Do you know what a soft diet for gastroenteritis consists of? Since it is very common, It is good for everyone to know how to focus their diet during gastroenteritis to prevent the situation from getting worse and recover faster.
Know the symptoms of gastroenteritis, what is a soft diet and above all which foods are allowed and which are best to avoid when suffering from this infection.
Symptoms of gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis leads to inflammation of the stomach and intestines. That may cause abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache and fever. Symptoms usually go away within a week. If not, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. However, you should be calm, as it is a mild disease.
Why do we have gastroenteritis? There is no single cause, but there are a number of things that can cause it, including bacteria, viruses, parasites, and certain foods. Stress can also lead to gastroenteritis.
What is a soft diet?
A soft diet can ease the symptoms of gastroenteritis and help the body better hold food.. A soft diet is characterized by its low fiber intake. Also, as its name suggests, it involves eating soft foods. Later, we will see what these foods are, as well as those that are advised to avoid.
Bland diets are used in situations where it is necessary to relieve the workload of the digestive system. Gastroenteritis is one of those situations that requires the adoption of a soft diet. But it also helps treat other diseases, including irritable bowel syndrome and diverticulitis.
This way of approaching food is not forever, but should be used temporarily until the digestive system is ready to function normally again. It is not advisable to keep it for longer than necessary, since it does not provide all the nutrients that the body needs to perform its functions. Your doctor will let you know when you can return to your regular diet. Generally, the soft diet for gastroenteritis is only maintained for a few days.
Lastly, It is advisable to accompany the soft rest diet. As with other processes, your body will appreciate the ability to focus solely on recovery.
Foods allowed in a bland diet for gastroenteritis
Designing an eating plan for a few days to overcome gastroenteritis? Add the following foods to ensure you get enough fluids, calories, essential minerals, and other nutrients your body needs both to stay strong and to recover.
- Juices (apple and grape are excellent options)
- Fruit purees
- Rice
- Boiled potatoes)
- Hard-boiled egg)
- White bread
- Bananas
- Avocado
- Infusions (without caffeine): Consider peppermint, an infusion that, in addition to replenishing fluids, can also help relieve nausea. Ginger is also a good ingredient for soft diet teas.
- Fresh cheese
- Mashed potatoes
- crackers
- Chicken and turkey without skin (bet on healthy cooking methods)
- Chicken broth: Helps prevent dehydration, as well as replenish electrolytes lost due to diarrhea and vomiting.
- Sport drinks
If your body is showing signs of not being ready for the solid foods on the list, focus solely on the liquids until then. As for the solids on the list, the soft diet does not stand out for being very varied, but if you add some of them you can get appetizing dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And remember that it is temporary. In a few days, you will be able to go back to your favorite foods.
Stay hydrated
When you have gastroenteritis, the risk of dehydration increases because the body loses too much fluid through diarrhea and vomiting. Dehydration can make the situation worse, so drinking water and other fluids from the list above is essential in bland gastroenteritis diets. The lost fluids must be replaced.
Extreme thirst, dark urine, tiredness, and confusion are among the signs of dehydration. If your body shows any of these signs during gastroenteritis, go hydrate immediately. Consider a sports drink, soup or juice ... never coffee or alcoholic beverages or milk.
Food not allowed
Knowing the foods not allowed in a soft diet for gastroenteritis is also very important when designing an eating plan that helps you recover as soon as possible.
It is advisable to avoid foods rich in sugars and fats, as well as caffeine, alcohol and dairy. You can add them back to your diet when you feel better. Let's look at the foods that should be left out of a bland diet for gastroenteritis because they can make you feel worse:
- Milk (and other dairy products)
- Whole grain breads
- Raw vegetables
- Legumes and nuts
- Brown Rice
- Berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries ...)
- Whole grains
- Carbonated drinks
- Coffee (and other caffeinated beverages)
- Beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages
- Spicy foods
- Fried food