Due to the pressures of work and life, modern people suffer from stomach ailments to some extent. Whenever the stomach is uncomfortable, many people will drink some porridge to relieve the pain. Indeed, soft and mushy porridge is one of the best foods for nourishing the stomach. But in fact, drinking porridge to nourish the stomach is not absolute. Some stomach ailments are not suitable for drinking porridge; otherwise, not only will it fail to nourish the stomach, but it may also harm it.
Two types of stomach patients should not drink porridge
Most people think that drinking porridge is easy to digest, can stimulate the appetite, and promote gastric acid secretion. But in reality, after being cooked for a long time, most of the nutrients in porridge are lost, and drinking porridge can only provide one-tenth of the energy the human body needs daily. Moreover, drinking porridge does not require chewing, which reduces the secretion of salivary glands in the mouth. In addition, porridge contains a lot of water, and eating too much of it can dilute gastric juice, slow down stomach movement, and hinder the digestion and absorption of food, even aggravating stomach ailments.
Therefore, drinking porridge to nourish the stomach is not suitable for all stomach patients. Especially for the following two types of stomach patients, they should absolutely not eat too much porridge.
1 Patients with gastric ulcers or superficial gastritis
For patients with ulcers, drinking porridge or eating congee will irritate the stomach, causing it to secrete more gastric acid. A large amount of gastric acid can severely irritate the gastric ulcer surface or gastric mucosa, hinder the healing of the ulcer wound, and even worsen the ulcer. Therefore, patients with gastric ulcers or superficial gastritis should not rely on drinking porridge or eating congee to relieve stomach pain. It is recommended to add a little baking soda when cooking porridge to neutralize gastric acid and achieve the effect of nourishing the stomach.
2 Patients with reflux esophagitis
With the significant improvement in the living standards of modern people, people eat well and are full, which causes the stomach to secrete a large amount of gastric acid, leading to reflux esophagitis.
Such patients must never drink porridge to nourish the stomach, because drinking porridge will greatly increase gastric acid secretion. Moreover, because porridge is a liquid, eating too much of it makes the stomach more prone to reflux, which is not conducive to alleviating stomach diseases. It is recommended that patients with reflux esophagitis can eat more alkaline foods, such as steamed buns and soda crackers, to neutralize gastric acid and relieve stomach discomfort.
Actually, to nourish the stomach, you don't necessarily have to drink porridge. Below, we recommend four common foods for stomach nourishment that you shouldn't miss.
Four common foods for stomach nourishment
1 Pumpkin
Pumpkin is mild in nature and contains a large amount of pectin and vitamins needed by the human body. Pectin can protect the gastrointestinal mucosa from excessive food stimulation, promote the healing of gastric ulcers, and is the first choice of nourishing vegetable for stomach patients.
2 Spinach
Spinach is sweet and cool in nature, and is rich in dietary fiber, which can promote gastrointestinal motility and aid digestion. Moreover, spinach can increase the secretion of the stomach and pancreas, enhancing the appetite. However, it is worth noting that spinach contains a large amount of oxalic acid and should not be eaten with high-calcium foods such as seaweed or tofu to avoid affecting calcium absorption.
3 Chinese Yam
As is well known, Chinese yam has the effect of strengthening the spleen and nourishing the stomach. Because the unique protein in Chinese yam has the effect of moistening the gastric mucosa, it can protect the stomach and effectively relieve stomach pain, nourishing and protecting the stomach.
4 Sweet Potato
Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber, which can eliminate indigestion, enhance the appetite, and protect stomach health. However, it is worth noting that eating too many sweet potatoes can lead to excessive gastric acid secretion, so people who often have acid reflux should eat less sweet potatoes.
The stomach is the main source of nutrient absorption for the human body. Learning the correct methods to care for the stomach is essential for better maintaining physical health.