieta, eating at odd hours, not having good eating habits such as eating at the desk or in the car, and not eating at home, can be risk factors for gastritis. This cannot be diagnosed so easily, the recommendation, says the gastroenterologist, is to have a biopsy.

Another factor that must be taken into account is the presence of Helicobacter pyroli, a bacteria that causes gastric problems, such as ulcers, which could lead to stomach cancer, although this occurs mainly in older people, adds Asteguieta.

What are the symptoms that could alert us?

It is advisable to go to a gastroenterology specialist, and some symptoms could alert us when we need to have a medical check-up. According to Asteguieta, the body tells us when food is not good for us, this is through nausea and vomiting, as well as the feeling of fullness and pain in the ‘pit of the stomach’.

If you have these symptoms for more than a week and are a reaction to certain foods, see a doctor. The test that will determine whether you have gastritis and whether there is Helicobacter pylori in your body is a biopsy.

What are the recommendations?

Although it may sometimes seem impossible to relax, due to the countless tasks to do and the inevitable daily traffic in the city, it is important to do relaxing activities to avoid the development of gastritis.

Nutritionist María Lucía Rodríguez, from Estilo y Nutrición, also recommends eating 5 to 6 times a day, in fractions, and including foods with fiber in our diet, such as apples and other fruits and vegetables.

Avoid heavy and highly seasoned meals to avoid making your stomach work harder. Also, adopt dietary habits such as eating low-fat foods at home, avoiding fried foods from fast food restaurants and high-fat foods, as well as carbonated water and water containing caffeine, adds Asteguieta. It is best to drink water constantly, two to three liters a day.