If you have gastroparesis, you might find that liquids are easier to consume than solid foods. If so, soup is an excellent way to eat a full meal comfortably and get many of the liquids that may be lacking in your diet. If you enjoy soup on a regular basis, make it in large batches and freeze it to cut back on weekly cooking time.
About Gastroparesis
The precise cause of gastroparesis is unknown, although it is often related to diabetes. According to MayoClinic.com, the condition may be caused by damage to the vagus nerve, which controls the movements of the stomach muscles. Unable to move into the small intestine, which is where nutrient absorption and digestion take place, food gets trapped in the stomach and causes heartburn, vomiting of undigested food, nausea, bloating and stomach spasms.
The primary way to treat the condition is to make dietary changes. Some medications -- such as anti-emetic medications, which control nausea and vomiting, and medications that stimulate the movement of stomach muscles -- can also alleviate the symptoms of gastroparesis. In extreme cases that cause malnutrition and are not resolved by other treatments, gastroparesis surgery can be done to staple or bypass the lower part of the stomach. The small intestine is then attached to the remaining part of the stomach, which helps move food through stomach faster and helps increase nutrient absorption in the small intestine.
Benefits of Soup
People with severe gastroparesis may need to go on an all-liquid diet, and soup provides many nutritional benefits in liquid form. For example, fibrous foods, which are normally off-limits in their raw form for people with gastroparesis, are more easily digestible after they have been cooked in a soup. Although cooking may decrease the amount of other nutrients, like water-soluble vitamin C, the vitamins leach into the cooking liquid and remain in the soup.
Best Ingredients
For those who can tolerate some solid foods, a soup with well-cooked vegetables, like potatoes and carrots, as well as simple starches like noodles and rice, is an ideal way to avoid dehydration and obtain nutrients. If you find that you can tolerate well-cooked vegetables and simple starches, try adding lean protein sources such as chicken breast or fish to your soup. Avoid using dark meat, which has a higher fat content than white meat.
Ingredients to Avoid
Avoid soups that contain high-fat sources, such as cream-based soups and red meats. If you do use high-fiber foods like vegetables in your soup, be sure that they are completely cooked to help ease digestion. Avoid spicy soups, which may trigger heartburn. According to the Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments, if you have this disease, you will benefit from eating six small servings of soup throughout the day to help the stomach empty effectively.
