Gastroparesis is a difficult medical condition because it interferes with proper nutrition and the symptoms are unpredictable. Sometimes, you may be able to eat small meals, but other times you may not even be able to drink fluids. Gastroparesis is often managed with a strict diet plan, and fruits have a critical, yet surprising, role in dietary intervention.
Muscles in the stomach contract to push food into the small intestine. When the nerves that controls the stomach muscles do not work properly, food moves too slowly or even stops moving and stays in the stomach. This is called delayed gastric emptying, or gastroparesis. If you have gastroparesis, you may go through periods when you can only consume liquids and you may have times when you can't tolerate putting anything in your stomach. Dietary interventions are part of the treatment, and fruit is an important consideration.
Complications
Bacterial overgrowth can occur when food stays in the stomach too long. A second serious complication is that food can harden into a solid mass when it sits in the stomach. This mass, called a bezoar, causes nausea and vomiting. Bezoars are dangerous if they block the opening into the small intestine.
Role of Fruit
Fruit has a critical role in the management of gastroparesis because it is high in fiber. Normally, you need to consume enough dietary fiber because it reduces cholesterol, keeps blood glucose balanced, encourages the growth of healthy bacteria and prevents constipation. However, indigestible fiber stays in the stomach too long and may slow down the passage of food through the stomach, further aggravating the complications that already exist. If you have gastroparesis, you must restrict fiber, being especially careful about the amount of fruit you eat and the form it takes. Some fruits are known to contribute to bezoar formation and need to be avoided.
Fruit in the Diet
As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid all raw fruit and canned fruits with skins due to their fiber content. Some specific fruits that contribute to bezoars include blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, oranges, kiwi and dried fruits such as apricots, dates, figs, prunes and raisins. Fruit juices are often better tolerated, but you should not drink citrus juices. If your symptoms are not active and your doctor or dietitian approves, you can try to blend raw fruits into liquid smoothies or even consider strained baby food fruits.
