How to create a menu for high stomach acidity

Gastric juice helps the digestion of food. “Stomach acidity (acidity of gastric juice) is a characteristic of the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the lumen of the stomach or in gastric juice,” says Olga Khafisova, gastroenterologist at the MEDSI Clinical Diagnostic Center on Belorusskaya, Ph.D. — The main constituent unit of gastric juice is hydrochloric acid, which is produced by the parietal cells of the fundic glands of the stomach. Normal acidity in the lumen of the body of the stomach on an empty stomach is 1.5–2.0 pH; accordingly, an increase in gastric acidity is said to occur when pH measurements tend to decrease. The breakdown of large peptide molecules by hydrochloric acid is essential for their complete absorption. The enzyme pepsin, which is found in gastric juice, also breaks down proteins, but its activity requires normal stomach acidity. In addition to digesting proteins, hydrochloric acid directly affects a multiple cascade of reactions converting inactive digestive enzymes into active ones, and also destroys pathogenic microorganisms ingested with food.”

Symptoms of high acidity

Patients with high acidity may complain of:

• heartburn of a constant or periodic nature, especially after eating;
• belching acid;
• intestinal colic;
• often noted stool with a tendency to constipation;
• hunger pains - occur on an empty stomach or during long breaks between meals;
• aching and nagging pain in the stomach area that occurs 3-4 hours after eating the so-called. late pain;
• the tongue may be covered with a white or gray coating;
• Nausea and nausea occur occasionally, sometimes accompanied by vomiting, which in some cases brings relief.

“A research method that allows us to determine acidity in the stomach and antrum is pH-metry,” says our expert. — When performing daily pH measurements, even the daily rhythm of acid formation is determined. This allows for the most effective implementation and adjustment of treatment.”

Menu (Power Mode)

The menu of this diet is varied, as it includes snacks (salads, aspic, herring, minced meat), almost all vegetables and cereals, meat and fish. Expanding the possibilities of culinary processing of dishes makes the diet even more diverse. The menu is supplemented with fruits, eggs, cottage cheese and fermented milk products.

Why is high stomach acid dangerous?

Many factors can disrupt the normal pH level of gastric juice, but most often it is non-compliance with the diet, bad habits, and constant stress. If this condition is left unattended, over time it can lead to serious diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, gastritis, ulcers, bleeding in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, gastroduodenitis, and oncology.

How to reduce stomach acidity?

For successful treatment, certain medications and a therapeutic diet are used to
reduce stomach acidity.

Therapeutic measures

A solution of baking soda and milk will reduce the acidity.

What to do to reduce acidity, while the actions must be safe for health? This question is asked by people who are worried about the symptoms of the disease.

Folk remedies will help quickly relieve pain, but the effect will be short-lived. Such methods include baking soda solution and chilled milk.

A full range of treatment under the supervision of a specialist will lead to the desired result. The main methods for solving the problem of low acidity are divided into three groups:

1. Medication therapy;
2. The use of folk remedies;
3. Diet.

Before determining a treatment plan, the doctor will order tests, study their results, and make a decision based on the individual characteristics of the body.

Diet for high stomach acidity

A special gentle diet is recommended to improve the digestion process and get rid of the unpleasant manifestations of high acidity of gastric juice. “The diet is aimed at reducing the excitability of the stomach and reducing the acid factor,” says our expert. — The gentle regime includes fractional meals, which promotes good digestion and rapid absorption of food. The degree of sparing and grinding of food depends on the severity of pain and dyspeptic syndromes, so different options for a therapeutic diet may be prescribed. “Everything that stimulates secretion, irritates the mucous membranes and causes increased gas formation is excluded from the menu.”

What not to eat or drink if you have high stomach acidity:

• Mushrooms, coarse vegetables and greens: onions, garlic, radishes, radishes, turnips, beans, peas, white cabbage, rutabaga, sorrel, tomatoes. Salted, pickled and pickled vegetables, canned vegetables. Sour fruits and berries.
• Fatty meat and poultry: fatty pork, lamb, goose, duck. Canned meat, smoked meats, sausages. Products with connective tissue (skin, cartilage, veins).
• First courses with meat, fish and mushroom broth. Cabbage soup, borscht, okroshka. Fatty fish. Smoked, dried fish. Canned fish.
• Cereals: barley, pearl barley, corn, millet. Thick and rough pasta.
• Ready-made sauces: tomato, mayonnaise, mustard. Horseradish, vinegar, spices.
• Fried and hard boiled eggs.
• Animal fats, margarine, cooking fats for deep-frying.
• Rye and fresh bread, butter and puff pastry products.
• Confectionery and sweets: chocolate, ice cream, sweets, cakes.
• Drinks: strong coffee and tea, carbonated drinks, kvass. Alcohol. Citrus juices.
• Fatty, fried and spicy foods.

How to eat if you have high stomach acidity and what foods can reduce stomach acidity?

Depending on the severity of symptoms, the following types of therapeutic diet are prescribed:

No. 1 is the main table, which involves a diet balanced in basic nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, fats). At the same time, the amount of animal fats and simple carbohydrates is limited. Avoid eating foods that cause fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract. The diet must include protein foods: it helps normalize acidity. Dishes are prepared with the addition of vegetable oils and a small amount of butter. Cooking methods: steaming, stewing and baking. Anyone suffering from high stomach acidity should adhere to this diet constantly to avoid exacerbation. “Compliance with a diet for acid-dependent diseases is one of the most important factors for successful treatment,” says Olga Khafisova. — Nutrition according to this therapeutic diet is aimed at improving the general condition, accelerating the process of regeneration of the mucosa in the presence of ulcers and erosions of the stomach or duodenum, relieving inflammation in the digestive system and preventing relapse of the disease. Therapeutic nutrition according to diet No. 1 helps to normalize the functioning of the stomach and intestines - effective regulation of the motor-evacuation and secretory functions of the gastrointestinal tract occurs. A properly selected menu contributes to the effectiveness of complex therapeutic measures and permanent normalization of digestion.”

No. 1A is the most gentle diet, which is prescribed for severe exacerbation. Includes only boiled, pureed and liquid dishes: slimy soups, porridges, meat puree. Vegetables and fruits are prohibited.

No. 1B - the diet is recommended during the period of improvement after an exacerbation. It is also recommended to wipe dishes, but their consistency may be thicker. The menu includes purees made from soft vegetables, as well as soufflés made from meat and fish.

Fully or partially limited products

• Foods that are difficult to digest and linger in the stomach for a long time: coarse meat, fatty meat and fish, baked goods, brown bread, fried pies, pancakes, pancakes, mushrooms, raw fruits and vegetables, legumes, fresh milk, corn, pearl barley, millet.
• Irritating to the mucous membranes: garlic, fresh onions, salted and smoked foods, canned snack foods, turnips, radishes, hot seasonings, radishes, rutabaga.
• Causing bloating: raw vegetables, legumes, pea and bean soup, okroshka, millet soup.
• Excessively hot and cold foods.

Table of prohibited products

What products should be included in the menu

The basis of the diet for stomach acidity

must have the following products and dishes.

• First courses in a weak vegetable broth with finely chopped vegetables, cereals, vermicelli, noodles. Milk soups.
• Vegetables without coarse fiber: potatoes, pumpkin, beets, carrots, zucchini, green peas, cauliflower. They should be prepared as a puree with the addition of butter, without spices or seasonings.
• Lean meat and offal: lean pork, beef, lamb, veal, rabbit, beef liver and tongue, chicken, turkey. You can make zrazy, meatballs, cutlets, meatballs, and aspic from meat. It is advisable to steam or bake dishes. The meat should be boiled first to reduce the amount of extractive stimulants.
• Porridges: buckwheat, semolina, oatmeal, rice - well boiled or pureed, without hot seasonings and spices. It is allowed to cook porridge with milk. You can make puddings and casseroles with cottage cheese from cereals. Boiled vermicelli, thin noodles.
• Soft-boiled eggs or as a steamed, baked omelet with the addition of a small amount of butter.
• Low-fat fish, steamed or baked.
• Dairy products and dishes: milk, kefir, yogurt, cottage cheese, mild cheese, milk jelly, cheesecakes, puddings, lazy cabbage rolls. Cream as an additive to first courses and drinks.
• Sweet fruits and berries with coarse fiber: bananas, pears, apples, apricots, nectarines, peaches, strawberries, cherries, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries. During an exacerbation, it is advisable to exclude fruits from the diet, and later introduce them in pureed form.
• Stale white bread, dry biscuits.
• Confectionery products: jam, jelly, marshmallows, meringues, marshmallows.
• Fruit juices, tea with milk, rosehip infusion, weak coffee with milk, weak tea with milk, chamomile and/or fennel tea.

“Particular attention in therapeutic nutrition for hyperacid conditions of the stomach is given to medicinal mineral waters,” says our expert.

If you have increased stomach acidity, it is important to:

• eat small meals - at least 5-6 times a day, the volume of one meal should be no more than 250 ml;
• follow a meal schedule and do not overload your stomach with large meals, especially at night. The last meal should be approximately three hours before bedtime;
• avoid eating dry food, give up mono-diets and fasting;
• to refuse from bad habits.

Traditional medicine recipes

Water with honey should be drunk on an empty stomach.

Folk remedies in the treatment of stomach diseases will also be effective. The availability of funds for this treatment method makes it popular.

The components are easy to find and the price is more affordable. A plus will be ease of use at home.

1. Honey is an excellent component for treating the disease. It can be used both for the prevention and treatment of gastritis and ulcers. In the first option, drink 1 tbsp on an empty stomach. cold water with dissolved honey (1 tbsp.). Recipe for the second option: dissolve a spoonful of honey in 100 ml of warm water. Take the drug in a course half an hour before meals. Honey and aloe juice are also mixed in equal proportions. The course of treatment is a month, three times a day, 1 tsp.
2. Milk. If you drink 3 glasses of it a day, you can achieve results.
3. Sea buckthorn oil and pumpkin seeds help with stomach diseases. The result will be noticeable when consuming 1 tsp. in the morning.
4. Natural vegetable juice. Potato juice will help calm inflammatory processes and help reduce acidity levels. Recommendations for use include taking it an hour before breakfast, after which you need to lie down. In this case, take the juice twice for 10 days, with a 10-day break between them. Carrot juice, juice from fresh lettuce leaves will help relieve pain in this disease. Improving intestinal function, restoring the mucous membrane, and reducing acid levels will result from the use of juices.

Traditional medicine also includes various herbal infusions. You should carefully prepare them, since the composition of the collected herbs plays an important role here:

• A drink made from mint, yarrow and St. John's wort will be effective.
• Dill seeds and yarrow. For a glass of boiled water 1 tbsp. l. tinctures and herbs are mixed in equal proportions. The product is used every 3 hours, 50 grams. 8 weeks of using calendula tincture will give the desired result. This plant helps in the treatment of complex stomach diseases. 1 l. raw materials are brewed in 500 ml of water, taken 4 times a day.

Reviews and results

Therapeutic nutrition for gastrointestinal diseases is of great importance. First of all, because it allows you to achieve long-term remission and prevents the progression of the disease. This diet is quite varied, which allows you to follow it for a long time. Reviews from patients indicate the effectiveness of this diet, and rapid improvement in condition allows you to gradually expand the diet.

• “... The acidity was checked 2 years ago, and it was reduced. I didn't check again. During an exacerbation, heaviness in the stomach and discomfort, belching and bloating appear. I go on a diet and drink Plantaglucide (it relieves pain and increases acidity). I brew St. John's wort and yarrow. I have been following the diet for 3 weeks: I eat porridge, boiled meat, soups and exclude vegetables, except pumpkin, zucchini and potatoes. In three weeks, the condition improves significantly - apparently, with gastritis, proper nutrition is the main thing. By the end of the month, I allow myself lightly fried and then stewed cutlets, more boiled and chopped vegetables”;
• “... I was treated in a hospital, and then they diagnosed gastritis with low acidity. During an exacerbation, I make sure to follow a diet. Everything in combination (herbs, Acidin-pepsin, proper nutrition) helps. In general, this takes 3 weeks: the heaviness in the stomach, bloating decreases, and I can even eat milk porridge. The diet is not complicated and you don’t have to starve. You can eat any fish and meat dishes, broth-based soups and porridges. I’m on it for about 3 months, and then I expand it a little. This type of nutrition allows you to improve your health and lose weight. The important thing is that you don’t need meals for yourself separately, since the whole family adheres to this diet”;
• “... Once a year I have an exacerbation, during which I experience pain and heaviness in my stomach. Once upon a time we checked the acidity - it was low, I think that over the years it could not increase, so I take a collection of herbs that increase acidity (St. John's wort, plantain, wormwood). It is important to eat right during an exacerbation: you cannot eat hot sauces, smoked foods, or seasonings. I introduce porridge with water, soups, vegetables (only stewed) and boiled meat or fish.”

Reasons for violation

The correct balance may shift towards acidification (acidosis) or excessive alkalization (alkalosis). The most common is the first option, in which a person’s blood becomes highly acidic. This negatively affects biochemical processes, the functioning of the immune system, and the functioning of all organs.

Changes in the acid level of the blood occur due to the following factors:

• Poor nutrition - predominance of flour and animal protein products in the diet, lack of proper amounts of fiber, enzymes, and vitamins. Alkaline foods are very important for the body, but in conditions of an increased pace of life, which has led to the transition to fast food and semi-finished products, healthy food is replaced by “fast” food. This contributes to the accumulation of toxins, an increase in free radicals and a decrease in the protective functions that resist their effects.
• Insufficient water consumption - in this case, metabolism is disrupted and the removal of harmful elements from tissues slows down.
• Significant drug load - an excess of pharmacological drugs (especially if their use is not justified) leads to the rapid accumulation of toxic components in organs and tissues, which weakens the body and leads to a decrease in pH.
• A sedentary lifestyle, stress - such factors also negatively affect the acid balance, as they slow down metabolism and contribute to the occurrence of disturbances in biochemical processes.

Restoring a state favorable to health is a completely feasible task, but requires a systematic approach. It is important to understand what is considered alkaline foods and what is sour. You should also set aside time for regular training and pay close attention to the organization of your drinking regime. Also minimize situations that cause stress.

Clinic nutritionist advice

To quickly get good results and not harm yourself, it is recommended to contact the professionals of Elena Morozova’s weight loss clinic. The preparation of a menu and training plan should be carried out individually, taking into account the age and characteristics of the body. Observing changes and the body’s reaction to the updated menu by a specialist will help you achieve the best results in the shortest possible time. A reasonable approach will be rewarded with improved well-being, a surge of energy, increased endurance, and accelerated metabolism.

Diet - principles of preparation and recommendations

For those who have decided to fundamentally change their diet by increasing the amount of alkaline foods and drinks, we offer a convenient table listing the percentage of alkalizing and oxidizing foods that create the appropriate environment in the body.

The information presented should not at all become a reason to give up protein, since this nutrient is necessary for all metabolic processes, endurance, and muscle growth. The main healthy principle is the right ratio. Along with beef or chicken, you need to eat greens and fresh vegetables. A side dish of rice or pasta should not exceed one third of the total amount of food. Potatoes (baked with skins or boiled in their skins) are preferable to achieve the optimal balance. However, this component should not be abused.