Gastritis refers to any type of inflammation of your stomach mucosa, or lining. Symptoms of gastritis vary from person to person. Some people do not experience any symptoms, while others have upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloody stools or bloody vomit. Part of the treatment for gastritis involves making changes to your diet. Including quinoa in your diet is one positive change you can make.
Quinoa Benefits for Gastritis
Quinoa is beneficial for gastritis because it does not contain gluten, has a large amount of fiber and is a complete protein. Each cup of quinoa contains 8 grams of complete protein and 5 grams of fiber. Because quinoa is a complete protein -- it contains all eight essential amino acids -- you can use it to replace fattier types of protein, such as red meat, that often irritate the stomach lining. Replacing grains, such as rye, barley and wheat, with quinoa decreases your risk of inflammation caused by a sensitivity to gluten.
Preparation and Storage
Large supermarkets and health food stores often carry quinoa. To ensure your quinoa is fresh, and stays fresh, purchase it in or from a moisture-proof container. Keep quinoa in an airtight container and in a cool place, such as your refrigerator. When you are ready to cook it, rinse it under running water and drain it to remove any bitter taste. To cook quinoa, add 1 cup of quinoa to 2 cups of water in a pan and bring it to a boil. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Quinoa turns translucent when it is done.
Meal Ideas
Gastritis limits the types of foods you can eat, making it harder to vary your diet. The versatility of quinoa lets you include it in your diet a number of ways. For instance, replace spicy croutons on your salad with a sprinkling of quinoa, have quinoa with your main dish instead of rice, make a breakfast cereal from cooked quinoa and berries or mix quinoa with vegetables as part of a tasty stir-fry.
Considerations
The way you prepare and eat quinoa changes its impact on gastritis. If you prepare it with spices, fats or acidic tomatoes, lemons or vinegar, expect your gastritis to worsen. Consuming a large portion of quinoa alone or in combination with other foods also increases your likelihood of experiencing gastritis symptoms.
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