Gastroparesis diet: Food to Avoid & Food to Eat

1. Starches, bread, and grains

2. Fruits (recommended cooked and, if necessary, blenderized/strained)

3. Milk and dairy products

4. Meats and meat substitutes (ground or pureed)

5. Sweets and desserts

6. Fats and oils (if not tolerated, limit the amount of fat you eat)

7. Beverages (exclude alcohol completely)

Softer meals are better because they are simpler to digest and place less strain on the digestive system.

1. Fruits and vegetables:
   • In the form of purees and smoothies
   • Canned peaches and pears
   • Well-cooked fruits and vegetables, juices, and soups
2. Carbohydrates and starches:
   • Corn tortillas
   • English muffins
   • Puffed wheat
   • Rice cereal
   • Potatoes and sweet potatoes (no skin)
   • White or refined bread
   • Crackers
   • Bagels
   • Pasta
   • Rice
3. Fiber:
   • Be cautious of your fiber consumption because although it is necessary for healthy intestines, it can cause constipation and bloat. Consuming low-fiber meals is thus suggested.
4. Meat, eggs, and dairy:
   • Reduced-fat cottage cheese
   • Custard
   • Eggs
   • Ground or pureed meats
   • Low-fat milk and milkshakes
   • Plain yogurt and frozen yogurt
   • Poultry with no skin
   • Shellfish
   • Tofu
   • Tuna
5. Oils:
   • Coconut oil can be used as part of a gastroparesis diet because it includes important medium-chain fatty chains that assist in digestion and probiotic flora in the intestines.

Avoiding the following foods can help alleviate symptoms because they are harsher on the digestive system and can induce symptoms:

1. Fatty foods
2. High-fiber foods (fruits such as apples, berries, figs, and oranges; vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and green beans; whole-grain cereals, nuts, and seeds; beans and lentils)
3. Foods that aren’t easy to chew (nuts, seeds, corn, and popcorn)
4. Junk food (it might induce blood sugar fluctuations and can inhibit feelings of fullness and give insufficient nutrients)
5. Alcohol (because it dramatically slows the pace of stomach emptying)

Three important steps that are recommended as people progress in gastroparesis condition include:

Four diet tips you can incorporate into your gastroparesis diet to improve your condition and reduce symptoms include:

1. Eating smaller meals:
   • Eating smaller, more frequent meals allows your stomach to properly empty, reducing bloating.
2. Chewing food properly:
   • The more food that is chewed, the easier it is to break down in the stomach and digest.
   • Take your time chewing meals correctly to improve digestion.
3. Avoiding lying down during and after meals:
   • When you lie down after a meal, you halt and inhibit digestion because digestion requires gravity to function correctly. 
   • Furthermore, lying down after a meal increases acid reflux.
4. Drinking liquids between meals:
   • Avoid drinking fluids with meals because they take up space in the stomach, impede digestion, and cause bloating. Drink water in between meals instead to keep hydrated.

Medication to stimulate the gastric muscles and medicines to reduce nausea and vomiting are among the drugs used to treat gastroparesis. If a person is unable to tolerate food or liquids, surgery may be necessary to treat gastroparesis. Doctors may advise the placement of a feeding tube in the small intestine or a gastric venting tube to reduce pressure caused by stomach contents. 

Feeding tubes are temporary measures used in severe cases of gastroparesis for feeding purposes.