Normal digestion involves muscular contractions that move food through your digestive tract. In gastroparesis, the stomach muscles that normally move food are not signaled properly by the vagus nerve, resulting in delayed gastric emptying. This condition may be caused by viral infections, medications and nervous system disorders, but the most common known cause is from diabetes complications. Dietary changes may be necessary to ease your digestive process while also providing you with adequate nutrition.
Dietary Tips to Manage Symptoms
Abdominal pain and bloating, feeling full after minimal eating, heartburn, weight loss from low calorie intake and lack of appetite are the range of symptoms often experienced in gastroparesis. Depending on the underlying cause of the condition and severity, changing the foods you eat and frequency of meals may help reduce discomfort. Four to six small meals per day aids the stomach in emptying faster and reduces abdominal bloating and the feeling of fullness. Limit high-fat foods because fat takes the longest to empty from your stomach, which can slow the process of other nutrients being digested. Eat less fiber because it can linger in your stomach and ferment causing a trapped mass, or bezoar.
Liquid Nutrition
Initially your physician may recommend a brief liquid diet lasting no more than three days in conjunction with prescribed medications because liquids empty quicker than solids. If a liquid diet is not indicated you may find that alternating liquids with solids throughout the day helps your digestion and to meet nutrient needs. On a liquid diet or alternating liquid to regular foods diet, your beverage choices should remain low-fat but still provide a source of calories and if possible nutrients like vitamins, minerals or protein. Broth, bouillon, vegetable juice, milk, any fruit juice, tea and coffee are suggested liquids to consume regularly in your diet, notes the University of Virginia.
Meat and Protein
Lean meat and protein sources minimize the fat that may sit in your stomach and delay digestion. You may find that ground or pureed meat digests better, otherwise you will need to chew the meats very well before swallowing. Skinless chicken or turkey, non-breaded fish like shrimp, scallops or tuna and beef or pork tenderloin are rich protein sources that digest best with gastroparesis. Low-fat cheese or yogurt, egg whites and tofu also provide protein and ease digestion. Fattier meats may be tolerated but if you include these in your diet make the serving small, notes MayoClinic.com.
Grains and Starches
Lower-fiber grains and starches include white bread, white rice or pasta, plain grits, saltines and potatoes. Choose cereals without bran, wheat and whole grains like rice cereals and include plain oats, plain bagels and white grain waffles or pancakes in your diet. Avoid high-fiber grains containing wheat, barley, bran and granola.
Vegetables and Fruits
Cook raw vegetables and fruits that you buy whole and blend or juice them to ease digestion. Mushrooms, tomato puree, applesauce, bananas and strained baby vegetables or fruits work best with a gastroparesis diet. Avoid raw, fresh, dried and skin-on produce including beans, broccoli, berries, plums, oranges, celery, peas and peppers. Produce that may lead to bezoars include apples, figs, beans, coconuts and Brussels sprouts.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Gastroparesis
- MayoClinic.com; Gastroparesis Treatment and Drugs; Mayo Clinic Staff; Nov. 21, 2009
- University of Virginia Digestive Health Center; Diet Intervention For Gastroparesis; Carol Rees Parrish MS, RD et al; October 2010
- Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology; Gastroparesis Diet For Delayed Stomach Emptying; Frank W. Jackson, M.D.
- American Cancer Society: Low Fiber Foods
