How to Best Manage Gastritis with Diet
Written by: Amy Chow, RD
Updated: January 9th, 2025
Gastritis is an inflammation of the protective lining of the stomach. Normally, a layer of mucus protects the stomach lining. Gastritis can be acute or chronic depending on how long the inflammation has been going on. If gastritis occurs for a long time, part of this lining may wear away. Chronic gastritis may progress to sore, ulcers and even gastric cancer if left untreated.
Causes may include:
- H. Pylori bacteria infection
- Taking medications that damages the stomach lining such as Non-Steroid Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin
- Excess stomach acid
- Autoimmune reactions
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Physical and/or mental stressors
General symptoms of Gastritis
Typical symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Stomach pain
- Indigestion
- Feeling full and bloated
- Acid reflux and/or gas
How is it Diagnosed?
Your doctor may diagnose the cause of gastritis through a blood test, breath test, stool sample and/or endoscopy. If gastritis is not getting better, or it’s causing severe symptoms, your doctor might refer you to a specialist GI doctor called a gastroenterologist.
What to Avoid?
The treatment often involves a combination of medications and lifestyle changes, depending on the specific underlying cause(s) of the inflammation. The dietary recommendation for gastritis is to limit or avoid further stomach irritants that may worsen your symptoms. These stomach irritants may include:
- reduce or avoid caffeine in tea, coffee, cola and energy drinks
- reduce or avoid salty, spicy and fatty food
- reduce or avoid acidic beverages such as coffee (including decaf), carbonated beverages, and fruit juices with citric acid
- avoid drinking alcohol as much as possible
- avoid eating 3 to 4 hours before going to bed
What Can I Eat when I Have Gastritis?
Generally, a relatively bland diet is recommended for people with gastritis to reduce stomach irritants, promote healing and to minimize symptoms. Some foods may make some people feel better, while others make their symptoms worse. You may find it helpful to keep a food journal and speak to a gut-health dietitian for individualized advice.
- Aim to eat at consistent times – irregular meal times has been linked to symptoms in gastritis patients
- Aim for smaller, more frequent meals instead of big portions
- Anti-inflammatory diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins
- Fermented probiotic foods such as yogurt or kefir
- Eating a fibre-rich diet. You’d want to gradually increase your fibre intake once your symptoms are getting better to prevent further irritation
- Probiotic supplements may be helpful when used together with standard medications in the healing from H. pylori infection and to reduce the side-effects related to antibiotics
Conclusion
For people with gastritis, diet plays an important role in managing symptoms, promoting gut healing and developing a healthy gut to reduce risk of gastritis and other gastrointestinal problems. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure about where to start, BC Dietitians are here to help.
Our team of experienced dietitians understands the complexities of gut issues and can provide you with evidence-based, personalized nutrition advice. Personalized nutrition is when eating and nutrition are tailored for your specific needs based on your genetics, age, weight, height, activity levels, preferences, lifestyle, health conditions and many more factors. Visit BC Dietitians to connect with a dietitian and book in your consultation to a healthier, happier gut (for BC residents only*).
References:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gastritis
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