Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia refers to an episodic or recurrent pain or discomfort affecting the gastrointestinal tract and is associated with heartburn, acid reflux, regurgitation, indigestion, bloating, early satiety, or weight loss1. Dietary and lifestyle changes can often provide significant relief from dyspepsia. You can also take probiotics to help you ease the dyspepsia symptoms.
Dietary changes
Three rules of thumbs:
- Avoid acidic foods
- Avoid foods and beverages that contain caffeine.
- Avoid high fat and fried foods
Five days meal plan for dyspepsia*
Day |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Dinner |
1 |
Plain
Oatmeal topped with sliced bananas, apples or pears |
Carrot
ginger soup |
Congee
with ginger, chopped vegetables and/or lean cooked poultry |
2 |
Whole-grain
toast with natural (no sugar added) plus 1 cup of low fat or non-dairy
milk/ginger tea |
Low
acidic salad: Use healthier choices like lean meats or seafood and add black
olives, beans, carrots, broccoli, cucumber, nuts, and/or less acidic fruits. |
Grill
chicken breast (without skin and use dyspepsia friendly spice) with
vegetables and couscous/brown rice |
3 |
Overnight
oats with apples and maple syrup |
Grilled,
broiled or baked chicken breast sandwich (whole grain bread) with lettuce/zucchini/spinach
Spreads:
choose a low fat mayonnaise or sweeter mustard, such as honey mustard (mustards
can cause heartburn) |
Grill,
sauté, or steam lean fish (and use dyspepsia friendly spice) served with
vegetables and brown rice |
4
|
Alkaline
smoothie (blend ice and non-dairy milk with melon, banana, spinach, kale,
chia seeds and/or berries) |
Tofu
veggie wrap: incorporates tofu with fresh veggies in a high-fiber wrap (skip
dressings or use light and less acidic dressings) |
Quinoa
bowl with lean meat and veggies (with less acidic sauce such as honey
mustard) |
5 |
Omelette
or scrambled eggs with mushroom and spinach (try to reduce/remove egg yolk)
plus 1 cup of low fat/non-dairy milk/ ginger tea |
Vegetable
stock broth with lean protein sources, such as chicken and beans |
Grilled,
broiled or baked chicken breast (without skin and use dyspepsia friendly
spice) with asparagus/ broccoli, and mashed sweet potatoes |
*You can incorporate probiotics into the meal plan
*The ingredients for each meal can be changed according to personal favor as long as the three rules of thumb for dietary changes are fulfilled. You can refer to following table to source for dyspepsia compliance ingredients for your meal preparation.
Dyspepsia friendly snacks for mid-morning and afternoon tea:
You can reserve a small portion of your dyspepsia friendly breakfast or lunch to be taken during mid-morning or afternoon tea break. You can also take following light snacks when you are hungry during mid-morning or afternoon tea time:
- Non-citrus fruits
- Salad
- Whole wheat crackers
- Cereal that's made primarily with whole grains
- Granola bars
Dyspepsia compliance and non-compliance foods/drinks
Dyspepsia friendly foods/drinks |
Foods/drinks to be avoided for
dyspepsia |
Ginger,
fennel, parsley, aloe vera |
Garlic,
onions, vinegar, and spicy foods |
Whole
grains such as oatmeal, couscous, quinoa, brown rice or whole grain breads |
Glutinous
rice |
Non-citrus
fruits: melons, bananas, apples, and
pears |
Citrus
fruits: orange, grapefruit, lemons, limes, pineapple
|
Lean
meats and seafoods: chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood (grilled, broiled,
baked, or steamed. Remove the skin if there is any and do not fry it) |
Fatty
cuts of meat (beef, pork, or lamb) and processed meats like hot dogs and
luncheon meat |
Egg
whites |
Egg
yolks |
Healthy
fats: avocados, walnuts, flaxseed, olive oil, sesame oil, and sunflower oil
(in moderation) |
Desserts
or snacks, such as ice cream and potato chips |
Green
vegetables: kale, spinach, broccoli, asparagus, celery, cauliflower and etc. |
Chocolate
and mint |
Root
vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and beets. |
Carbonated
and fizzy drinks |
Lentils,
chickpeas, and other legumes |
Caffeinated
food and beverages (including coffee and tea) |
Low-fat
dairy foods or non-dairy products |
Full-fat
dairy products (such as butter, whole milk, regular cheese, and sour cream) |
Stick
to fresh or dried mild herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, thyme, turmeric,
cardamom, ginger, cilantro or rosemary |
Hot
spices like cinnamon, curry powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, nutmeg or
hot paprika |
Ginger
tea |
Alcoholic
beverage |
Tofu
and tempeh |
Fatty
and fried foods |
|
Tomatoes
and tomato-based foods |
|
High
fat creamy salad dressings or creamy sauces and dips |
Lifestyle changes for dyspepsia:
- Eating in a calm and relaxed atmosphere
- Eat smaller and frequent meals as opposed to fewer and larger meals
- Chew the food slowly and completely
- Never skip meals or to overeat
- Don’t lie down right after eating
- Don’t snack unless you’re actually hungry
- Avoid tight-fitting clothing around your waist
- Avoid smoking
- Cut back on alcohol consumption
- Manage stress
- Exercise regularly but don't do it right after eating
- Elevate the head of your bed four to six inches to minimize acid reflux symptoms while sleeping
Reference:
Heidelbaugh, J. J. (2008). Clinical men's health: evidence in practice. In J. J. Heidelbaugh (Ed.), Gastroenterology (pp. 163-181). Elsevier Inc.
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