Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsGoalsWhat to EatWhat to AvoidOther Tips
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Goals
What to Eat
What to Avoid
Other Tips
Agastroparesisdiet involves eating smaller meals with foods that are softer and lower in fiber and fat to better cope with symptoms of delayed gastric emptying.Withgastroparesis, the normal contractions of the intestines (calledperistalsis) are slowed, often leading to symptoms like heartburn, stomach pain, bloating, nausea, or vomiting soon after eating.
A gastroparesis diet aims to overcome these issues with alow-fiber,/low-residueeating plan and, in some cases, the avoidance of solid foods.A certifieddietitiancan help you build a healthy eating plan that ensures you get the nutrients you need daily.
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Goals of the Gastroparesis Diet
For this reason, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for gastroparesis.
With that said, diet remains a central component irrespective of the underlying cause. The diet may only be needed for a short time during chemo or recovery from an infection, or permanently for those with chronic illness or idiopathic disease.
Features of the Diet
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the gastroparesis diet largely involves four key elements:
Additional charges may be needed if your symptoms are severe, including:
Due to the restriction of certain nutritious foods, smart choices are needed to ensure the foods you eat arenutrient-dense(meaning that they provide the daily calories, protein, fat,carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals needed to function optimally).
Without a consistent focus on good nutrition, weight loss, muscle loss,malnutrition, andwastingcan occur.
Foods to Eat
The foods you can eat on a gastroparesis diet can vary considerably from one person to the next. Certain foods that are tolerable for one person may cause extreme distress in others.
To better identify the types of foods you can and cannot eat, try keeping afood journal, logging in everything you eat or drink daily along with any gastroparesis symptoms you experience. Over time, you may see a pattern emerging that can better inform your eating plan.
With that said, there are foods and beverages that are generally “safe” for people on a gastroparesis diet. According to research published inDigestive Diseases and Science,these are generally foods that are soft, bland, sweet, salty, and starchy.
Proteins
Protein is central to any diet to build muscle and maintain health. These are low-fat options that are less prone tofermentation and gasif you have gastroparesis:
Dairy
Low-fat or no-fat is the rule of the game with dairy. Alternatively, you can replace cow’s milk withfortified plant-based milk, such as cashew milk and oatmeal milk.
Examples of “safe” dairy products include:
Fruits and Vegetables
Fruit and vegetables that are ripe and peeled can be eaten without cooking. Those that are harder should be peeled and cooked soft or pureed. Canned fruits and vegetables are also good.
Fruits and vegetables on the “safe” list include:
Carbohydrates
Focus on eating smaller amounts of foods made with refined wheat or refined grains. Examples include:
Drinks and Beverages
You can get a lot of nutrition from certain drinks that tend to be easy to digest. Others may help ease symptoms of gastroparesis, including upset stomach and bloating.
Drinks and beverages on the “safe” list include:
Foods to Avoid
According to the same study published inDigestive Diseases and Science,foods to avoid include those that are fatty, acidic, spicy, or high in roughage (indigestible fibrous content found in plant-based foods.
The list of “unsafe” foods is extensive, with some more tolerable than others. Keeping a food journal can help you identify which foods you can limit and which to avoid entirely.
The main concern here is fat. This is especially true with animal-based proteins that are high insaturated fat. Although some fat is needed to metabolize vitamins and perform other essential body functions, saturated fats should be strictly limited and replaced with healthierpolyunsaturated or monosaturated fats.
Proteins to avoid include:
The same rules apply to dairy, opting out of any that are full-fat or even contain 2% fat.As a general rule, the lower the fat content, the better.
Dairy products to avoid include:
With the exception of peeled soft fruits, you would generally need to avoid eating any fruit or vegetable that is raw, including salads. As healthy as these foods are for you, they can also complicate gastroparesis and make symptoms worse.
Fruits and vegetables to avoid include:
As healthy and essential as they are for most people,whole grainsneed to be avoided if you have gastroparesis as these are among the foods with the highest fiber content. Generally speaking, grains with high fiber content (greater than 2 grams per serving) should be avoided.
Carbs to avoid include:
Highly acidic beverages should be skipped, as should caffeine and alcohol which can irritate the stomach and make gastroparesis symptoms worse.
Drinks and beverages to avoid include:
Other Tips and Considerations
How you eat is almost as important as what you eat if you have gastroparesis. By making a few small adjustments to your eating habits, you may be able to avoid many of the symptoms of gastroparesis.
Here are seven tips that can help:
Education is also key. TheInternational Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disordersis a nonprofit organization that provides information, tips, and personal stories about living with gastroparesis. The more that you understand about gastroparesis, the better you will be able to manage and cope over the long term.
Summary
A gastroparesis diet involves a low-fiber/low-fat/low-residue eating plan to better cope with the symptoms of delayed gastric emptying. This includes eating smaller meals throughout the day and focusing on foods that are soft, pureed, non-acidic, and low in roughage. A certified dietitian can help you build an effective and safe gastroparesis diet that delivers all the daily nutrients you need.
4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for gastroparesis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastroparesis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.Wytiaz V, Homko C, Duffy F, Schey R, Parkman HP.Foods provoking and alleviating symptoms in gastroparesis: patient experiences.Dig Dis Sci. 2015;60(4):1052-8. doi:10.1007/s10620-015-3651-7Additional ReadingCamilleri M.Novel diet, drugs, and gastric interventions for gastroparesis.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(8):1072–1080. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.12.033Olausson EA, Störsrud S, Grundin H, Isaksson M, Attvall S, Simrén M.A small particle size diet reduces upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with diabetic gastroparesis: a randomized controlled trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(3):375-385. doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.453
4 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for gastroparesis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastroparesis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.Wytiaz V, Homko C, Duffy F, Schey R, Parkman HP.Foods provoking and alleviating symptoms in gastroparesis: patient experiences.Dig Dis Sci. 2015;60(4):1052-8. doi:10.1007/s10620-015-3651-7Additional ReadingCamilleri M.Novel diet, drugs, and gastric interventions for gastroparesis.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(8):1072–1080. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.12.033Olausson EA, Störsrud S, Grundin H, Isaksson M, Attvall S, Simrén M.A small particle size diet reduces upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with diabetic gastroparesis: a randomized controlled trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(3):375-385. doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.453
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for gastroparesis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastroparesis.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.Wytiaz V, Homko C, Duffy F, Schey R, Parkman HP.Foods provoking and alleviating symptoms in gastroparesis: patient experiences.Dig Dis Sci. 2015;60(4):1052-8. doi:10.1007/s10620-015-3651-7
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Eating, diet, & nutrition for gastroparesis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of gastroparesis.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition & facts for gastroparesis.
Wytiaz V, Homko C, Duffy F, Schey R, Parkman HP.Foods provoking and alleviating symptoms in gastroparesis: patient experiences.Dig Dis Sci. 2015;60(4):1052-8. doi:10.1007/s10620-015-3651-7
Camilleri M.Novel diet, drugs, and gastric interventions for gastroparesis.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(8):1072–1080. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.12.033Olausson EA, Störsrud S, Grundin H, Isaksson M, Attvall S, Simrén M.A small particle size diet reduces upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with diabetic gastroparesis: a randomized controlled trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(3):375-385. doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.453
Camilleri M.Novel diet, drugs, and gastric interventions for gastroparesis.Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016;14(8):1072–1080. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2015.12.033
Olausson EA, Störsrud S, Grundin H, Isaksson M, Attvall S, Simrén M.A small particle size diet reduces upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with diabetic gastroparesis: a randomized controlled trial.Am J Gastroenterol. 2014;109(3):375-385. doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.453
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