Diet For Gastritis

Gastritis is the inflammation of the inner lining of the stomach. Gastritis adversely affects the stomach’s ability to regulate the level of digestive acids and therefore causes indigestion, abdominal pain and a burning sensation in the stomach and the chest. Sour belches and foul breath are other common symptoms of gastritis. Sometimes the excess acid rises into the esophagus, which makes the patient feel nauseous. The primary causes behind this condition are excessive consumption of alcohol and a prolonged intake of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen. Helicobacter pylori, a kind of bacteria that corrodes the lining of the stomach, is also often responsible for causing chronic gastritis.

There are a few dietary measures you can follow to cure gastritis. Adopt an all-fruit diet for a couple of days. Include citrus fruits like oranges, peaches, pomegranates, pears, melons and grapes in this diet. This helps neutralize the excessive acid in the stomach and naturally heals its inner walls. Once you switch to a regular diet, continue to drink lots of natural fruit juices and plenty of water daily in order to ease digestion and flush away irritants that cause inflammation of the stomach lining. Avoid eating deep-fried and spicy food, and stop consuming caffeine and nicotine based products, as well as alcoholic drinks. Instead, use lots of raw green and leafy vegetables in salads. Opt for steamed or boiled vegetables instead of fried ones. Make sure you eat small meals at regular intervals of four or five hours instead of a few very heavy meals. Do not go to bed immediately after dinner, as this impedes proper digestion and causes acidity. Every morning, eat a few black raisins soaked overnight in water kept in a copper vessel. A mixture of carrot juice and spinach juice, consumed every morning on an empty stomach, is also highly beneficial in treating gastritis. Make sure to drink the water as well. This is a time-tested and popular remedy for gastritis. Milk is known to regulate the level of acids in the stomach naturally. Mix a little honey in a glass of milk and drink this every morning at breakfast. You should also drink a glass of cold milk every night before going to bed in order to prevent gastritis. Drink coconut water at regular intervals throughout the day. This naturally heals the damaged cells of the stomach and prevents gastritis. Also, substitute milk and sugar in your tea with the juice of ginger or licorice. Regular consumption of this herbal tea is an effective remedy for gastritis.