Gastritis And Cucumbers
Gastritis, a condition marked by a swollen or inflamed stomach lining, can trigger a range of digestive symptoms. Cucumbers, while tasty, may play a role in irritating the stomach lining and worsening your condition, although some medical practitioners say cucumbers can help heal gastritis.
Gastritis, a condition marked by a swollen or inflamed stomach lining, can trigger a range of digestive symptoms. Cucumbers, while tasty, may play a role in irritating the stomach lining and worsening your condition, although some medical practitioners say cucumbers can help heal gastritis. There is no peer reviewed research on the effects cucumber may have on gastritis. Speak to your health care provider to discuss including cucumbers in your diet if you have this condition.
About Gastritis
While many people with gastritis do not experience any symptoms, others may suffer from nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain or tenderness and loss of appetite. More severe cases may involve vomiting blood or the production of black stools. A range of conditions can inflame the lining of your stomach and lead to gastritis, including long-term use of naproxen or aspirin, bacterial stomach infection, alcohol or cocaine abuse and stress.
About Cucumbers
Cucumbers are a vine-growing relative of the gourd. While most often found as long vegetables with green skin, there are also specialty cucumbers that are round and yellow. There are also small cucumbers meant specifically for pickling. Cucumbers are most often served raw to take advantage of their juicy crunch, but you can also cook cucumber into soups, stews and casseroles.
Cucumbers Inflames Gastritis
Eating cucumbers may irritate your stomach lining and cause gastritis. John A. McDougall, M.D., an internist and founder of Dr. McDougall's Right Food's Inc., calls cucumbers an irritating food for your stomach. He notes that cucumbers are not stomach-inflaming in all people, but if they bother your stomach, avoid consuming this vegetable. There is no clinical evidence to suggest that cucumbers cause gastritis.
Cucumbers Cure Gastritis
Some health care practitioners, such as Priyam Ahuja, a dietician and certified nutritionist, believe cucumbers cure gastritis and provide relief for stomach irritation. Dr. Jeff Warber, a natural medicine proponent and member of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, also believes that cucumbers can be a part of a gastritis-healing diet. He notes on his website that cucumbers have a slight alkalizing ability in the body, which helps keep the body slightly alkaline -- this helps prevent gastritis. There are no studies to confirm that cucumbers help ease gastritis.