In gastroparesis, your stomach muscles contract sluggishly and ineffectively, and food you eat can sit in your stomach for a long time before passing through your digestive tract. Bulky, high-fiber foods, such as raw vegetables and whole grains, may be especially difficult for your stomach to process. Fatty foods can slow digestion, which can further delay stomach emptying. If gastroparesis interferes with your body's absorption of nutrients, switching to a diet of nonfat clear liquids temporarily may help you maintain basic nutrition and hydration until your stomach can function adequately.
Significance
When your stomach is contracting normally, it empties about 1 1/2 to 2 hours after you eat. Nervous system disorders, stomach surgery or nerve damage caused by type 1 or type 2 diabetes may affect your vagus nerve, which controls stomach muscle contractions, according to the American Diabetes Association, or ADA. Heartburn, nausea, vomiting undigested food, bloating, abdominal pain and a persistent sense of fullness or heaviness in your stomach may be symptoms of gastroparesis, the ADA notes. Eating large, heavy meals that contain fatty foods may worsen gastroparesis and increase your discomfort.
Health Risks
Gastroparesis can lead to weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. The accumulation of indigestible plant fiber in masses called bezoars can obstruct the passage of food between your stomach and small intestine. For diabetics, the delay in digestion of foods can cause sudden increases in blood sugar levels when food is finally absorbed. If you become unable to digest grain-based foods, fruits and vegetables, beans, meats or other solids, your health-care provider may recommend that you follow a diet that restricts solid foods and dietary fat to maintain nutrition and hydration while your stomach rests.
Guidelines
Even if your stomach is not contracting normally, liquids may pass into your small intestine via gravity, allowing you to absorb calories, carbohydrates, fluids and the electrolytes sodium and potassium, according to Dr. Frank Jackson of Jackson-Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. The nonfat liquid diet permits only clear liquids, including bouillon, electrolyte replacement drinks and soft drinks, with small servings of saltine crackers. Milk and juices are not allowed. However, the nonfat liquid diet permits limited amounts of carbohydrate to allow diabetics to maintain their blood sugar levels. After one to three days, when your gastroparesis symptoms have subsided, you may be able to tolerate more solid foods containing small amounts of fats. You should not follow a nonfat clear liquid diet for more than three days without additional nutritional supplementation, Dr. Jackson advises.
Maintaining Nutrition
When you're having difficulty digesting solid foods, but your gastroparesis isn't severe enough to warrant a nonfat diet of clear liquids, the University of Virginia Digestive Health Center suggests that you drink high-calorie fruit juices, vegetable juices, fortified milk, instant breakfast drinks and high-protein liquid meal replacements to maintain your intake of calories and protein. Additional sources of nonfat liquid protein include egg whites, skim milk, nonfat soy or rice milk and high-protein broth. When you're able to digest more solid foods, you can advance to pureed vegetables, fruits, potatoes and meats, the University of Virginia suggests. Whether you're following a liquid or a solid diet, you should eat small, frequent meals to facilitate digestion, Dr. Jackson advises.
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