How to Eat Fruit with Stomach Problems? Which Fruits are Good for Stomach Problems? Which Fruits Should Be Avoided?
Stomach problems are the most common type of chronic gastric disease, so it is extremely important to know how to adjust your diet to manage stomach problems. Among them, the most important thing is how to choose fruits for stomach problems, as some fruits are beneficial while others can exacerbate the condition. Here, we will introduce how to eat for stomach problems.
Which Fruits are Good for Stomach Problems?
Sweet and Sour, Mildly Warm in Nature
This type of fruit has the effect of invigorating the spleen and replenishing qi, and warming the middle and nourishing the stomach. It is more suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach, food retention and bloating after meals, poor appetite and fatigue, vomiting and loose stools.
Bitter and Sour, Cool in Nature
This type of fruit has the effect of nourishing the stomach and promoting fluid production, stimulating the appetite and relieving heat, relieving restlessness, reversing vomiting, relieving dry retching, relieving food stagnation and fullness, and treating symptoms such as heat injury causing yin deficiency, dry and hard stools, and short and red urine. This type of fresh fruit is relatively cold in nature, so it is not suitable for those with weak spleen and stomach, cold pain in the epigastric region, and diarrhea. People with poor gastrointestinal health need to be especially careful while eating, as some foods can aggravate the burden on the intestines and stomach, leading to health risks.
Kiwi Fruit Can Relieve Constipation but Can Cause Heartburn
Kiwi fruit can help relieve constipation and is rich in vitamin C, which is known as the "king of fruits". However, Dr. Zhu Xinyi, Deputy Chief Physician of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine at Zhongda Hospital affiliated to Southeast University, reminds us that kiwi fruit is cold in nature and overconsumption can damage the yang qi of the spleen and stomach, leading to symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea.
In addition, the large amount of vitamin C and pectin in kiwi fruit can increase gastric acid and burden the stomach, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, heartburn, and acid reflux. These symptoms can worsen in cold weather.
Therefore, in the current cold season, patients with stomach problems (spleen and stomach yang deficiency) should eat kiwi fruit less or even avoid it.
Fresh Jujube is Delicious but Jujube Skin Can Irritate the Stomach
Jujube is known as a natural "vitamin pill". Wang Xingguo, Director of the Nutrition Department at Dalian Central Hospital in Liaoning Province, reminds us that fresh jujube should not be eaten in large quantities, as it can harm the intestines and stomach.
This is because jujube has a high dietary fiber content, and consuming a large amount at once can stimulate the intestines and stomach, causing gastrointestinal discomfort. Most of the dietary fiber is found in the skin of jujube, which is thin and hard, with sharp edges. If the gastric mucosa happens to have inflammation or ulcers, it can worsen the pain and discomfort.
Hawthorn Can Stimulate Appetite but Can Also Cause Gallstones
Many people find hawthorn appetizing and delicious, so they tend to eat a lot of it unintentionally. However, people with poor spleen and stomach should eat less hawthorn, as excessive consumption can lead to gallstones.
This is because hawthorn contains a high amount of pectin and tannic acid, which can coagulate into insoluble precipitates when in contact with gastric acid. These precipitates can adhere to food residues and other substances, forming gallstones. Gallstones can cause gastric ulcers, gastric bleeding, and even gastric wall necrosis and perforation. However, cooking hawthorn can reduce the effect of tannic acid.
