Gastritis: Does Intermittent Fasting Cause Gastritis?
Gastritis is when the stomach’s lining becomes inflamed due to excess stomach acid, causing discomfort. Experiencing gastritis is quite common during intermittent fasting.
Highlights:
- Intermittent fasting doesn’t cause gastritis.
- Symptoms of gastritis during fasting are evident only in people with a history of gastritis.
- Intermittent fasting improves overall health.
Does intermittent fasting cause gastritis?
Intermittent fasting does not cause gastritis. However, it may aggravate the existing gastritis symptoms due to certain factors — Helicobacter pylori bacteria, excessive alcohol consumption, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or stress, and may cause symptoms like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, and appetite loss.
What are some tips for safely practicing intermittent fasting during gastritis?
Maintaining weight effectively manages gastritis symptoms during intermittent fasting. A few more tips you may follow are:
- Start slowly: The duration of intermittent fasting must be gradually increased, as it helps the body adjust to the changes and minimizes adverse effects on health.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water and electrolyte-rich beverages during non-fasting periods to prevent dehydration and maintain electrolyte balance.
- Choose nutrient-dense foods: During eating periods, choose nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to get the necessary vitamins and minerals.
- Avoid overeating: Avoid overeating during eating periods, as it may cause weight gain. Consider the body’s hunger cues and eat until you are not stuffed but satisfied.
- Consider health conditions: If you are suffering from medical conditions — diabetes or eating disorders, consult a nutritionist through Marham before fasting intermittently, as these conditions may worsen.
- Exercise regularly: Regular exercise promotes overall health. However, avoid extra workouts during intermittent fasting.
Is gastritis during intermittent fasting a myth or fact?
Though intermittent fasting may cause gastritis, it varies from person to person. It also depends on multiple factors — alcohol intake, autoimmune disease, bile reflux, certain medications, and psychological issues.
How does intermittent fasting affect digestive health?
Depending on your health and the fasting method, intermittent fasting may positively or negatively affect your digestive health. Intermittent fasting gives the digestive system a break, helping improve gut function and reduce inflammation. The body produces digestive enzymes and stomach acid to break down food during eating.
During fasting, the digestive system breaks from producing acids, helping it repair and regenerate. Digestive rest during intermittent fasting improves insulin sensitivity and blood sugar, promoting digestive health. High blood sugar may damage the digestive system, leading to leaky gut syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
Some people also experience bad digestive health due to intermittent fasting, including bloating, constipation, and abdominal discomfort. These symptoms may be alleviated by drinking water or a fiber-rich diet during eating.
Intermittent fasting help preserve muscle mass and increases metabolic rate leading to weight loss. It also improves insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation in the body.
It is recommended to consult the best Nutritionist before starting intermittent fasting.
Learn More: Heart Healthy Breakfast: A Guide to Starting Your Day on the Right Food
Conclusion:
During intermittent fasting, some people might experience the symptoms of gastritis, which appear only if they have a history of having gastritis. Intermittent fasting aggravates these symptoms and deals with them by staying hydrated and eating probiotics, especially yogurt, during non-fasting hours.
FAQs:
1. How to avoid gastritis during intermittent fasting?
To avoid gastritis during intermittent fasting, consult a gastroenterologist, start with shorter fasting periods, stay hydrated, eat nutrient-dense foods, avoid overeating, and consider using supplements such as probiotics or digestive enzymes which support digestive health.
2. Who should avoid intermittent fasting?
Intermittent fasting may not benefit everyone, such as pregnant or breastfeeding women or people with eating disorders. Also, those suffering from illness or underweight may not practice intermittent fasting.
3. Is it safe to fast every day intermittently?
Intermittent fasting can be safe when done correctly, but it is not safe to fast every day for an extended period. The frequency and duration of fasting periods should be according to an individual’s needs and health condition. Instead of fasting daily, you should consider alternate fasting methods, involving one-day fasting and the other eating.
