Watermelon in atrophic, erosive gastritis, hyperacidity

Inflammation of the gastric mucosa causes a lot of trouble for a person, forcing him to be careful about his diet, and in case of allowing himself various harmful delicacies, to endure pain, a feeling of heaviness, nausea, belching and other unpleasant symptoms. They are the ones that remind you of the need to follow a diet, to be interested in what product can harm. These questions arise especially often during the season of vegetables and fruits. The end of summer and the beginning of autumn have their own distinctive feature - mountains of striped watermelons and fragrant aromatic melons, but can they be eaten with gastritis?

Watermelon and melon for gastritis

Watermelon tastes sweet, its flesh is tender, soft, juicy. At first glance, there is nothing alarming, but is it really? It is not forbidden to enjoy the berry during the period of remission, but you need to know when to stop. After all, watermelon contains fiber and acids that can irritate the inner wall of the stomach. Since "gastritis" is a rather vague concept that includes various pathologies of the organ, it is important to know the specific type of disease and the concentration of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice. Increased acidity accompanies hyperacid gastritis, so a high pH value is the reason why you can’t eat watermelon with gastritis. Although there are "tricks" that allow you to enjoy it in small quantities: do not eat it on an empty stomach and do not allocate it as a separate meal. It is best to eat it as a dessert after the main meal, because it, like any other fruit or berry, stimulates taste buds, thereby increasing the production of gastric juice, increasing acidity. Stomach pain is also a reason to give up the delicacy for a while until your health stabilizes.

Melon is a difficult product to digest, so if you allow yourself a small dose, it is best to do it at a time other than the main meal. The appearance or absence of symptoms characteristic of gastritis will suggest a further course of action regarding this fruit.

Indications

There are many different conditions of the digestive organ, so let's look at the main indications for the consumption or prohibition of watermelon:

• for gastritis with high acidity - small portions of ripe berries are allowed, but only on a full stomach during the period of remission, since watermelon can further increase the pH;
• with low acidity - there are no restrictions, but moderation in food should still be observed. Large volumes of berries will overfill the stomach, will press on its walls, and can provoke inflammation of the walls;
• watermelon during exacerbation of gastritis - in this condition, all products that stimulate the production of gastric juice are excluded from the menu. Raw vegetables, fruits, berries are removed from the diet until the exacerbation subsides, only jelly, fruit jellies are allowed. You will also have to give up watermelon for a while. After the digestive function of the stomach is restored, a few slices of juicy ripe pulp will not hurt;
• watermelon for gastritis and stomach ulcers - a local defect of the mucous membrane, typical of ulcers, often accompanies gastritis. Such a diagnosis involves not only mandatory drug treatment, but also a strict diet. Watermelon contains a large amount of ascorbic acid, which can have an irritating effect on the internal walls of the organ. This will lead to increased pain and even provoke bleeding of the wound. Therefore, watermelon is prohibited for gastritis and stomach ulcers;
• watermelon for gastritis and pancreatitis - an inflammatory process of the pancreas, like the stomach, occurs in the acute phase and in the period of attenuation. Dietary fiber of watermelon, like other berries, can harm the diseased inflamed organ, therefore it is strictly prohibited. Stable remission allows you to enjoy the fruit. It will not harm even those with diabetes, because it has a low glycemic index. For fructose in its composition, additional insulin is not required;
• watermelon for erosive gastritis - this form of the disease is characterized by the presence of multiple lesions on the walls of the stomach, they affect the superficial layer of the mucous membrane. When in contact with an acidic environment, foci of inflammation intensify, the secretory-motor mechanisms of the stomach are further disrupted. The patient suffers from heartburn, heaviness in the epigastric region, pain after eating, belching, bitterness in the mouth. Watermelon can aggravate the condition, so it is best to refuse it until the pathology is cured;
• watermelon for atrophic gastritis - characterized by functional insufficiency of the stomach. With it, the number of glands that produce gastric juice decreases, muscle tone decreases. It is classified as a precancerous condition. Although watermelon promotes gastric secretion, it is also not recommended to eat a lot with atrophic gastritis, small portions will only bring benefits;
• watermelon for chronic gastritis - all forms of the disease have an acute and chronic course. The latter means that persistent changes in the mucous membrane occur in the stomach, which, with improper nutrition, bad habits, exposure to drugs and other factors, will lead to an exacerbation and other unpleasant consequences. Watermelon does not belong to the food that provokes such complications, if you do not burden the organ with overeating.

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Benefits

It is not worth completely giving up such a tasty product with gastritis, except for the specified cases, because it can bring a lot of benefits to the body. In a ripe fruit, glucose and fructose predominate (they are more easily absorbed by the stomach), and sucrose accumulates during storage. In addition, the berry is rich in pectin, proteins, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron. Watermelon has enough other vitamins: B1, B2, B3, B9, carotene, ascorbic acid. The pulp, seeds and peel of the fruit are used as medicinal raw materials. With their help, metabolic processes are normalized, intestinal peristalsis is enhanced. Watermelon has effective antipyretic, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, choleretic, laxative properties. Its minerals have a beneficial effect on hematopoiesis, it is recommended for anemia, it improves the condition of the cardiovascular system, removes toxins, cholesterol, and has an anti-sclerotic effect.

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Contraindications

In addition to stomach pathologies, in which the inner wall of the stomach is superficially or deeply damaged, exacerbations of gastritis, pancreatitis, watermelon is contraindicated for people with reduced kidney function, the presence of stones in them or gall bladder with a diameter of more than 4 mm, colitis. In addition, the berry tends to accumulate nitrates, which can harm the body, causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain. To prevent this from happening, you need to check the watermelon for the presence of these nitric acid salts and if the permissible levels are exceeded, do not buy or eat them.

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