When acute gastroenteritis attacks, vomiting and diarrhea are really unpleasant.
Many people think that they will be fine after taking some medicine, but they end up feeling uncomfortable when they eat.
In fact, during the recovery process from gastroenteritis, what you eat and what you don't eat play as critical a role as taking medicine.
Especially in terms of dietary taboos, once you step on the trap, not only will the course of the disease be prolonged, but mild symptoms may also be dragged into severe symptoms.
1. Greasy food can aggravate diarrhea
Many people want to drink a bowl of chicken soup or pork rib soup to replenish their health when their gastroenteritis just gets better.
This approach is actually very dangerous.
High-fat foods such as fried foods, fatty meats, and animal fats are not easy to digest.
After the intestinal tract is infected by bacteria or viruses, the intestinal wall becomes edematous and congested, and the secretion of digestive enzymes is also reduced.
The fat ingested at this time will cover the surface of the intestine like a thin film, stimulating the inner wall of the intestine to speed up its peristalsis. The final result will be more severe diarrhea.
There is another point that is easily overlooked: many people are used to adding more oil when cooking, thinking that this will make the food more fragrant.
However, during the period of gastroenteritis, even for stir-fried vegetables, the amount of oil needs to be controlled. The most appropriate method is to use steaming, boiling, stewing, or stewing instead of stir-frying.
2. Raw and cold food stimulates intestinal spasm
In summer, a large number of people suffer from acute gastroenteritis. In addition to the fact that food is prone to spoilage, another factor is the desire to cool down.
Chilled drinks, cold dishes, ice cream, and iced watermelon. Foods with extremely low temperatures at the entrance will cause the blood vessels of the gastrointestinal tract to suddenly contract, causing insufficient local blood supply.
What's even more troublesome is that cold stimulation can induce intestinal smooth muscle spasm, which is the reason for the abdominal pain that appears intermittently.
Some people think that drinking some ice water can "reduce the heat", which makes their stomach pain worse.
Even for fruits at room temperature, such as apples and pears, when gastroenteritis is in the acute stage, it is recommended to steam them first or boil them in water before drinking them.
You should avoid things like raw vegetable salads because the raw vegetable fiber is thick and hard, and will rub the damaged intestinal mucosa.
3. High-fiber foods increase intestinal burden
In normal times, everyone says that eating more whole grains and vegetables is good for the body. However, this sentence does not apply during the period of gastroenteritis.
Foods rich in dietary fiber, including leeks, celery, bamboo shoots, corn, and oats, are "scavengers" for healthy intestines, but become "brushes" for inflamed intestines.
Fiber irritates the intestinal wall and promotes peristalsis. People with diarrhea tend to run to the toilet more often after eating it.
Some people also like to drink multigrain porridge to nourish their stomach. This also depends on the situation.
Porridge made from millet and rice can be drunk, but if it is high-fiber multigrain porridge with brown rice, red beans, barley added, it is best not to touch it during the acute stage.
After the diarrhea has completely stopped and the stool has formed, slowly add the fiber back.
4. Gas-producing foods make bloating more uncomfortable
In addition to diarrhea, many patients with gastroenteritis also feel that their stomachs are bloated and they constantly want to fart.
This is because the intestinal flora is disordered and gas-producing bacteria take over.
If you eat foods that easily produce gas, it will simply add fuel to the fire.
Soy products composed of tofu, soy milk, dried beans, soybeans, and black beans are typical representatives. These foods contain oligosaccharides. The human body lacks the enzymes to break them down. When they reach the large intestine, they are fermented by bacteria, thereby producing a large amount of gas.
Milk, sweet potatoes, onions, and radishes are also common gas producers.
Some people will develop lactose intolerance when drinking milk. Their already fragile intestines cannot process lactose at all, and diarrhea and bloating will occur at the same time.
Yogurt with probiotic ingredients is not recommended to be consumed during the acute phase. The reason is that both the refrigerated temperature and the lactose contained in the yogurt are very likely to cause irritation to the body.
5. Spicy condiments directly stimulate gastric mucosa
Chili peppers can add flavor to dishes, Sichuan peppercorns can add flavor to dishes, garlic can add flavor to dishes, ginger can add flavor to dishes, and mustard can add flavor to dishes. However, the spicy substances they contain can directly irritate the gastric mucosa and intestinal mucosa.
When you have acute gastroenteritis, the mucosal barrier has already been damaged. If you are still exposed to chemical irritation, then the stomach pain will be worse in mild cases, and it can cause mucosal bleeding in severe cases.
There are some people who think that eating garlic can have a bactericidal effect. This idea is not completely wrong. However, allicin is indeed irritating. If you eat raw garlic when the intestines are inflamed, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits.
There are also hot pot bases and spicy soup bases. Even if they are not spicy, they often contain a lot of spices and many additives, which are also not suitable.
Just a small amount of salt is enough when cooking, and you can consider adding other seasonings when you are fully recovered.
6. Alcohol and caffeine can aggravate dehydration
Some people, during the period of diarrhea, think that drinking some white wine can have a "disinfecting" effect. However, this is an extremely dangerous misunderstanding.
Alcohol can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, inhibiting the secretion of antidiuretic hormone, causing increased urination, which actually makes dehydration more serious.
The caffeine in coffee, strong tea, and functional drinks also has diuretic effects, so they are also not suitable.
What's more critical is that if you are taking antibiotics or antidiarrheal drugs, alcohol is likely to interact with these drugs, thereby increasing the burden on the liver.
Even drinking just a small glass of beer may cause the condition to relapse.
At this stage, the most suitable drink is warm water, light salt water, or oral rehydration salts purchased in pharmacies. It needs to be drank in small amounts and many times to replenish water and electrolytes in a timely manner.
The core of the diet for gastroenteritis is two words: mild.
Don't mess with the intestines and let it repair quietly.
Remember to avoid these six types of food: greasy, cold, high-fiber, gas-producing, spicy, and alcoholic and caffeine-containing. For staple food, choose white porridge and rotten noodles. As a source of protein, you can choose steamed egg custard, peeled and oil-free chicken puree.
Once your bowel movements are normal and your stomach pain is gone, spend another three to five days slowly transitioning to a normal diet.
If there are changes in diet and symptoms do not subside after two or three days, or if symptoms such as fever, blood in the stool, or severe dehydration occur, do not hesitate and go to the hospital as soon as possible.
