You surely already recognize when that sharp pain or burning in the upper abdomen, heaviness, flatulence, and even nausea and vomiting appear: gastritis has arrived again, along with discomfort you want to resolve as soon as possible.
In this article, we explain the reasons behind what you are feeling and how you can improve it the next time gastritis knocks on your door.
Gastritis is the result of inflammation of the gastric mucosa, which can be caused by the consumption of certain medications, stress, poor eating habits, or the presence of Helicobacter pylori: a bacterium that increases the secretion of acidic substances in the stomach, damaging its lining and increasing the possibility of developing ulcers.
When the gastric juices that help us digest food are produced in excess or in the absence of food in the stomach, they can cause inflammation and subsequently injury to the mucosa, as they contain a very acidic substance called hydrochloric acid; it is these wounds that produce the discomfort you feel at those times.
Although treatment depends on the cause of the gastritis, in many cases, immediate treatment with a calendula-based suspension or antacids based on Bidens pilosa, combined with adopting healthy long-term eating and lifestyle habits, can minimize the number of episodes and their duration:
Maintain a balanced consumption of all food groups: fruits, vegetables, meat, milk and dairy products provided they are skimmed; cereals, grains, seeds, nuts, and healthy fats. Implement different cooking methods, especially roasting or steaming, to reduce fat consumption.
Drink water and engage in physical activity; these recommendations are never excessive when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle.
Conversely, avoid consuming foods from the following categories, which are difficult to digest and highly processed, as they are rich in additives and preservatives that irritate the stomach:
- Processed meats: such as sausage, chorizo, bacon, ham.
- Yellow and processed cheeses
- Dairy: whole milk, yogurt, cream, heavy cream, butter, margarine, and oil.
- Ready-made sauces
- Condiments such as bouillon cubes and instant noodles
- Fast food
- Soft drinks, ready-made juices, coffee, or any type of caffeinated beverage
- Alcoholic beverages
- Sugar, sweets in general, and foods containing them
- Refined foods and fried foods such as pastries, pies, and cookies
- White flours such as corn and wheat
- High-fat foods such as fatty meats, chicken skin, or liver.
Furthermore, do not forget that nature provides us with numerous allies that could have a positive effect on our body, among which are:
- Calendula: which contains active ingredients that act as healing and anti-inflammatory agents for the mucosa, making it a good solution for gastritis.
- Dragon's Blood: traditionally used to treat ulcers due to its healing properties
- Chamomile and lemon verbena: which can reduce inflammation, thereby controlling symptoms of stomach heaviness, among others.
If you notice that your symptoms or discomfort do not improve with these basic dietary changes, we recommend consulting your nutritionist and doctor, who can advise you on other nutritional and health aspects that you should consider for managing these pathologies. Balance is the key to good health.
Prepared by Sara Rojas González and Vanesa Villa.