Food for stomach health

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

No matter how healthy, nutritious and tasty food may be, we may not get any benefit or pleasure if our stomach is sick or is not doing its job well. Therefore, we need to know which food is most beneficial for the health of the stomach.

Last time we talked about food that is good for oral health. Today we'll talk about stomach health, which is directly related to the behavior and properties of hydrochloric acid. A few drops of it can destroy any tissue in the human body, cause severe pain and kill contacting cells. However, the inner lining of the stomach, called the mucous membrane, is able to withstand the action of this acid without painful effects throughout a person's life.

Hydrochloric acid, along with pepsin, is essential for starting the process of digesting food, and especially proteins.

How does the stomach protect itself from the corrosive effects of the acid it produces? There is a real barrier, formed mainly from the mucous membrane, that protects the inner walls of the stomach. To a large extent, the health of the stomach depends on keeping this barrier in proper condition.

Gastritis and duodenal ulcer are the two most common consequences of damage to the gastric mucosa.

Dyspepsia

Definition and reasons

Dyspepsia is difficult and painful digestion. Dyspepsia is commonly known as indigestion. Symptoms include belching, flatulence, discomfort or bloating, and acidity.

In some cases, dyspepsia has organic causes and may even be an early symptom of a serious illness. However, more often the disease is exclusively functional in nature, as a result of improper diet or unhealthy habits. Therefore, for successful treatment, it is necessary to eliminate these causes as soon as possible. If this is not done on time, dyspepsia can develop into gastritis or stomach ulcers.

The following factors can cause or exacerbate dyspepsia:

• poor chewing of food (food on the go);
• eating outside of school hours;
• stress or nervous tension;
• fried foods, preservatives, pickled foods;
• excess fat and the use of poorly tolerated foods, such as milk;
• excess fluid and the use of carbonated soft drinks and beer.

Increase	Reduce or eliminate
Sprouted grains	Fried and spicy
Whole Grain Products	Alcohol
Salad	Coffee
Pumpkin	Vinegar
Papaya	Cold drinks
Fennel	Bold
Malt drink	Molluscs and crustaceans
	Chocolate
	Milk

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Gastritis

Definition and reasons

Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining, usually caused by improper eating habits or substances hostile to the stomach. Here is a list of them:

• alcoholic drinks and coffee;
• certain medications, in particular anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin;
• too hot or too cold food and drinks (tea, beer, ice cream);
• Tobacco: Smoking releases nicotine and tar, which dissolve in saliva and enter the stomach, causing gastritis.

Treatment

Treating gastritis requires a gentle, gentle diet that will not irritate the stomach. It is important to avoid anything that can irritate the stomach lining, be it smoking or stress.

Acid-neutralizing medications, which are usually prescribed for gastritis, have little effect if lifestyle and dietary habits have not been adjusted.

Increase	Reduce or eliminate
Potato	Alcohol
Oats	Cold drinks
Rice	Coffee
Tapiocu	Spicy food
Carrot	Molluscs and crustaceans
Avocado	Meat
Pumpkin	Sugar
Sauerkraut	Ice cream
Apples	Citrus

»

Stomach and duodenal ulcer

Definition and reasons

An ulcer is a serious injury to the lining of the stomach or duodenum.

An ulcer can have many reasons:

• excess stomach acid, the action of irritants: spices, alcoholic beverages, coffee, carbonated drinks, aspirin, tobacco, and so on;
• the action of microbes - causative agents of gastritis and ulcers of the stomach and duodenum, such as Helicobacter pylori;
• stress or nervous tension that lead to vasoconstriction and a decrease in blood flow to the gastric mucosa, leaving it unprotected.

Treatment

In recent years, scientists have proven the failure of a number of traditional treatments for ulcers.

It was previously thought that drinking large amounts of milk would help heal ulcers. Today it is known that milk can increase acid levels.

Doctors advised to eat often and in small portions. But this practice keeps the stomach in a state of near-continuous stimulation, which increases acid production and inhibits healing. Three meals a day is much better than 5-6 meals.

It was also recommended to avoid eating fiber and raw foods. If chewed well, on the contrary, they protect against ulcers.

Increase	Reduce or eliminate
Cabbage	Alcohol and coffee
Potato	Spices
Oats	Molluscs and crustaceans
Vegetable oils	Meat and milk
Honey	White sugar
Fiber
Tapiocu
Okra
Cherimoyu
Vitamins A, C

»

Hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm

Definition

This type of hernia occurs when the upper part of the stomach is displaced into the chest cavity through the esophageal opening of the diaphragm. This anatomical disorder interferes with the valve between the esophagus and stomach (the sphincter), which keeps stomach contents back up into the esophagus.

The most common symptom of a hiatal hernia is the outflow of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus. As a result, the acid attacks the esophagus and the person experiences the typical burning sensation known as heartburn.

Treatment

Dietary treatment for hiatal hernia consists primarily of avoiding:

• foods that further relax the esophageal sphincter;
• foods that stimulate the production of acid in the stomach.

Correct posture to avoid pressure on the upper abdomen and smoking cessation inhibit the development of hiatal hernia and stomach inflammation.

Increase	Reduce or eliminate
Potato	Alcohol and coffee
Carrot	Spices
Seaweed	Milk
Garnet	Chocolate
	Bold

»

In the next article, we'll talk about food for liver health. Eat right, eat happily, and be healthy.

Based on the book "Healthy Food".