Gastritis is a condition in which the stomach lining becomes inflamed, typically causing a 'stomach upset'; with some amount of abdominal pain. Gastritis can be caused by several different factors. Among the more common factors is excessive consumption of alcohol, which could irritate the stomach lining. Long term use of certain drugs could also have a similar effect. Among the most common culprits are aspirin and ibuprofen, painkillers (or rather, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - NSAIDs) that many people tend to use indiscriminately. However, these are of course not the only causes of gastritis. An infection can also lead to gastritis, and so can stress and certain autoimmune diseases. Some severe diseases and medical conditions such as AIDS and liver failure can also cause gastritis.
The treatment of gastritis sometimes involves only antacids that are available over the counter, along with some basic precautions that will allow the stomach lining to return to normal. However, this usually works only with acute gastritis, which is temporary. In the case of chronic gastritis, medical attention may be necessary, and the doctor will prescribe appropriate medical treatment for the same. As far as your diet for gastritis goes, there are several things that you need to avoid, but milk is not one of them. In fact, for a long time, doctors recommended a diet that consisted only of milk and bland foods. You can therefore continue to safely drink milk, unless you actually notice that it worsens your symptoms.
However, a very restrictive, bland diet is not really necessary. The most important thing is to eliminate foods that can cause or worsen gastritis. These include alcohol, coffee, colas, and highly processed foods such as cakes, pastries, biscuits, white bread and so on. It might also help to identify foods that you are allergic to, as these foods have the potential to irritate your stomach lining further. If you find out that you are allergic to milk, then you will of course need to stop drinking it. Your doctor would guide you on whether this restriction also applies to milk products and derivatives. Some other dietary recommendations include eating lots of fruits and vegetables and replacing red meat with other sources of protein, especially sea food that is high in omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon and herring. Finally, as with almost any illness, regular exercise would be of great help. There may seem to be no immediate connection, but it will improve the overall function of your body.
answered by G M