Gastritis is a disease accompanied by the development of an inflammatory process on the gastric mucosa. As a result, the work of the whole organism is destabilized. A person experiences pain in the stomach before or after eating, nausea, vomiting and other unpleasant symptoms. The treatment of the disease in addition to taking medications includes compulsory dieting. It is also advisable to use mineral water for gastritis. We will tell you how to choose it and how to drink it correctly in our article.
What are the benefits of mineral water?
People learned about the healing properties of waters of natural origin and extracted or brought to the surface from the bowels of the earth before our era. In their composition, they are complex solutions that contain dissolved salts, minerals, as well as individual biologically active components. It is proved that mineral waters have a therapeutic effect on the body. This allows them to be widely used in spa treatment. And the first such source was discovered during the reign of Peter I in the territory of Karelia and it was called “Marcial Waters”.
People suffering from one of the most common diseases of the gastrointestinal tract are interested in the question of whether mineral water can be used for gastritis. As you know, along with medications, patients are recommended to follow a diet. At the same time, drinking mineral water can speed up the healing process. However, it is important that it be non-carbonated and contain a suitable set of minerals for this type of disease.
Types of Mineral Water
All mineral waters, depending on the mineral components contained in them, are divided into the following types:
- Canteen. In such water, the concentration of mineral substances does not exceed 1 g / l. To taste, it practically does not differ from ordinary drinking.
- Medical dining room. The content of mineral components in such water is 1-10 g / l. Such a solution may include elements such as boron, silicon, and iron.
- Therapeutic. The mineralization level of this water exceeds 10 g / l. It is saturated with minerals such as fluorine, hydrogen sulfide, iodine, bromine, iron, boron and others. The effectiveness of healing mineral water for gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, urolithiasis has been proven.
All the above types of mineral waters can be combined into two large groups: natural and artificially mineralized. The latter is obtained by adding minerals in purified proportions in purified drinking water.
The composition of mineral water
Even with good nutrition, a person does not always receive a sufficient amount of macro- and microelements. Partially compensate for their deficiency using mineral water. The composition of natural or artificially mineralized solutions includes:
- boron;
- iron;
- silicon;
- cobalt;
- fluorine;
- vanadium;
- calcium;
- magnesium.
All these mineral components ensure the normal functioning of the human body. Using water enriched with the above elements, it is possible to stop the inflammatory process in the stomach and restore the normal functioning of other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. But, in order not to harm the body, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the doctor's recommendations. Only a specialist will be able to make the correct diagnosis and suggest which mineral water will be useful in case of low or high acidity of the stomach.
Features of choice
As a rule, mineral water for gastritis is included in a comprehensive treatment. The gastroenterologist at the appointment should recommend a specific type of drink to the patient and give dosage instructions. In the event that the patient decided to independently choose mineral water, he must necessarily take into account the following factors:
- The acidity of the stomach. There are gastritis with increased or decreased secretory function. In one case, the effect of hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach should be suppressed, and in the second, on the contrary, stimulated. Depending on this, you should choose acidic or alkaline water.
- Temperature and composition of water. With increased excretion of hydrochloric acid, it is recommended to warm the water before use and drink the drink at least 1 hour before a meal. With such a disease, Borjomi will do. For gastritis with low acidity, it is recommended to drink "Essentuki No. 4" or "Essentuki No. 17" 20 minutes before lunch. At the same time, it is not recommended to warm up the drink.
- With or without gas? With gastritis, it is recommended to use only non-carbonated water.
Mineral water for gastritis with high acidity
To achieve the necessary therapeutic effect, it is necessary to take into account the nature of the disease. Most often, gastritis patients are diagnosed with gastritis with high acidity. In this case, the patient, along with discomfort in the stomach, is tormented by heartburn. During treatment, the doctor must give the patient recommendations about what mineral water is indicated for him with gastritis.
So, alkaline water will help reduce the aggressive effect of gastric secretions. In addition, when choosing a drink, you should pay attention to the pH value. It must be at least 7 units. It is recommended to drink the drink an hour before meals, while the daily norm is at least 600 ml. Such treatment with mineral water for erosive gastritis will also be no less effective. In a few days, the patient will feel much better.
What mineral water to drink with gastritis with low acidity?
With a deficiency of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, it is recommended to use a completely different drink. So, mineral water with a pH level below 7 units will be effective in treating gastritis with low acidity. It should be consumed in a glass of drink half an hour before meals. Acidic mineral waters, such as Narzan or Essentuki, are suitable. After a course of treatment, the secretion of the gastric mucosa will be fully restored.
Such treatment will help eliminate belching and flatulence in the intestines, as well as other unpleasant symptoms that occur with this form of the disease.
Treatment of gastritis in children and pregnant women
Unpleasant symptoms in the stomach often occur in children and women when carrying a baby. In this case, for the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to consult a doctor and undergo a full examination.
In the treatment of gastritis with mineral water in children, a drink of the appropriate acidity is prescribed. The daily volume of fluid taken is calculated individually for each patient, depending on his weight - 3 ml per 1 kg of body weight.
Caution should be prescribed mineral water for pregnant women. It is important to take into account its effect on intestinal motility, a tendency to form stones in the kidneys and gall bladder, etc. It is undesirable to prescribe treatment for yourself during this period.
What can I drink with an exacerbation of the disease?
Patients with acute gastritis are especially difficult to tolerate. The patient, along with unpleasant sensations in the stomach, is concerned about nausea and vomiting. With an exacerbation of the disease, starvation is recommended to all patients without exception. But here it is impossible to refuse water under any circumstances. It is she who will help fill the deficiency of vitamins and minerals and improve the condition of the gastric mucosa.
It should be noted that with gastritis both high and low acidity, it is not recommended to drink cold water. It should be at room temperature and not contain carbon dioxide.
General rules for use in treatment
In order for the intake of mineral water during treatment to be effective, patients with gastritis should adhere to the following recommendations:
- At the beginning of therapy, mineral water should be consumed in small portions: ¼ cup. In several doses, the liquid volume should be brought to 200 ml.
- The duration of treatment with mineral water for chronic gastritis should not exceed 1 month.
- Liquid intake should be carried out 30-60 minutes before a meal. In this case, you should strictly adhere to the doctor's recommendation.
- Before taking acidic mineral water, it is recommended to heat it to 40 ° in order to get rid of the carbon dioxide contained in it.
- Alkaline water should be drunk literally in one gulp so that the gastric secretion does not have time to develop.
Subject to the rules for the use of mineral water, patients manage to very quickly alleviate their condition and normalize the state of the gastric mucosa.
Contraindications
Despite the enormous benefits that mineral water can bring to the body, there are a number of cases where the intake of fluids saturated with individual elements should be limited or completely eliminated. The following main contraindications for use can be distinguished:
- circulatory disorders, heart problems, blood vessels;
- serious malfunctioning of the intestines;
- exacerbation of gastritis (for some time it is recommended to use ordinary instead of mineral water);
- nausea, vomiting;
- internal bleeding;
- pyelonephritis in the acute stage;
- age up to three years;
- toxicosis;
- threatened abortion.
In the above cases, mineral water for gastritis can only aggravate the symptoms of the disease and lead to a worsening of the patient's condition. In addition, uncontrolled intake of such a liquid can lead to metabolic disturbances.
Popular brands of mineral waters
Depending on the diagnosis, the gastroenterologist prescribes the patient water of certain brands:
- Borjomi If the question arose about what mineral water can be drunk with gastritis with high acidity, then there is no better brand. Borjomi is of volcanic origin and contains more than 60 minerals and salts. Subject to the course of treatment, water normalizes the intestines and the secretory function of the stomach with gastritis.
- "Essentuki number 4". This is medicinal-table water with a relatively low content of salts and minerals. It is recommended to use with normal and low acidity 20 minutes before a meal.
- "Essentuki number 17". The mineralization of this water is higher than the previous one and amounts to 14 g / l.
- "Narzan". This drink has been used in the treatment of gastritis with any acidity since the 19th century. In addition to getting rid of the symptoms of the disease, a person with regular use of water improves metabolism, improves immunity and overall body tone.