We've all experienced that overwhelming fullness that comes of overindulging at Thanksgiving dinner. If you have gastroparesis, however, you may experience excessive fullness almost daily. Gastroparesis is a digestive disorder characterized by delayed emptying of the stomach, resulting in symptoms such as nausea, bloating, heartburn and a feeling of fullness when you've just begun a meal. Gastroparesis may lead to weight loss and malnutrition. Although gastroparesis is usually a chronic condition, dietary changes can reduce your symptoms and ensure adequate nutrition.
Mealtime Habits
Eat five to six smaller meals each day instead of three large ones. Smaller amounts of food can help the stomach empty more quickly while preventing your symptoms and allowing you to ingest more nutrition overall. Chew your foods well, and sip liquids during meals. If calorie intake is a concern, drink calorie-rich beverages such as juice or milk rather than water. Sit upright during and one to two hours after meals to promote gastric emptying. Walking after meals may also be helpful.
Fiber
Adhere to a low-fiber diet, because fiber further slows gastric emptying. High-fiber foods may also contribute to the formation of bezoars, solid masses of food that can block the stomach from emptying into the small intestine. Avoid all high-fiber foods, including whole grains, legumes, raw fruits and raw vegetables. Avoid even cooked versions of high-fiber vegetables such as celery, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, corn, broccoli, green beans and cauliflower. Instead, eat cooked, peeled, lower-fiber vegetables such as winter squash, summer squash, mushrooms, tomatoes, beets, carrots, potatoes and sweet potatoes; cooked, peeled fruits; and refined grain products such as white bread, white rice and white pasta.
Fat
Fat also slows the rate at which the stomach empties. However, many people with gastroparesis can tolerate fat in liquid form, such as that found in milkshakes. Therefore, you may want to limit your intake of high-fat solid foods while experimenting with small amounts of liquid fats. Fat adds valuable calories to the diet, so should be incorporated if possible. Avoid high-fat solid foods such as cheeses, fried foods, fatty desserts, nuts and fattier meats including bacon, hot dogs, salami and ribs.
Liquid Diet
Liquid meals may calm gastroparesis when low-fiber, low-fat and other strategies fail. For many patients, liquids are able to pass through the stomach without difficulty. Traditional liquid meal options include milk, yogurt, puddings, custard, liquid nutritional supplements and milkshakes. In reality, however, nearly any food can fit the liquid definition when pureed in a blender. Experiment with pureed soups, blended meats and fish, fruit smoothies, pureed vegetables and blended cooked cereal. Add liquids to solid foods in order to effectively blend.
Feeding Tube
Despite your best efforts, you may sometimes fail to meet your calorie needs. In some cases you may need to receive nutrition through a feeding tube placed into your small intestine. Feeding tubes are usually used temporarily, then removed when you are able to effectively resume eating.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Gastroparesis
- American College of Gastroenterology; Gastroparesis; Jean Fox, et al.
- Mayo Clinic; Gastroparesis; November 2009
- American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society; Dietary and Nutritional Recommendations for Patients with Gastroparesis; Carol Rees Parrish, et al.
- University of Virginia Digestive Health Center; Diet Intervention for Gastroparesis; Carol Rees Parrish, et al.
- Ohio State University Medical Center; Diet for Gastroparesis; June 2009
