Stomach Disorder Diet

With the rapidly changing lifestyles, stomach disorders have become extremely common. There is hardly anyone who wouldn’t have experienced the discomfort of a stomach-related problem. Indigestion, bloating, acidity, constipation, and diarrhea are the most common stomach disorders. Some of the more serious stomach disorders include irritable bowel syndrome, GERD, peptic ulcers, gastro paresis, and gastritis.

Whatever the condition be, diet plays an important role in maintaining your gastrointestinal system’s health. A healthy diet, along with a healthy weight and a healthy lifestyle is very important for general well being.

• Do not limit yourself to specific foods. Instead, consume a variety of foods and beverages. Choose nutrient-dense foods from all the basic food groups and include them all in your meals.
• Limit the intake of saturated fats and trans fats and opt for healthier vegetable fats such as rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and olive oil.
• Limit the amount of sugar, salt and spices in your food. Avoid refined and processed foods that contain added flavors, chemicals, and preservatives.
• Study the recommended caloric intakes and adopt a balanced diet as well as eating pattern. You can follow the USDA Food Guide and tips at the USDA website.

It is important to remember the foods to eat when you have stomach disorders:

• Yogurt: While dairy products are usually not recommended when you are suffering from a stomach disorder, yogurt is one milk-based product that can soothe all kinds of stomach problems. Yogurt can help improve digestion while soothing the stomach acids and cleansing bacteria from the stomach.
• Seafood: Fish protein is considered one of the best and healthiest for your body. Dieticians recommend consuming at least 3 portions of seafood in a week. Consume fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel as they are high in omega 3 fatty acids that are beneficial for health.
• Fruits and vegetables: When you have stomach disorders, consume fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables. It is ideal to consume simple carbohydrates and low fiber fruits and vegetables in order to give some respite to your stomach and the gastrointestinal organs.

Apart from the foods to eat, it is also important to pay attention to the foods to avoid:

• Avoid consuming caffeine and caffeinated foods and beverages. Caffeine is a stimulant which can further irritate the stomach’s lining, increasing the digestive discomfort.
• Limit your consumption of alcohol. Alcohol can damage the liver and cause many other health concerns. Alcohol can also damage the stomach lining.
• Stub the butt and stop smoking for a while. Tobacco and tobacco products can also irritate the soft lining of the stomach, causing several health problems including digestive disorders.
• Avoid consuming fatty and fried foods.
• Opt for whole grains and avoid refined foods made with refined flours.

Stomach Heaviness after Eating

Even if you do not have a stomach disorder, there are some foods that cause stomach heaviness, especially immediately after consuming a meal. These foods are those that create a lot of gas inside the stomach. This leads to bloating and consequently a feeling of heaviness. Some of the foods causing heaviness include beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes and onions. Stomach heaviness is also a common symptom from overeating, so watch your servings. Also try to make sure you don’t eat your meals too soon before going to bed, as this hampers the digestive process.

Additional Info

Causes

Some of the most common causes of stomach disorders include:

• Heredity
• Old age
• Bacterial infections
• Food intolerance
• Allergies
• Acid reflux

Symptoms

The symptoms of stomach disorders are usually very straight forward:

• Nausea & Vomiting
• Flatulence
• Bloating & Abdominal pain
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Heartburn

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of stomach disorders is made by using some of the following tests:

• Complete blood count
• Ultrasound
• X rays
• Endoscopy
• Stool Tests

Treatment

The treatment of stomach disorders depends on the cause of the condition. A combination of lifestyle changes and medications may usually be used. In some cases, surgical treatment may be required.

Prevention

In addition to making modifications to your diet and consuming or avoiding specific foods, it is also important that you are extremely careful about the quality of food you eat. Food hygiene should be a big concern because of the high risk of gastrointestinal disorders that result from food contamination.

References:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/peptic-ulcer-000125.htm

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet7BuildAHealthyMeal.pdf