From the Research
A patient with acute gastritis would benefit from a bland, soft diet that minimizes irritation to the inflamed stomach lining, as supported by the most recent study on the use of food and food-derived products in the treatment of gastritis 1.
Key Components of the Diet
- Start with clear liquids like water, broth, and herbal tea, then gradually introduce easily digestible foods such as bananas, rice, applesauce, toast, and plain crackers (often called the BRAT diet).
- Avoid spicy foods, acidic items (citrus fruits, tomatoes), caffeine, alcohol, fatty or fried foods, and carbonated beverages as these can worsen inflammation and symptoms.
Rationale Behind the Diet
The dietary approach works by reducing mechanical and chemical irritation to the stomach lining, allowing the gastric mucosa to heal while still providing necessary nutrition.
Additional Considerations
Patients should also avoid NSAIDs like ibuprofen or aspirin during this time as these medications can exacerbate gastritis. While studies have compared the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) in managing peptic ulcer disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease 2, 3, 4, 5, the focus for acute gastritis management remains on dietary adjustments to reduce symptom severity and support healing.
Implementation of the Diet
Small, frequent meals are preferable to large ones to reduce stomach distension. Adequate hydration is essential, but sip fluids slowly rather than gulping. As symptoms improve, gradually reintroduce a more varied diet while continuing to avoid known gastric irritants.