Is Potato Good or Bad for Gastritis?
Is potato good for gastritis? That’s one of the questions that you are likely to ask yourself after being diagnosed with the disease. Gastritis, inflammation of the stomach lining, has become very common around the world, spurred on partly by lifestyle factors.
One challenge that you will face if you have the disease lies on choosing the correct diet. The fact that gastritis is a disease of the stomach makes it important for you to manage what you eat. There are certain types of food that have the potential to aggravate gastritis symptoms, leading to potentially debilitating pain.
Potatoes are one of the most consumed foods in the world. It’s not surprising therefore that people with gastritis often ask themselves whether or not it is safe to eat this food. So, are potatoes safe for gastritis? Or should you stay away from them altogether?
Are potatoes safe for gastritis?
In general, potatoes are considered to be one of the foods that are good for gastritis. They are soft and, therefore, easier to digest than most other foods. However, potatoes are slightly acidic, meaning they should be consumed in small quantities.
Also note that how potatoes are prepared has a bearing on whether or not they are ideal for people with gastritis. As an example, potato chips are considered to be bad for gastritis, largely due to their fatty nature. Foods that are high in fat are difficult for the stomach to digest and they trigger the production of excess acid, which serves as a trigger for gastritis pain.
Meanwhile, potato juice is considered to be very good for gastritis. It helps neutralize stomach acid, thus reducing the pain that many people suffer as a result of the disease. Potato juice also helps speed the healing process.
The PH level of potatoes
That’s the answer to the question, is potato good for gastritis. We have just noted that in general, potatoes are one of the super foods that people with gastritis can safely eat. However, it all depends on how potatoes are prepared for consumption.
One thing that’s essential when looking at whether or not a food is safe for gastritis is to look at its PH level. That’s measured from 0 to 14. Foods from 7 are considered to be very good for gastritis since they are either neutral or alkaline.
Anything below 4.6 is considered to be too acidic. You should, therefore, avoid these foods wherever possible. Examples of very acidic foods are sodas and energy drinks, popcorn and black tea. So, where does potato fall on the PH scale?
Potatoes have a PH of between 5.4 to 6.0. That makes them slightly acidic. However, they are not too acidic for people with gastritis. We have already noted that it is usually safe to eat foods that are scaled from 4.6 upwards.
However, like every other foods, how you respond to potatoes will be different to how another person reacts. If you find that potatoes cause you pain, then by any means stay away from them.
Potatoes may be slightly acidic, but their other healing benefits far outweigh that consideration. So, they are a food that you should not stay away from.
Nutritional elements in potatoes
Potato is generally good for gastritis, but in moderate portions. One reason why potatoes are such a super food is because they are packed with essential nutrients. The following are some of the nutrients that you can expect to find in potatoes;
- Fiber
- Carbohydrates
- Calcium
- Potassium
- Protein
- Magnesium
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B6
- Iron
- Sodium
- Manganese
- Beta carotene
- Vitamin E
- Folate
- Vitamin K
- Cobalamin
- Thiamin
- Zinc
Summary
In this article, we answered the question is potato good or bad for gastritis? We noted that potato is largely beneficial and it is safe for people with the disease to eat. Though it is mildly acidic, potato is easy to digest, making it ideal.
However, preparation matters. Fried potatoes are bad since fat is a difficult compound for the stomach to digest. Try to bake your potatoes in little oil and they will be good for you. Juice from the plant was also seen to be good for reducing acid and treating gastritis.