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What is gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a chronic condition where the stomach cannot empty itself of food naturally. Food passes through the stomach slower than usual.

It’s thought to be the result of a problem with the nerves and muscles that control how the stomach empties. If these nerves are damaged, the muscles of your stomach may not work properly and the movement of food can slow down.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Gastroparesis can vary from mild to severe and tend to come and go, usually includes:

– nausea and vomiting

– loss of appetite or feeling full very quickly when eating

– weight loss

– bloating

– stomach pain or discomfort

– heartburn

Causes

In some cases, gastroparesis has no obvious cause and it’s called idiopathic gastroparesis.

Known causes of gastroparesis includes:

– uncontrolled diabetes

– complication with some types of surgery such as weight loss, or removal of part of the stomach

– medicines such as opioid painkillers

– diseases like Parkinson’s disease, scleroderma, or amyloidosis

Prevention 

Unfortunately, gastroparesis cannot be prevented but there are things you can do to reduce the chances of it occurring.

Changing your eating habits can help control gastroparesis. And make sure you get the proper nutrition and liquids. 

Some recommended habits include:

– eating high fiber foods but low in fat

– eat foods in small amounts instead of having 2 or 3 heavy meals

– chew food completely

– eat soft well-cooked foods

– avoid carbonated beverages

– avoid alcohol intake

– drink plenty of liquids like low-fat broths or clear soups, and naturally sweetened, low-fiber fruits and vegetables juices 

– do some gentle physical activity after a meal, like walking

– avoid laying down after eating

What Else?
Important Reminder: Any type of food supplement is not a medicine and cannot be used as a medicine for any type of disease.