The diet of a person with any disease of the gastrointestinal tract is significantly limited and strictly regulated by medical specialists. In particular, with a stomach ulcer, nutritionists divide the patient’s food basket into several main groups. At the same time, all kinds of sweets are given great importance in it. It is not surprising that the question of whether chocolate can be used for stomach ulcers has turned out to be so relevant at the moment. After all, any carbohydrates with rapid absorption, including refined sugar, are strictly limited in any therapeutic diet.
Is it possible to have chocolate for gastritis?
Almost everyone loves chocolate. But not everyone knows that a tasty delicacy, when consumed in excess, has an adverse effect on the condition of the body and, in particular, gastritis.
Particular caution should be exercised by people suffering from diseases of the digestive system that require diet. Therefore, you need to know whether chocolate is included in the list of prohibited foods for gastritis .
chocolate for gastritis, diet
Gastritis and its causes
The disease is mainly caused by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori when it comes into contact with the gastric mucosa. Very often, the cause may even be depression or stress, but the symptoms are minor and usually pass by the patient without examination. Sudden manifestations of symptoms (vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain) usually indicate acute gastritis caused by increased acidity in the stomach, poisoning by bacteria or toxic substances. Whatever the reason, be sure to consult a specialist.
Compound
To make chocolate, cocoa (powder and butter), lecithin and sugar (to give a sweet taste) are used.
The delicacy contains ingredients beneficial to the body:
cahetins are substances that have an antioxidant effect and protect against the damaging effects of free radicals;
flavonoids - reduce blood viscosity, prevent the formation of blood clots, and help avoid the negative effects of tobacco smoke on blood vessels;
caffeine and carbohydrates (glucose) - stimulate brain function;
vitamins;
minerals.
But despite the benefits of the product, you should not abuse it.
Harm from cocoa
During collection, sorting, and packaging of goods, insects and debris may get into it. Because of this, cocoa beans become a highly allergenic product.
For this reason, it is important to consider the manufacturer when choosing cocoa. Unscrupulous companies that buy spoiled beans prepare cocoa powder from them. Such a product is harmful in all respects. Otherwise, cocoa powder is useful, but it should not be used for the following ailments:
- obesity;
- gout;
- pathologies of the urinary system.
Cocoa is prohibited for children under three years of age.
Cocoa beans contain caffeine, but in less quantity than coffee. This drink should not be drunk if you have duodenal disease, and if you have other gastrointestinal pathologies, no more than two cups per day are allowed.
How does chocolate affect the digestive system?
Confectionery stores offer a wide range of various sweets that are included in the list of prohibited products for people suffering from gastrointestinal diseases.
The main reason why chocolate is prohibited for gastritis is the high sugar content, which is harmful to the stomach.
There are several known factors why you should not eat chocolate if you have gastritis :
Sugar absorbs B vitamins, but patients with gastritis very often suffer from a lack of vitamins. Consequently, consuming large amounts of sugar can lead to the development of vitamin deficiency.
Sugar increases pain, activates inflammatory processes, provokes fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, causes vomiting and aggravates other manifestations of gastritis .
Fats, aromatics and other additives irritate the inflamed stomach walls.
You should not abuse chocolate if you have gastritis , even for those people whose consumption does not cause pain or heartburn. As you know, one of the ingredients of chocolate is cocoa butter - a rather expensive product. Therefore, some manufacturers, in order to save money and increase profits, use cheap substitutes instead of cocoa butter, which cannot be eaten even during periods of stable remission.
Effect on acidity
Chocolate is a fatty product. And to make it easier to digest, the stomach produces a large amount of hydrochloric acid. With gastritis, this, of course, cannot be allowed, because... the acid will further corrode the already damaged mucous membrane.
That is why, if the first symptoms of gastritis appear (nausea, heartburn), you will have to give up chocolate. There are 3 types of chocolate: black, milk and white.
- Dark chocolate is a product with a high cocoa content (at least 70%). It also contains more caffeine than other types. This chocolate has a bitter taste because it contains minimal sugar and milk powder.
- Milk chocolate contains the most sugar, caffeine and milk powder. This is the fattest type of product.
- There is no caffeine in white chocolate; there is only cocoa powder and a special liqueur. This product is considered a gentle treat option.
All chocolate products are divided into 3 large groups, which have different effects on the gastrointestinal tract:
- White. It contains no caffeine or chocolate liqueur. However, the delicacy is the sweetest, so the stomach is not able to digest it.
- Lactic. The most favorite variety among adults and children. Manufacturers use milk powder and caffeine in its composition, which significantly increase the fat content of the product.
- Bitter black. Made from cocoa butter and powder, with extremely low amounts of sugar and other fats. This means that the diseased organ is burdened only with digesting caffeine and vegetable fat.
The main component of chocolate is cocoa butter, which is obtained from cocoa beans. Cocoa butter contains caffeine, a plant alkaloid that has a pronounced stimulating effect. Caffeine is white crystals with a bitter taste, so chocolate with the maximum amount of cocoa butter (more than 75%) has a tart, bitter aftertaste.
Almost all types of chocolate also contain theobromine, a purine alkaloid that in high concentrations can lead to serious poisoning. Theobromine is quickly metabolized in the human body and excreted as metabolites by the kidneys and liver, but if a person consumes chocolate products too often, an accumulation effect may occur, leading to intoxication of the body.
To understand whether patients with gastritis need to give up chocolate products, it is necessary to find out what they are made from and how the components used affect the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Trans fats. Trans fats commonly used are hydrogenated coconut or palm oil. These additives are used in the production of cheap chocolate instead of natural cocoa butter.
Trans fats contain dense fat mass and increase the likelihood of constipation and the accumulation of toxic products in the stomach and intestines. Frequent consumption of such products increases the risk of liver dystrophy.
Sugar. In many types of chocolate, for example, milk or white, sugar is the main component that comes first in the composition. Sucrose negatively affects digestive processes, promotes fermentation and the accumulation of gas bubbles in the intestinal lumen, increasing the intensity of symptoms.
Cadmium. It is found in large quantities in dark varieties. Irritates the gastric mucosa, increases the likelihood of peptic ulcers.
Oxalates. Oxalates are the esters and salts of oxalic acid. They are difficult to digest and slow down the absorption of nutrients in the intestines. Frequent use increases the risk of stones and sand forming in the kidneys and ureters.
When can you stop dieting?
If a person diagnosed with gastritis cannot give up a favorite product, then, as an exception to the rule, you can eat a small (no more than 20 grams) piece. It is best to give preference to black or white chocolate. But in any case, you should take into account the body’s reaction to sweetness, the characteristics of the recommended diet, the type, form and stage of the disease, and general health.
Small indulgences for patients are allowed only with stable remission. But it should be noted that chocolate should not be eaten on an empty stomach if you have gastritis, as it has an irritating effect on the gastric wall.
In case of relapses, you need to follow a strict, and sometimes even “starvation” diet. Therefore, sugar and cocoa will have to be completely eliminated from the diet.
Sweets for ulcers
Doctors all over the world prohibit sweets for stomach ulcers, as well as gastritis. Some types of confectionery products offered include sugar and other types of additives that have no benefit to the body.
It is better to replace the assortment of buns, cakes, buns, and sweets with natural products.
This could be semolina casserole with the addition of fruits and berries, vegetable puree, or cottage cheese dishes. During remission, doctors allow you to eat sweets, but without “chemical” additives.
It is useful to include marshmallows in the menu for stomach ulcers. During the recovery stage, if you want to eat something sweet, natural jam and some unleavened pastries are allowed. Excessively sweet foods and products with flavorings are all strictly prohibited.
What are the dangers of not following a diet?
If you eat chocolate for gastritis during a relapse, an exacerbation of the manifestations of the disease is possible:
pain in the epigastric region;
stomach discomfort;
unpleasant taste in the mouth;
belching, nausea and vomiting.
Even a small piece of chocolate can provoke unpleasant symptoms in people with problems with the digestive system. Therefore, gastroenterologists advise that when a relapse occurs, completely abstain from any sweets.
Treatment remedy
In folk medicine, cocoa can be used for medicinal purposes for ulcers. To do this, it is recommended to use the following composition:
- 2 tbsp. l. cocoa powder;
- honey - 1 tbsp. l;
- butter – 1 tbsp. l;
- egg yolks – 2 pcs.
Mix the ingredients to form a homogeneous mass. The prepared composition is taken in a spoon half an hour before meals and an hour after meals. Treatment is carried out for at least 2-3 weeks, after which a break is taken.
Cocoa is not recommended to be consumed during periods of exacerbation of diseases of the stomach and duodenum. Sweet treats are allowed only during remission, if you are feeling well. People suffering from this disease need to remember that they can only drink liquid at room temperature, with a small amount of sugar.
Is there a substitute for chocolate?
People diagnosed with gastritis should not worry too much about the fact that the diet requires giving up chocolate products. Confectioners offer many other delicacies that, in addition to exquisite taste, have a positive effect on health.
But before you buy healthy sweets, you need to carefully study the composition, paying special attention to the fat content.
A worthy alternative to chocolate for gastritis would be:
marshmallows and marshmallows - these treats do not contain artificial additives that irritate the stomach;
caramel and toffee;
fruit jelly;
marmalade - only natural ingredients are used in its production, in addition, this product improves mood, which is very important for patients with gastritis ;
natural honey - contains all the vitamins and minerals necessary for the body, thanks to which it strengthens the immune system, mobilizing it to fight the disease;
jams, jams and preserves;
dried fruits and nuts, rich in beneficial micro- and macroelements.
You can prepare various delicacies yourself. In this case, they will be tasty, healthy and fresh. You just need to avoid fatty ingredients and artificial additives.
Will treatment with cocoa and dark chocolate help?
Some people confidently claim that treatment with cocoa powder and sweets helped them. They also speak positively about the benefits of the butter-chocolate composition. For it you need to take a piece of butter, add a spoonful of powder and the same amount of sugar. Mix everything and pour a glass of boiling water. The product is taken twice a day. After a month of treatment, the ulcers heal completely.
According to scientists, this method of therapy can produce positive results. Cocoa powder is useful, and the oil envelops the walls of the stomach, thereby protecting them from the negative effects of gastric juice, but everything is individual and before self-treatment it would not hurt to get a doctor’s permission.
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