Gastroparesis Diet – Questions, Suggestions, Tips

Posted by bellbelinda3 @bellbelinda3, Jan 30, 2012

I was recently diagnosed with Gastroparesis. Can anyone enlighten me about diet?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@pdilly

@waslatter Did you say your A1c numbers improved with your new Gastroparesis diet? Wow! Mine went up from 5.7 to 6.2. I need to be doing whatever you’re doing. What kind of fiber do you eat? I think my extremely low fiber Gastroparesis eating definitely raised my A1c.

Jump to this post

Too soon for a1c. My last a1c was over 7. My daily blood sugars were up to between 150 on the low side and almost 300 on the high side. New diet has had little to no processed sugar mostly from carbs. A really good yogurt is Oikos triple 0. No sugar, 6 grams of fiber, high protein and on the list of soft foods.

REPLY
@pdilly

Thank you for your reply @fourof5zs. It looks like you try things and see what works and what doesn’t and then move on — I wish I could be that way!
I’m still looking for that comprehensive list that says EAT THIS/DON’T EAT THIS.

This is a copy of info straight from the Mayo Gastroparesis pages:
“Eat well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables
Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as oranges and broccoli, which may cause bezoars”

To me that is saying I can’t eat fibrous fruits and vegetables even if they are well-cooked. Is that correct?
If so, where can I get a list of fruits and vegetables that are “fibrous”?

I’m hoping a Mayo moderator might get involved and ask the Mayo experts to clarify.

Jump to this post

I was just at my appointment yesterday at Mayo in Phoenix and they gave me an entire booklet for Gastroparesis diet. I also have an appointment with the dietician coming up to go through it and go over nutrition. It looks to me like it is almost the same as the low residue/low fiber diet I have been on for the past year. You might want to schedule an appointment.

REPLY
@fourof5zs

@pdilly Even though the human body is basically the same in everyone there are still differences. So therefore what works for one person may not work for another. Fibrous foods are those that are high in fiber. High fiber foods take longer to digest and if they sit in the stomach too long can cause a bezoar.. the food becomes hard like a rock and will go nowhere. I have only had a small one.

Some people can handle raw fruit without the skin and a baked potaoto without the skin. I cannot. I have a swallowing problem too, so I have to have more easy to swallow foods. Greens such as turnip, collard and mustard that I grew up with here in Georgia I cannot eat. I can eat broccolli florets if cooked tender, but not the stem. I can eat creamed spinach that my husband cooks. He usually uses the frozen spinach and it has no stems. I can eat quick oatmeal, but it tends to take me a while to eat it and it takes a while to digest... so I rarely eat it. My husband is our cook and he makes a granola bar that I can eat ( it has toasted oatmeal and it is a soft, chewy bar). He chops up almonds and assorted dried fruit small for it. It is filling an nutritious, but does not sit in my stomach forever like a lot of high fiber foods. High fiber food will take more time to digest than low fiber foods. Fruit such as apples and pears lose a lot of fiber once peeled and cooked... or canned. I can eat canned pineapple fine.. even with its texture. It actually make my stomach feel pretty good. Itt is my supper mixed with cottage cheese.

I also have diverticulosis and need a high fiber diet for that.. so diet is a big problem for me. Gastroparesis is better if you eat lower fiber diet and the diverticulosis requires high fiber. Hitting a medium is not easy. Early last year I had a severe bout of diverticulitis. I eat a lot of green peas and carrots cooked tender. Green beans I do not do well with nor do I do well with black-eyed or any variety that is what we call a field pea. I can eat a few canned baked beans.. even some canned kidney bean in chili (mine has to be bland though☹️) Ground beef is the most easily digested meat for me. I have a hard time with chicken and pork.

It would be hard for the Mayo Clinic to name all fibrous foods, but yes, it might be a good idea to give a few examples. In the search bar of your browser type in: list of fibrous foods; and you should get some results.

Jump to this post

I also have the diverticulitis I take women's probiotics

REPLY
@danybegood1

<p>HlCan you tell me how you handle gastroparesis through diet? Do you concentrate on liquid diets? Anything else? Have you tried CBD oil?<br />Thanks. Danyl</p>

Jump to this post

@I have been diagnosed with slow gastric emptyiing at a moderate level.The diet is extremely restrictive.I also have had constipation issues for years.This has been worse since having a small bowel obstruction 18 months ago.I have added fluids but am not supposed to eat more than 10 grams of fiber a day and no fresh fruits or vegetables, beans and onlyfew cooked vegetables are allowed.Also no fiber supplements.

REPLY
@danybegood1

<p>HlCan you tell me how you handle gastroparesis through diet? Do you concentrate on liquid diets? Anything else? Have you tried CBD oil?<br />Thanks. Danyl</p>

Jump to this post

I’m confused about the Gastroparesis diet I was given when diagnosed last fall because a bezoar was found in my stomach. The diet is very similar to the one that Mayo has posted under Gastroparesis. My first question is about vegetables. The diet says no raw vegetables (of course) but well cooked vegetables are okay.
But the next entry is to avoid fibrous vegetable such as broccoli.
Does this mean that I can’t eat broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnip greens, spinach, green beans, etc. even if I cook them to death?

REPLY
@danybegood1

<p>HlCan you tell me how you handle gastroparesis through diet? Do you concentrate on liquid diets? Anything else? Have you tried CBD oil?<br />Thanks. Danyl</p>

Jump to this post

<p>Could someone tell me where to go to find a reliable and doctor-approved gastroparesis diet - what to eat and not eat. I have it and now my 51 year old son has it too. Or where is it on the Mayo clinic site?</p>

REPLY
@quiteachiver75

GASTROPARESIS IS DIFFICULT LIVING LIFE. I HAVE READ A LOT OF THE POSTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN RELATE TO EVERYTHING WRITTEN. I HAVE A PROBLEM DRINKING TO MUCH FLUID IT SITS ON MY WAIST AT TIMES WHICH MAKES ME SICK. I AM SO BACKED UP WITH FOOD. I CANT EAT A LOT DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I PRODUCE LARGE BOWEL MOTIONS I WISH THERE WAS A SOLUTION. FRUIT VEGETABLES FIBRE ARE NO THE WIND I HAVE IS CRULE MAKES LIFE HARD. SO MUCH FOR MY COMPLAINING. THANK YOU ALL FOR ADDING INFORMATION IT HELPS. TERESA

Jump to this post

Hello @quiteachiver75

I can appreciate your dilemma about liquids and the problem of bloating. It has been suggested to me to sip water throughout the day and I also eat small potions, throughout the day. I never eat big meals.

Have you had any GI surgeries that might contribute to this problem?

REPLY

GASTROPARESIS IS DIFFICULT LIVING LIFE. I HAVE READ A LOT OF THE POSTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN RELATE TO EVERYTHING WRITTEN. I HAVE A PROBLEM DRINKING TO MUCH FLUID IT SITS ON MY WAIST AT TIMES WHICH MAKES ME SICK. I AM SO BACKED UP WITH FOOD. I CANT EAT A LOT DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I PRODUCE LARGE BOWEL MOTIONS I WISH THERE WAS A SOLUTION. FRUIT VEGETABLES FIBRE ARE NO THE WIND I HAVE IS CRULE MAKES LIFE HARD. SO MUCH FOR MY COMPLAINING. THANK YOU ALL FOR ADDING INFORMATION IT HELPS. TERESA

REPLY
@quiteachiver75

GASTROPARESIS IS DIFFICULT LIVING LIFE. I HAVE READ A LOT OF THE POSTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN RELATE TO EVERYTHING WRITTEN. I HAVE A PROBLEM DRINKING TO MUCH FLUID IT SITS ON MY WAIST AT TIMES WHICH MAKES ME SICK. I AM SO BACKED UP WITH FOOD. I CANT EAT A LOT DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I PRODUCE LARGE BOWEL MOTIONS I WISH THERE WAS A SOLUTION. FRUIT VEGETABLES FIBRE ARE NO THE WIND I HAVE IS CRULE MAKES LIFE HARD. SO MUCH FOR MY COMPLAINING. THANK YOU ALL FOR ADDING INFORMATION IT HELPS. TERESA

Jump to this post

I eat a lot of trail mix that I make with Costco Trail Mix, unsalted mixed nuts, dried crasins, m&Ms, dried apricots, ...as a treat I eat a non-dairy avocado ice cream... As a Snack try celery or Napa cabbage with peanut butter on it..

REPLY
@quiteachiver75

GASTROPARESIS IS DIFFICULT LIVING LIFE. I HAVE READ A LOT OF THE POSTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN RELATE TO EVERYTHING WRITTEN. I HAVE A PROBLEM DRINKING TO MUCH FLUID IT SITS ON MY WAIST AT TIMES WHICH MAKES ME SICK. I AM SO BACKED UP WITH FOOD. I CANT EAT A LOT DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I PRODUCE LARGE BOWEL MOTIONS I WISH THERE WAS A SOLUTION. FRUIT VEGETABLES FIBRE ARE NO THE WIND I HAVE IS CRULE MAKES LIFE HARD. SO MUCH FOR MY COMPLAINING. THANK YOU ALL FOR ADDING INFORMATION IT HELPS. TERESA

Jump to this post

Look up Crystal Saltrelli on google. She has a great website on gastroparesis and is a sufferer and “expert.”

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.