As part of our ongoing commitment to provide education about conditions and diseases that affect your well-being, we are pleased to offer Chiropractic patients near College Park some suggestions that focus on managing delayed gastric emptying, or Gastroparesis.
Since August is National Gastroparesis Awareness month, please review the following tips that can help you prevent or better manage this disorder.
Gastroparesis Prevention and Management
Eliminating or avoiding particular types of food that are difficult to digest is critical for preventing or managing this condition.
Dietary recommendations include:
- Consume celery, cucumbers, broccoli, and cauliflower sparingly.
- Remove all raw vegetables and fruits from your plate, especially those that with fibrous skins. Fiber has the potential to create dense clusters of undigested food in your stomach. If you must eat raw vegetables, try steaming them until they are soft.
- Try to avoid fatty red meats, such as prime rib or steak. Red meat tends to be digested very slowly and with great effort, which can lead to the development of Gastroparesis in your stomach.
- Remove all of the skin from any chicken you intend to consume.
- Instead of the traditional three meals a day, try to consume smaller meals more frequently to help your body digest more completely.
- Try to get into the habit of chewing more slowly to break your food down into smaller, more easily absorbed pieces.
- Whenever you eat, make sure to hydrate. Drinking water while you eat is an excellent way to help you feel satisfied, thus avoiding additional calories.
If you are going to eat a heavier meal with some of the foods listed here, try not to overdo it.
Do your best to avoid these foods for several days afterward and eat lesser portions.
If you know of an upcoming party or big meal in advance, such as Thanksgiving, be sure to give your stomach a good rest a few days preceding the event.
Finally, pay attention to what your body is telling you. If you notice your stomach is staying full longer than anticipated, take a walk and avoid eating anything solid for the next meal.
Have a bland soup, yogurt, and perhaps some saltines.