Gastroparesis is a stomach condition that affects more women than men. This condition occurs when your stomach is unable to demonstrate the normal movements of food throughout the digestive process. The inability of your stomach to empty effectively can be very harmful to the body because your stomach can become very irritated and can lead to life threatening complications.
Symptoms
Symptoms of gastroparesis depends on how severe the condition is in an individual. If you have a mild case, you could experience bloating, heartburn, nausea, stomach pain or vomiting. In a more severe case, individuals could require frequent hospitalization, experience malnutrition, dehydration and irregular blood sugar levels. If you do not control your symptoms it could lead to diabetes or lupus.
Helpful tips
Any gastroparesis patient can see a dietician that will give you the proper guidance in handling your gastroparesis on an individual level. Since the main factor in gastroparesis is difficulty with digestion, eating meals that are smaller and more fitting for your digestive system will help. Focusing on chewing food into smaller pieces will also help as it is less work from your stomach. In addition, sitting up right after meals helps avoid any complications with how your food is being digested. Vitamin supplements are a great preventative of developing malnutrition andis also beneficial because you are providing important vitamins and minerals to your body.
Foods That Will Help:
Blended fruits:
- Vegetables,
- Canned peaches,
- Well-cooked fruit
- Juice
- Soups/Broths
Carbohydrates:
- Starches
- Corn tortillas
- English muffins,
- Rice cereals
- Potatoes without skin
Foods to Stay Away From:
Fatty foods:
- Burgers
- Fries
- Greasy foods
- Fatty meat
Fiber – fill foods:
- Whole grain cereals
- Fruits
- Broccoli
- Nuts
- Seeds
If you or someone you know is living with gastroparesis, you may qualify for a research study we are currently enrolling in. Please fill out your information below and a study representative will reach out to you shortly to discuss qualification and participation.
Resources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318753.php
