Diet for Gastroparesis

The word gastroparesis literally means a weak stomach. In this condition, the stomach's ability to digest solid food decreases. This happens because the stomach muscles responsible for pushing the food through the digestive tract do not work properly. This often results into delayed stomach emptying. In gastroparesis, the stomach requires extra time to empty its contents into the intestine.

Specific dietary changes play an important role in controlling gastroparesis. Changes in diet is the right approach to improve the patient's health. Doctors often recommend to have small frequent meals (6 to 8 meals daily) instead of having large meals twice a day. The stomach will require more effort to digest a super sized meal than a lighter snack. Pureed or a liquid diet will be better tolerated, as liquids can easily and quickly pass through the stomach. When it comes to eating food some guidelines should be followed by gastroparesis patients. It is necessary to avoid high fiber and high fat foods.

Fiber is mainly found in raw vegetables and fruits, legumes and whole grains. As the stomach will take extra time to digest fiber foods, the intake of these foods must be minimized. For this reason people diagnosed with gastroparesis, are often recommended to have low fiber foods, well cooked vegetables, fish and refined breads. This is because fat slows down the process of digestion and fiber cannot be easily digested. The indigestible part of food forms bezoars in the stomach. Foods that can cause bezoars include berries, dried figs, coconut, apples, tomato peels, potato, brussels sprouts and corn.

High fiber foods such as broccoli and orange contain nutrients that are simply difficult to digest. Indigestion is something that cannot be tolerated as the stomach is already weak in this condition. An important point to note is the food that cannot be digested remains in the stomach, and can cause further complications.

Fried or greasy vegetables can aggravate the symptoms, hence it must not be consumed. To fulfill the requirement of calories and nutrients contained in high fat liquids, one can have small servings of rich drinks such as milkshakes. The diet for gastroparesis must contain adequate protein and calories. This can be easily achieved by taking nutritional supplements like Ensure, Boost or Glucerna.

People with gastroparesis are comfortable eating pureed food and soups. The process of pureeing involves crushing fruits and vegetables to make a thick paste (sauce). Almost any type of food can be pureed. As gastroparesis patients are not allowed to eat high fat foods, deficiency in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron and vitamin B-12 may occur. To compensate the loss, one can include mineral supplements in their diet.

Vomiting is the most common symptom of gastroparesis. This often leads to dehydration (loss of water). So it is necessary to have plenty of water in a day. One can also have fruit and vegetable juices. The daily dosage of fluids required by the body needs to be fulfilled in order to stay healthy.

Most patients respond well consuming pureed foods and nutritional supplements. But some people with gastroparesis suffer from severe stomach problem. As a result, they are not able to tolerate any liquids or food. In such a case, the doctor may insert a feeding tube into a small intestine.

Modifications in the diet aforementioned can definitely help the person to cope with the disorder and lead a normal life.