Gastritis is a pathology that affects the mucosa of the stomach, producing its inflammation. It is one of the most common affections in the abdomen, because –according to the World Health Organization, WHO– this upset stomach harms almost 50% of the world population.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) explains that to detect gastritis “Endoscopy shows a reddened mucosa with small peelings (red dots) or minor lesions that bleed”.
Usually, This injury is caused by a bacterial infection. which, if left untreated, can trigger ulcers.
Mayo Clinic, a non-profit entity dedicated to clinical practice, education and research, indicated that gastritis can also be caused by other factors such as excessive alcohol consumption, frequent use of pain relievers, stress, among others.
The manifestations of gastritis can vary depending on the person who suffers from it, but among the most frequent are pain in the abdominal area, nausea, weight loss, heartburn, reflux, etc. If gastritis is chronic and ulcers formthere may be blood in the stool, feeling tired and vomiting blood.
To counteract the symptoms of gastritis, it is possible to resort to different methods. A balanced diet will manage to control this condition; however, it is important to avoid some products that, instead of helping, can worsen the pathology.
The specialized portal Better with Health listed some foods that it is better to eat little so as not to increase the symptoms of gastritis. These are:
1. Spicy foods. They are usually recommended to activate the metabolism, but consuming them in excess increases the risk of irritating the stomach areas. Therefore, when you already have the disease, it is better not to consume them to control the symptoms.
2. Ultra-processed foods. They contain a large amount of sodium, which can lead to hypertension, due to their high content of saturated fat. They are hypercaloric, also causing diseases such as obesity.
3. Alcohol. “Drinking a large amount of alcohol can cause acute erosive gastropathy,” they explain from the Institute of Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, for its acronym in English). No matter the dose consumed, it increases the risk of suffering from this disease.
4. Sauces. People who have stomach problems in general should not consume sauces, since the level of acid that their formulas bring can irritate and cause heartburn. In addition, they have compounds that can affect the gastric mucosa.
In addition to food, It is important to take into account some habits that harm or aggravate gastritis. In fact, the specialized portal Better with Health, listed some routines that should be avoided when suffering from this condition:
- Disregard stress: Maintaining a hectic pace of life, both physically and mentally, can have a great influence on the development of gastritis. Also, when the body is exposed to high levels of anxiety after surgery, a burn or other injury, the stomach suffers and, in many cases, gastritis is generated, according to the Mayo Clinic.
- Abuse of antacids: constantly taking medications, such as aspirin, can reduce important substances inside the stomach that, when not present, cause acute or chronic gastritis. It is best that the doctor prescribes the intake of this type of medicine.