Gastritis can cause painful indigestion in your upper abdomen, nausea or a general feeling of fullness after eating. It results from inflammation of the stomach lining and can occur suddenly or develop over time. For most people, gastritis does not pose a serious health threat once treated, but its presence can force you to alter the foods you eat. Specifically, acidic foods like tomato-based vegetable juice may cause stomach irritation.
About Gastritis
Gastritis develops from weakening or damage to the mucous-lined barrier of your stomach. Bacterial infection, use of pain relievers, chronic use of alcohol, or aging and stress can cause damage to the stomach lining. Untreated gastritis may increase your risk of ulcers or bleeding in your stomach. Treatment generally includes determining the source of inflammation and medications like antibiotics to kill bacteria or antacids to reduce further damage. No specific diet exists for gastritis, but you can eliminate foods that cause irritation, which may include high-fat, spicy or acidic items.
Vegetable Juice
Tomatoes and tomato-based juice may irritate your stomach by increasing acidity levels. However, you can still drink vegetable juices that do not contain acidic produce by making your own juiced concoction. Butternut squash, celery, carrots, peas, potatoes, mushrooms and zucchini are low-acid vegetable options. Juicing requires an at-home device you can purchase from local home goods stores. Unlike purchasing processed juice from the market, juicing your own produce preserves the fiber content of the vegetable, which is important for healthy nutrition.
Foods to Avoid
The most common foods to avoid with gastritis include caffeinated items, citrus fruits and juices, alcohol, and spices like chili powder. Cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, onions or broccoli are not necessarily acidic but may increase the risk of gas and bloating. Fried, cured, pickled and smoked meats, including hot dogs, sausage, ham or pre-packaged luncheon meats also increase your risk of stomach inflammation. You may also find it helpful to avoid course bran cereal, breads with seeds or nuts, and fried snack foods.
Foods to Include
A well-balanced diet is important to your health. Although some fruits and vegetables should be limited, you can still get adequate nutrition from produce. Cooked vegetables tend to cause less irritation as well as canned or frozen varieties. Bananas, apples, pears and apricots as well as canned fruits may be included in your diet. Whole grains like brown rice or wheat products are fiber-rich and may not irritate your stomach. Lean proteins like grilled fish, skinless poultry or low-fat dairy is also suggested to reduce irritation. Consult your physician for dietary recommendations based on your specific symptoms.
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