Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder of the digestive tract, where the stomach muscles weaken, thus slowing the digestion process. While there is no cure for gastroparesis, there are some natural remedies you can use to treat the symptoms caused by the condition. These remedies include changing your diet and changing your eating habits.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Change Your Diet
Step 1. Stay away from high-fat foods
It is important to avoid high-fat foods. In fact, fats reduce the rate at which foods are digested. Fatty foods include frankfurters, bacon, cheeses, pork ribs, and cured meats, among others. Instead, try to consume low-fat foods such as:
- Light yogurt.
- Egg whites.
- Low-fat meat.
- Skinless chicken breast.
- Skim milk and other low-fat dairy products.
- Ricotta.
Step 2. Follow a low-fiber diet
Fiber usually contains oligosaccharides, which are substances that are generally difficult to digest. This is because your stomach may be devoid of the enzyme that digests these components, and as a result, food remains intact in your large intestine and rectum. Low-fiber foods include:
- Minced meat.
- Tofu.
- Fish.
- Egg.
- Milk.
- Cheese.
- White bread and rice.
- Canned vegetables.
Step 3. Eat pureed foods to speed up digestion
Blended foods are much easier to digest than solid, chunky foods. Always check that there are no large lumps in pureed foods as you may find it difficult to digest them. Soft or pureed foods can include:
- You can puree vegetables, grains, and poultry in the blender after cooking them.
- You can add broth and milk to foods to reduce their texture.
Step 4. Drink plenty of fluids
Since your stomach has a hard time digesting food, it may be easier for you to consume calorie-rich drinks. These drinks can include condensed milk and protein diet drinks, both of which are capable of replenishing your protein reserves. Other things you might drink include:
- Liquid soups and broth.
- Soft drinks rich in electrolytes.
Step 5. Make homemade ginger tea
Ginger has properties that promote digestion. Contains gingerol and shogaol, two substances believed to increase gastric juices and secretions necessary for digestion. Try to drink a cup of ginger tea every day. To make ginger tea:
- Cut an 85-gram piece of ginger.
- Boil 3 glasses of water.
- Stir the ginger into the boiling water and let it steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Let it cool down a bit and then drink it.
Step 6. Drink some peppermint tea
Mint contains two active ingredients, menthol and menton, which are known to help the stomach muscle relax. They can also increase the production of bile in the stomach, which helps digest fat. To make mint tea:
- Collect a few mint leaves and break them to make menthol and other essential components.
- Boil 2 teaspoons of mint leaves in 3 glasses of water.
- Leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes.
- Let it cool and then drink.
Method 2 of 3: Change Your Eating Habits
Step 1. Chew your food properly
To help your stomach digest the food you eat, try to chew very well before swallowing. Softer foods are easier to digest. Try to eat and chew slowly to help your stomach stay strong while you eat.
While there is no magic number that indicates how long you should chew, you should try to chew your food until it is almost completely decomposed before swallowing it
Step 2. Eat small, frequent meals
It is easier for your stomach to digest frequent small meals rather than three large meals a day. When you eat smaller meals, your stomach produces less hydrochloric acid, which means it has to use less energy.
Aim for six small meals a day instead of the traditional three large meals
Step 3. Choose foods that are soft and easy to digest
Since gastroparesis impairs the digestive function of the stomach, it is important to choose foods that are easily digested. Some foods are simpler than others and therefore can be broken down faster and more effectively. Easily digestible foods include:
White bread, oats, soups, watermelon, peaches, pears, fruit juices, peeled potatoes and apples, mushrooms, lettuce and yogurt
Step 4. Avoid drinking water with meals
The water drunk during meals will dilute the hydrochloric acid in the stomach which will cause a slowdown in gastric emptying. Instead, try to drink plenty of water after meals to avoid diluting the hydrochloric acid in your stomach while you eat.
Step 5. Avoid going to bed immediately after eating
When you lie down immediately after eating, it is much more difficult for your stomach to digest the food you just ingested. Whenever possible, try to eat at least two to three hours before bedtime or napping.
After eating, consider doing light physical activity by going for a walk. Exercise helps boost your metabolism, which helps your stomach digest food
Method 3 of 3: Understanding Gastroparesis
Step 1. Recognize the symptoms of gastroparesis
If you are afraid of suffering from gastroparesis, it is important to recognize what the symptoms of this condition are. These symptoms include:
- Satiety: You may feel full after eating only a small amount of food. This happens because your stomach takes longer to process food, which gives your abdomen a feeling of fullness.
- Flatulence: As mentioned above, gastroparesis can cause food to stay in the stomach instead of moving to the intestines. This delay causes a build up of gas.
- Nausea and Vomiting: After eating, you may feel nauseous, or even throw up. This nausea is caused by the accumulation of food and secretions in your abdomen.
- Lack of appetite: When you constantly feel full after ingesting small amounts of food, it is very likely that you are not hungry at mealtimes.
- Weight Loss: When you always feel full, you are less likely to eat often, which can lead to weight loss.
- Heartburn: When your abdomen is filled with accumulated food, your stomach may send food back to the esophagus; this is called regurgitation. Food is usually mixed with acidic gastric juices which can cause a burning sensation, heartburn.
Step 2. Understand the risk factors for gastroparesis
There are people who are more predisposed to the development of this pathology than others. These people include:
- Diabetics.
- People who have had surgery where the abdomen was involved.
- People taking medications that can slow down the digestive process.
- People who have an infection that involves part of the digestive system.
Step 3. Be aware that smoking and drinking alcohol can make the condition worse
Smoking and alcohol are bad for your health in general, but even more so if you have gastroparesis. Both of these substances can increase heartburn and deteriorate your health.
Advice
- It is advisable to avoid cooking foods that have a strong smell. This is because this could cause nausea and make the condition worse.
- It is advisable to avoid eating foods that contain spices because they increase heartburn, making the disease worse.
