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Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Road and parking lot construction in Madison, Wis. may result in travel delays and route changes to UW Health clinic and hospital locations. Please plan accordingly.Read more
Gastroparesis means food empties too slowly from your stomach into your intestines. It is also often called “delayed gastric emptying.”
Gastroparesis affects each person in a different way. Food choices that may work for one person may not work for another.
Consult with your dietitian to find foods that work best for you. They may also suggest supplements to help manage symptoms.
The most common cause is diabetes. Other causes may be abdominal surgery and nervous system diseases. Many medicines can also slow stomach emptying. In some people the cause is unclear.
Feeling full soon after eating
Bloating after a meal
Nausea and vomiting
Bad breath
Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Blood glucose that is hard to control
Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are. You may need to try one or more of these treatment options:
Blood sugar control: Gastroparesis can result from or lead to poor blood sugar control. Ask your doctor if you need to check your blood sugars. High blood sugar levels can make symptoms worse.
Medicines: Your doctor may suggest medicine which can help you feel better. Some medicines may be used
to control nausea. Others can help the stomach empty more quickly. Ask your doctor for more information.
Dietary and lifestyle changes: Changing your eating habits and food choices may prevent or decrease some of the symptoms. A dietitian can help you make these changes. You should also avoid or reduce alcohol smoking.
The texture, volume, frequency, and make up of foods can affect how quickly or slowly they empty from your stomach. How you eat can also help. It may seem hard to eat a balanced diet when you don’t feel well, but nutrition is important.
(Try the ideas in the order listed.)
Eat small meals often (about 6 small meals per day)
Larger meals cause the stomach to empty more slowly.
Smaller meals (1 to 1 ½ cups)mean you will need to eat more often during the day.
Eat healthy foods first before filling up on foods like dessert, high calorie drinks, etc.
Try more liquid or semi-liquid(blended or pureed) foods
Liquids empty the stomach easier than solids.
If symptoms get worse during day, try solid food meals in morning, switching to more liquid meals later in the day.
Choose low fat solid foods and limit how much fat is added to a meal.
A high fat meal takes longer to leave your stomach. Choose healthy, low-fat foods.
Limit fats added during cooking.
Liquid foods that contain fat (like a milk shake) do not slow down the stomach emptying. Do not limit these if you need more calories in your diet.
Try lower fiber foods.
A low fiber diet is 13 grams or less per day.
Fiber is found in plant foods like vegetables, fruits, and grains.
A high fiber diet may slow down stomach emptying.
Certain fibers are even harder to digest and can form a dangerous solid mass called a “bezoar.” Bezoars can lead to a blockage.
Chew foods well, especially meats.
If you don’t chew food well, the stomach has to work harder.
Chewing food tells the stomach to start digesting.
Try to move after eating.
If you can take a walk or get up and move around after eating, this will help the stomach to empty faster.
Sit upright for at least 1 hour after eating.
Try a liquid nutritional supplement.
These are good if you are unable to get enough calories from the food you eat and are losing weight.
Eat slowly, calmly and in a relaxed environment. Increased stress may make symptoms worse.
Do what works for you. Symptoms can change from day to day and from one week to the next.
Keep a food and symptom journal.
Write down what you ate, what time, how much and any symptoms.
This may help you figure out your problem foods.
If you struggle to eat enough, make sure everything you eat, and drink gives you some calories:
Drink whole milk, 100% juice, low fiber smoothies, Gatorade®, sweet tea.
Try Carnation Breakfast Essentials® or other supplemental drinks like Boost® and Ensure®.
Add foods like dry milk powder, honey and other condiments, and use nutrition shakes in baking and cooking.
Think about taking a daily multivitamin.
Milk and milkshakes
Creamy soups
Smoothies
Ice cream
Puddings and custard
Pureed Foods
Liquid supplements
Ensure®, Boost® Carnation Breakfast Essentials®
Applesauce
Apricots
Fruit juices
Bananas (limit to ½)
Cherries
Grapefruit sections
Fruit cocktail
Mandarin oranges
Mango
Melon
Nectarine
Peach, peeled
Pears, peeled
Plums
Pineapple
Strawberries, small amounts
Tangerines
Asparagus tips
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Carrots
Cucumber
Eggplant
Endive
Lettuce
Mushrooms
Onions
Peppers
Potatoes, white, peeled
Radish
Tomatoes
Sprouts
Summer squash
Sweet potatoes, peeled
Zucchini
Lean chicken
Fish
Lean cuts of beef
Lean cuts of pork
Eggs/Egg substitutes
Tofu
Milk
Low-fat cheese
Ice milk/soft serve
Light cottage cheese
Yogurt (no nuts, granola, seeds)
Pudding
White pasta
White bread
Hard rolls
Muffins*
French bread
English muffins, white
Dry cereals**
Crackers, soda, rice
Graham crackers
Angel food cake
Vanilla wafers
Jello®
Fruit
Low-fat pudding
Rice crispy bars
Dry cereal**
*avoid muffins that contain bran, nuts and seeds
**2 grams of fiber or less per serving in cereal
Apples
Beets
Berries (small amounts ok)
Brussel sprouts
Celery
Coconut
Figs, Date
Broccoli (stems especially)
Grapefruit
High-fat meats
High-fat desserts
Leeks Legumes
Nuts
Oranges
Persimmon
Whole grain breads
Whole grain cereals
Legumes (any beans, peas and lentils
Potato peelings
Pumpkin
Raisins
Sauerkraut
Seeds
Low fiber toast with seedless jam
Scrambled eggs
1 cup low fat Greek yogurt
½ cup canned peaches
Salad with soft lettuce, tomato, onion, deli turkey, low fat shredded cheese, and dressing
Nutrition shake like Boost®, Ensure® or Glucerna®
Baked fish fillet
½ cup mashed sweet potato
1 cup cooked zucchini
½ cup low fat ice cream
½ cup grapes
3/4 cup rice cereal with 1 cup low fat milk
1/2 banana
1/2 cup low fat cottage cheese
1 cup low fat vegetable soup
1/2 tuna sandwich on low fiber bread made with light mayo or miracle whip
Graham crackers
2 Tablespoon creamy peanut butter
Grilled chicken breast
1/2 cup white penne pasta
1/2 cup tomato sauce with mushrooms
1 low fat mozzarella string cheese
½ cup applesauce
If you are a UW Health patient and have more questions, please contact UW Health at the phone number listed below. You can also visit our website at www.uwhealth.org/nutrition.
Nutrition clinics for UW Hospital and Clinics (UWHC) and American Family Children’s Hospital (AFCH) can be reached at: (608) 890-5500.