Gastritis
The right diet is the key to managing many diseases and to improving general quality of life. For this condition, scientific research has found benefit in the following healthy eating tips.
Elimination Diet
Work with a knowledgeable professional to see whether food allergies are triggering your gastritis.Elimination DietSome researchers have suggested that food allergies or intolerance may cause gastritis.42 In one double-blind trial, people with proven food sensitivities showed clear evidence of irritation of the stomach lining (including swelling, bleeding, and erosions) when given foods to which they were known to react.43 However, most of these people did not have abnormal results from standard blood tests for allergies. People suspecting food sensitivities or allergies should consider discussing an allergy elimination program with a healthcare professional.
Low-Salt Diet
Salt can irritate the stomach lining, so eat foods low in salt to avoid irritation.Low-Salt DietSalt can irritate the stomach lining. Some research suggests that eating salty foods increases the risk of developing a H. pylori infection.44 Researchers have speculated that increased salt intake may also increase the risk of other forms of gastritis.45
Cayenne Pepper
Doctors commonly recommend avoiding spicy foods, but cayenne or chili pepper may be beneficial: the active ingredient in these foods, capsaicin, has been shown to protect against gastritis.Cayenne PepperDoctors commonly suggest that people with gastritis avoid spicy foods. However, one study found that capsaicin, the pungent ingredient in cayenne or chili pepper, protected against aspirin-induced gastritis in healthy persons. When people ate chili pepper followed by 600 mg of aspirin, stomach injury was considerably less than in people who took only aspirin.46 The researchers of this study speculate that chili pepper helps by increasing blood flow to the stomach. Capsaicin has also been shown to protect against alcohol-induced gastritis in rats,46 though this has yet to be tested in humans.
Dietary Caffeine
Caffeine found in coffee, black tea, green tea, some soft drinks, chocolate, and many medications increases stomach acid. Avoiding these substances should help heal gastritis.Dietary CaffeineCaffeine found in coffee, black tea, green tea, some soft drinks, chocolate, and many medications increases stomach acid,47 as does decaffeinated coffee.48 Avoiding these substances should therefore aid in the healing of gastritis.