Gastroparesis Nutrition
What is gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach empties very slowly so food stays in it longer than it typically would. There is no obstruction causing the slowness, and the reason for the delayed emptying can vary. In the majority of cases, the cause is unknown or idiopathic. But gastroparesis can also be the result of diabetes, a recent surgery, or even a gastrointestinal infection.
Gastroparesis Symptoms
The slow gastric emptying can lead to something we call early satiety, which is when a person feels full after eating only a small amount of food. Someone can feel hungry but stop eating after only half of the portion is eaten. Then they stay full for hours.
Other symptoms besides early satiety that show up with gastroparesis maybe nausea, vomiting, distention, abdominal pain, or gastroesophageal reflux. It’s worth noting that symptoms can start slowly and increase over time until they become a problem, or they may start suddenly as they do after a bout of gastroenteritis or a “stomach bug”.
As you might imagine, gastroparesis symptoms can lead to a decrease in appetite and intake. People with gastroparesis usually resort to eating smaller meals and possibly fewer meals per day.
This is a natural response to try to prevent the discomfort that comes with eating a typically sized meal. Over time this reduction can lead to unintended weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, and a decrease in the quality of life.
How do I know if I have gastroparesis?
The degree of gastroparesis will be different in each person, which makes identifying it more difficult in those who have less severe gastroparesis. If you have been struggling with symptoms that resemble those mentioned above, see a gastroenterologist for an evaluation. It’s important to have a diagnosis from a physician, since other conditions can have similar symptoms. Your doctor can make an accurate diagnosis and suggest appropriate treatment.
Nutrition for gastroparesis
Dealing with slow stomach emptying can be uncomfortable at best and debilitating when it’s at its worst. Your symptoms can vary day-to-day, so your plan has to change depending on how you feel that day. Some basic information on foods that may help speed gastric emptying may come in handy.
You may already know that there are foods we eat that take longer for the stomach to break down. Something like fiber in food can make it harder for the stomach to break that food into smaller pieces. So, high fiber foods will be in the stomach longer than something like broth, which contains nothing that needs to be broken into smaller pieces.
Fatty foods are another type of food that tends to hang out for a longer time in the stomach. Having fat in foods makes it a little harder to digest. Believe it or not, the stomach usually gets the solid food we eat into liquid form by the time it squirts it into the small intestine. That’s a lot of work!
It’s easy to see that a registered dietitian nutritionist can be of great assistance in gastroparesis care. Food is at the heart of both the appearance of symptoms and the solutions for the problem. Here are a few ideas that may help in your quest for relief.
Gastroparesis Nutrition Tips
Chew your food very well. Take your time with your meals. Larger pieces of food will have to stay in your stomach longer to be digested, so chew the food into tiny bits.
Eat 6 small meals per day instead of 3 larger meals.
Cut meats into small pieces before you eat them, and consider eating red meat less often.
Cook vegetables well so that they’re soft and can be mashed with a fork.
Some fruits, like apples, should be peeled to decrease tough fibers.
Make your food choices count. In other words, don’t waste any space on foods and drinks that really don’t add to your well being. I say well being because I know some foods and drinks don’t add up to perfect nutrition, but they do make us happy. Just be mindful of how big the portion is.
We still need fiber for our gut microbiome, so get plenty of fruits and veggies through smoothies, smoothie bowls, and soups.
Consider oral nutrition supplements like Ensure or Boost, especially if you’re losing weight or have limited food choices.
Cooked grains and legumes can work well for soft textures while adding fiber and excellent nutrition. Oatmeal, for example, may be well tolerated for breakfast.
Small amounts of nut and seed butters are better than the whole nuts or seeds.
Some great beverage choices are milk, 100% fruit juice in 4 oz portions, and lower sodium vegetable juice in small amounts.
Avoid spicy, fatty foods.
Eat in relaxing surroundings. Sit down at a table, sit up tall (good posture may help), don’t watch the news (stressful), and most importantly, take your time to eat.
Other suggestions to ease gastroparesis discomfort
Besides making changes to meals and foods, there are some lifestyle changes that may improve gastroparesis symptoms. The first is movement or exercise. This most certainly does not have to be formal exercise, like going to a gym or going for a run. A little bit of movement sprinkled throughout the day may help with stomach emptying and making room for the next meal.
Some examples of gentle movement are stretching and lengthening the torso or back by reaching for the ceiling, side stretches while standing, getting up from your office chair or the couch often to walk around, taking a short walk after some of your meals, dancing, or any movement that feels good to you.
Another thing you may want to try is relaxation techniques. The brain and the whole GI tract are connected with a lot of nerves. Stress tends to act negatively on our gut and may influence motility in negative ways. Meditation, breathing exercises, gentle yoga, and tai chi, are nice ways to calm our sympathetic nervous system (the flight or fright system).
Digestion occurs while the parasympathetic nervous system is activated. So, finding calm by using relaxation techniques before and after meals and throughout your day can help your body get into digestion mode more easily.
The Bottom Line
Nutrition plays a large role in gastroparesis care. Diet modifications can make a big difference in someone’s ability to tame their symptoms, take in enough nutrients to feed their body well, and improve their health.
Contact an experienced GI dietitian, like myself, if you would like to discuss your GI symptoms and learn ways to change your diet and improve your quality of life.