Is There Such Thing as a Gastritis Diet?
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for digestive diseases, research shows that neither eating, diet, or nutrition plays a role in most of the causes of gastritis. That means it is unlikely that a diet for gastritis is helpful for most people. [1] It does not mean that what you eat or drink has no affect on gastritis. In some cases, certain foods or drinks may contribute to gastritis or make the symptoms worse. [1-3]
Symptoms of gastritis can include a burning or aching pain in your upper belly, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and feeling full soon after starting to eat. Eating may make the pain better or worse. You may have weight loss if you have symptoms for a long time. [1-3]
What Is Gastritis and What Are the Causes?
Gastritis is not one disease. It is a group of conditions that cause swelling and irritation, called inflammation, of your stomach lining. Normally your stomach lining has a mucous barrier that protects your stomach from stomach acids. Stomach acids are digestive juices that are great for breaking down the food you eat, but if they get through that barrier, they can eat away at the lining of your stomach. [2]
Common causes of gastritis are infection, over-the-counter drugs called NSAIDs, and drinking alcohol. All three can weaken or destroy the mucous barrier and lead to gastritis: [2]
- Infection with the bacteria pylori (the same bacteria that causes ulcers) is the most common cause of gastritis. [1,3] This infection is present in about 35 percent of Americans. Most people with this infection get gastritis. Untreated H. pylori can last a lifetime and can lead to ulcer disease and stomach cancer. [1]
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are prescription and over-the-counter drugs used to treat pain and inflammation. The most common are aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. When used for too long, these drugs interfere with the production of the mucous barrier. [2]
- Drinking alcohol can cause a short-term case of gastritis. Too much alcohol can eat right through the mucous barrier. This is called erosive gastritis. [2]
Less common causes of gastritis include severe stress due to an illness or injury and diseases in which your body’s defense system mistakenly attacks your stomach lining, called autoimmune gastritis. [2] If you have gastritis, you may find that some foods make your symptoms worse. Spicy foods are a common example. Alcohol and caffeine can also make gastritis worse. You may be able to prevent symptoms of gastritis by avoiding these foods. [3]
How Is Gastritis Treated?
Treatment depends on the cause. For the most common cause, H. pylori, the treatment is a combination of antibiotics and a medication that blocks stomach acid called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Do not try to treat H. pylori with diet alone. Untreated H. pylori can lead to an ulcer or stomach cancer. [1]
The treatment for gastritis caused by NSAIDS is to block acid with a PPI and lower the dose or discontinue use of NSAIDs. Erosive gastritis from alcohol use may improve if you stop drinking alcohol. [1]
Lifestyle and diet recommendations for people with gastritis can include:
- Avoiding any foods that make gastritis worse
- Not drinking alcohol or caffeine
- Not smoking
When to Call Your Doctor
Call your doctor if you have symptoms of gastritis that last for a week or longer, or if you have symptoms that are getting worse. [2,3] If gastritis is severe and leads to an ulcer, it can cause stomach bleeding. Call your doctor right way if:
- You have vomiting with blood or coffee ground material.
- You have blood in your stool or you have stool that looks dark and tarry.
GASTRITIS, HEARTBURN, AND ACIDIC DIET ISSUES
These University Health News posts offer more information on the effects of an acidic diet and how to treat gastritis:
- “Is Your Heartburn Medication Putting You at Risk for Osteoporosis?“
- “Low Stomach Acid–The Surprising Cause of Many Indigestion Symptoms
Sources
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Gastritis & Gastropathy, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastritis-gastropathy/all-content
- Mayo Clinic, Gastritis, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355807
- Johns Hopkins Medicine, Gastritis, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/gastritis
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