August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month

The way our stomach muscles typically move is spontaneous and as needed. Damaged nerves in the stomach can cause interruptions to this movement which can cause our stomach to empty too slowly. This condition is called gastroparesis.

Symptoms include bloating, discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and feeling full easily. Gastroparesis is not very common. The condition is more common in women than men
with the occurrence of 40 cases per 1000,000 in women and about 10 in men. You are more likely to get gastroparesis if you have diabetes, had surgery for your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or have certain cancer treatments in chest or stomach area.

Here are some things you can do to stay healthy while living with this condition:

• Eat small frequent meals and snacks. Eating 4 – 8 times a day allows the stomach to empty more quickly because there is less in there to start with.
• Avoid solids high in fat such as fried foods, gravies, cream sauces.
• Avoid high fiber foods as this fills the stomach and will slow digestion.
• Chew food well. (Digestion starts in your mouth with chewing.)
• Drink calorie rich beverages with meds and sip with meals such as milkshakes or supplements.
• Avoid alcohol, smoking, caffeine, mint, carbonated beverages.
• Sit up while eating and stay up right for about 1 hour after eating and taking a walk may help keep things moving through digestion as well.
• Ask your doctors about your medications – some may slow stomach emptying.

For more information on this disease or any further questions, please reach out to our Nutrition Counseling team to talk with one our Registered Dietitians! Call 203.573.7566 today!