What Foods Are Good for People Who Easily Experience Gastric Acid?
People prone to gastric acid secretion often experience symptoms such as gastric ulcer, gastritis, and gastric acid reflux due to excessive gastric acid secretion. This excessive secretion can greatly irritate the gastric mucosa and throat mucosa, necessitating timely management. Foods suitable for individuals prone to gastric acid secretion are generally alkaline, such as soy milk, steamed buns, vegetables, and fruits. However, it is important to maintain regular meal times and avoid eating on an empty stomach.
To maintain gastric health, it is crucial to establish a regular eating schedule, ideally with three meals a day at fixed times. It is advisable to set a timetable and strictly adhere to it. This will also have an impact on sleep patterns, as individuals who stay up late and sleep late often combine breakfast and lunch, a habit that should be corrected. Eating late-night snacks cannot compensate for this, as while a person's biological clock can shift somewhat, it remains within a certain range and cannot vary significantly. For further information, one can consult resources on human biological clocks.
Individuals with poor gastric digestion often feel full after eating a small amount and experience gastric distension with slightly larger portions. This can particularly affect sleep if eaten in excess during the evening. Hard and fibrous foods are difficult to digest. Therefore, it is recommended to eat smaller, more frequent meals. If it's not yet time for a full meal, some food can be consumed, but not in excess, as it should not replace the main meal. Foods should be soft and loose, and tough or crispy items should be consumed sparingly as they are the most difficult to digest. It is best to drink soup before meals as drinking it after can increase digestion difficulties. It is advisable to avoid eating for two to three hours before bedtime as it can interfere with sleep. If one feels hungry, drinking plenty of water can help.
Individuals with gastric issues should avoid smoking, alcohol, coffee, strong tea, carbonated drinks, spicy and acidic foods, as these are the most irritating to the stomach. The stomach prefers warm foods and avoids cold ones, thus cold drinks and ice cream should also be avoided. Foods should be served warm, which can be a challenge especially during hot weather. Two drinks that are recommended are milk and warm water. Milk can form a protective layer in the stomach, so drinking a glass of milk in the morning before eating is beneficial. Staying hydrated is essential, especially with warm water, as dehydration is often mistaken for hunger.
Although soy milk is beneficial, it is considered cold in nature and should not be used as a substitute for milk.
Steamed buns can be a good choice for maintaining gastric health and can be tried as a staple food.
Vegetables and fruits are essential components of a balanced diet and should be consumed in adequate quantities. It is advisable to cook them slightly softer to ease digestion. While the fibers in vegetables and fruit peels can be consumed moderately, they should not be eaten in excess as they can be difficult to digest. Fruits can generally be consumed in larger quantities.
Individuals with gastric issues should avoid exercising immediately after eating. It is best to rest and allow the food in the stomach to digest before engaging in any activities. Light walking can also be beneficial for digestion. In general, it is advisable to avoid working or engaging in strenuous activities after meals.
Papaya is suitable for gastric health, and can be included in a diet to maintain gastric balance. However, for individuals with excess gastric acid secretion, it should be consumed in moderation. It is important to remember that the stomach prefers warm foods and avoids cold ones. Therefore, in addition to icy foods, other cold foods such as green bean soup should also be consumed sparingly.