Diet for gastritis and ulcers (with menu)

The diet for gastritis and ulcers is a fundamental part of the treatment, as it helps to alleviate and prevent symptoms from worsening and, therefore, it is important that the person has a balanced, healthy diet, easily digestible and low in fat and sugar. .

The diet for gastritis and ulcers can vary from one person to another, as food tolerance is not the same for everyone. Therefore, it is important that a nutritionist is consulted so that a general assessment can be made and a dietary plan can be indicated adapted to each person’s needs.

A good strategy is to create a food diary, where the foods and drinks consumed during the day are recorded, as it helps to identify the foods responsible for causing or worsening symptoms and, therefore, avoid them. Additionally, there are some home remedies that can be consumed daily, such as potato juice and chard tea, which have calming properties that help alleviate symptoms. See how to prepare home remedies for gastritis.

Allowed foods

The foods allowed in the diet for gastritis and ulcers are those that are easy to digest and low in fat. Thus, the foods that should be included in the diet are:

• Fruits, such as apples, pears, papayas, guavas or bananas, preferably without the peel and cooked or mashed. Sweets and fruit jellies can also be included in your daily diet, as long as they are made only with fruit, without added sugar;
• Vegetablessuch as zucchini, eggplant, carrots, spinach and chard, and it is recommended to consume them preferably cooked and without skin during periods of symptom crisis, as they are easier to digest this way;
• Low-fat meats, such as well-cooked and grilled chicken, turkey, fish and seafood, preferably steamed or boiled. The meat can also be cooked shredded, ground or in strips to make it easier to digest;
• Dairy, such as skimmed milk, natural yogurt and white cheese, such as ricotta and light curd. It is important to highlight that tolerance to milk varies from one person to another and, therefore, if you suspect lactose intolerance, in addition to gastritis, it is recommended to avoid this type of food;
• Carbohydratessuch as white rice, pasta, potatoes, pumpkin, white bread and sweet potatoes;
• Jelly no sugar;
• Plant-based drinkssuch as almond, oat or rice milk;
• Turnsuch as chamomile, linden, mint or ginger;
• Café decaffeinated;
• Olive oilin small quantities;
• Apple vinegar for seasoning, as it helps balance the pH of the stomach and improve acidity;
• Natural seasoningssuch as fine herbs, garlic, onion, parsley, coriander and oregano.

During a gastritis attack, the ideal is to prepare food with a smoother consistency, like puree, and it is also important to chew the food well so that the stomach can digest the food more easily.

What to eat right after a gastritis attack?

After recovering from the gastritis crisis, it is important to incorporate foods rich in fiber into your diet again, such as:

• Raw and unpeeled vegetablessuch as cucumber, lettuce and watercress;
• Whole Foodssuch as rice, pasta and whole grain bread;
• Flax seedssesame and chia;
• Legumessuch as beans, chickpeas and lentils;
• Nuts such as walnuts, peanuts and almonds;
• Fruits with skin, like apple and pear.

Furthermore, it is important to highlight that although the gastritis crisis has passed, it is important to continue avoiding foods high in fat and highly seasoned foods to prevent the development of a new crisis.

After a gastritis crisis, the consistency of food may return to normal, and it is important to maintain adequate chewing of food.

Diet menu for gastritis and ulcers

The following table provides an example of a 3-day menu for treating a gastritis and ulcer crisis:

The foods included on the menu are just an example, as the diet can vary depending on each person’s food tolerance. Therefore, it is important that the person consults a nutritionist so that a complete assessment can be carried out and a diet suited to individual needs can be created.

If you want to follow an individualized diet, schedule an appointment with the nutritionist closest to you:

Prohibited foods

Foods that should be avoided are those that are difficult to digest, such as those rich in fiber, processed foods, with additives, fats and preservatives that irritate the stomach, such as:

• Processed and high-fat foods, such as sausages, sausages, bacon, ham, turkey breast, salami, mortadella, fried foods in general, chicken skin, offal and cuts of meat with a lot of fat;
• Yellow and processed cheesessuch as cheddar, catupiry, minas and provolone;
• Dairysuch as whole milk, cream, ice cream, condensed milk, butter and margarine;
• Ready-made saucessuch as ketchup, aioli and mayonnaise;
• Tea verde, mate, preto e matcha;
• Drinkssuch as soft drinks, processed juices and coffee;
• Alcoholic beverages;
• Sugar and refined foods such as cakes, pudding and stuffed cookies;
• Frozen foodlike pizza and nuggets;
• Dehydrated soups and instant noodles.

Furthermore, acidic fruits should also be avoided if symptoms such as heartburn or stomach pain appear after consuming them. Some people may have gas and may also be intolerant to foods that cause gas, such as cabbage, broccoli, beans and cauliflower and, in these cases, they should reduce their consumption.