After the Mid-Autumn Festival, I have gastroenteritis and vomiting and diarrhea. Can I only eat porridge? ! Nutritionist Gao Minmin: 6 key points of diet for gastroenteritis

The Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. When everyone is preparing ingredients for Mid-Autumn barbecue, as well as mooncakes and grapefruits for the occasion, be careful not to eat too much without restraint. In addition, the ingredients may easily spoil when exposed to heat. If you eat them carelessly, you may suffer from gastroenteritis. There are two types of gastroenteritis: bacterial gastroenteritis and viral gastroenteritis. Eating stale food or overeating may lead to bacterial gastroenteritis. Is porridge the only diet for people with gastroenteritis? Are there any other dietary precautions? Let’s hear what nutritionist Gao Minmin has to say.

Viral gastroenteritis

Viral gastroenteritis is an infectious disease caused by a variety of viruses. There are many viruses that may cause gastroenteritis, including: rotavirus, adenovirus, norovirus, and astrovirus. The main symptoms of viral gastroenteritis are watery diarrhea and vomiting. There are also symptoms such as headache, fever, abdominal cramps, stomach pain, nausea, muscle aches, etc. The symptoms usually last about 7 to 10 days after infection. Viral gastroenteritis is contagious and is mainly transmitted through the fecal-oral route, such as through close contact with sick people (e.g. through sharing food, water, utensils with sick people, contact with sick people's vomitus, excrement or surfaces touched by sick people), eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages, etc.

Bacterial gastroenteritis

Bacterial gastroenteritis is mainly caused by Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Staphylococcus aureus. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, or accompanied by high fever, blood in stool, and abdominal pain. Symptoms caused by bacterial gastroenteritis are generally more serious. Symptoms last about 7 days and are more prevalent in summer.

Eating stale food, overeating, eating too much oil, etc. may be related to bacterial gastroenteritis.

If you suffer from gastroenteritis, you should pay attention to replenishing water, including boiled water, electrolyte water, or diluted sports drinks.

6 key points of diet for gastroenteritis

If you suffer from gastroenteritis, you should pay attention to the following 6 key points in your diet:

1. Drink more water: If you suffer from gastroenteritis, you should pay attention to replenishing water, including boiled water, electrolyte water, or diluted sports drinks. If you notice a dry tongue, dry skin, or dizziness, it may be due to lack of water.

2. Light diet: Light diet is the iron rule of gastroenteritis. Keep the diet light and drink diluted rice soup to reduce the burden on the stomach and intestines.

3. Eat small meals frequently: To reduce gastrointestinal irritation, you can divide 3 meals a day into 6 meals a day (3 main meals + 3 snacks).

4. Avoid eating high-sugar foods: Avoid eating high-sugar foods, including sweets, high-sugar drinks, etc.

5. Avoid eating spicy food: Avoid eating chili peppers, garlic, ginger, onions, and drinking coffee or alcoholic beverages, etc., so as not to irritate the stomach and intestines and aggravate diarrhea symptoms.

6. Avoid eating high-fat foods: Avoid eating fried foods, which will affect the repair of the gastrointestinal tract.

Nutritionist Gao Minmin said that in addition to porridge and toast, as long as you master "easy to digest light diet" and consider your own intestinal condition, there are some foods you can eat.

Can I only drink porridge when I have gastroenteritis?

If your gastroenteritis symptoms persist, please seek medical attention as soon as possible. In addition, there is a saying that "people with gastroenteritis can only drink porridge". Nutritionist Gao Minmin said that in addition to porridge and toast, in fact, as long as you master "easy to digest light diet" and consider your own intestinal condition, there are some foods that you can eat, including the following foods:

1. Fruits containing pectin and can stop diarrhea: apples and bananas.

2. Boiled soups: egg drop soup, clear soup noodles, and porridge.

3. Easy-to-digest food: steamed eggs, toast, and soda crackers.

4. Vegetables with less crude fiber: You can eat the tender leaves of vegetables.

[Nutritionist's Tips]:

Nutritionist Gao Minmin reminds that as long as there is no vomiting and the appetite gradually recovers, you can start eating easily digestible foods. To avoid getting gastroenteritis during the Mid-Autumn Festival and spoiling the fun, pay attention to food hygiene when eating barbecue, grapefruit, and moon cakes. Also, remember the above dietary tips, especially avoid overeating, eating too much oily or spicy food, so as to stay away from the threat of gastroenteritis.