Gastroparesis and the Vegan diet

24258 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Ekoh, Sep 20, 2021

RachelAnn

Discussion Starter · Sep 18, 2012

I became a vegetarian when I was 15 and several months after was diagnosed with several digestive issues, including gastroparesis. This causes the stomach to empty slower then the normal persons and limits what the person can eat to everything you were told not to eat before. I can not have raw fruits and vegetables or anything high in fiber at all. Fatty foods are out of the question because they slow the stomach down even more. Soon after I was beginning to feel better, I decieded to become a vegan. I have been one for two years now, but off and on. Every time my gastroparesis returns I can not continue the vegan diet because it is much harder for me to get enough nutrients. Over the past two weeks it came back again and I was thinking of permanently going off the vegan diet and pursuing a more gastroparesis friendly diet forever. I don't want to do this, but I hate being put in and out of the hospital and the stomach pains I get after eating something as simple as an apple or peanut butter. Does anyone else have a similar problem and still able to pursue a vegan diet? Does anyone have any recipes or knowledge about what I could do to help my situation? I'm going to talk to my doctor further later on, but I want to know if anyone else has made it work to give me a little bit of hope.

For everyone that doesn't know about gastroparesis. I can not eat solids well, so I live off of soups. Fiber is difficult on me, so oatmeal, nuts, fruits and vegetables are out of the question unless heavily processed. Fat is the worst out of everything, so no oil coated stir fry, french fries, fat filled deserts or peanut butter. Protein is difficult to get enough of on this diet alone, that veganism doesn't help an awful lot. I can't eat anything much larger than my fist at one period of time, so I am eating every 2-3 hours I'm awake even if I have to force myself. Over the past two weeks I have been living off of tomato soup and small amounts of cereal.

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'IckenNoodleSoup

· #2 · Sep 18, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by RachelAnn

Protein is difficult to get enough of on this diet alone, that veganism doesn't help an awful lot. I can't eat anything much larger than my fist at one period of time, so I am eating every 2-3 hours I'm awake even if I have to force myself. Over the past two weeks I have been living off of tomato soup and small amounts of cereal.

My first thought is tofu, especially the silken kind. High in protein, low in fat and non-fibrous to boot. It's nice finely cubed in Miso soup. Or you could have silken tofu smoothies or pudding cups by zuzzing it up with cocoa or carob powder and maple syrup.

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LedBoots

· #3 · Sep 18, 2012

Pasta, potatoes cooked without fats, soups, low fat crackers, and rice are usual things to recommend for gp. I know citrus is out. Can you tolerate greens if they are cooked a lot? This seems be a hard condition to be vegan with, I have to say. Are you on any meds that help?

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LedBoots

· #4 · Sep 18, 2012

I found this online http://www.inspire.com/groups/agmd-gi-motility/discussion/new-gastroparesis-patient/
There is some discussion about veganism and gp there. (Sorry for double posting, I can not edit posts from my phone app.) Hope you feel better.

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luvourmother

· #5 · Sep 18, 2012

liquid diets are recommended, which can be done with vegan food. have you tried smoothies with veggies added in, since everythings all blended up it should be easier to digest.

there are many great vegan soup recipes to try other than tomato. mostly all can be pureed, like carrot, squash, white bean, potato etc.

have you ever tried colonic irrigation? i used to work at a clinic that did colonics and several clients had GP they said colonics helped a lot.

several small meals are recommended vs 3 big meals, also drinking water and walking around 1-2 hours after eating.

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EricaS

· #6 · Jul 3, 2021

RachelAnn said:
I became a vegetarian when I was 15 and several months after was diagnosed with several digestive issues, including gastroparesis. This causes the stomach to empty slower then the normal persons and limits what the person can eat to everything you were told not to eat before. I can not have raw fruits and vegetables or anything high in fiber at all. Fatty foods are out of the question because they slow the stomach down even more. Soon after I was beginning to feel better, I decieded to become a vegan. I have been one for two years now, but off and on. Every time my gastroparesis returns I can not continue the vegan diet because it is much harder for me to get enough nutrients. Over the past two weeks it came back again and I was thinking of permanently going off the vegan diet and pursuing a more gastroparesis friendly diet forever. I don't want to do this, but I hate being put in and out of the hospital and the stomach pains I get after eating something as simple as an apple or peanut butter. Does anyone else have a similar problem and still able to pursue a vegan diet? Does anyone have any recipes or knowledge about what I could do to help my situation? I'm going to talk to my doctor further later on, but I want to know if anyone else has made it work to give me a little bit of hope.

For everyone that doesn't know about gastroparesis. I can not eat solids well, so I live off of soups. Fiber is difficult on me, so oatmeal, nuts, fruits and vegetables are out of the question unless heavily processed. Fat is the worst out of everything, so no oil coated stir fry, french fries, fat filled deserts or peanut butter. Protein is difficult to get enough of on this diet alone, that veganism doesn't help an awful lot. I can't eat anything much larger than my fist at one period of time, so I am eating every 2-3 hours I'm awake even if I have to force myself. Over the past two weeks I have been living off of tomato soup and small amounts of cereal.

Hi, my name is Erica and I was just diagnosed wi GP and I'm a vegetarian as well. Im very upset and depressed about this whole situation ? on top of this i have a lot of other health issues and I'm severely anemic. I cant eat greens bc they hurt my stomach, I don't understand how the drs tell you to have a liquid diet. For me liquids, broth, soups, are just as painful. And no fruits? How are we suppose to get nutrients? I'm thinking of seeing a dietitian... idk...
how have you been? Have you found any relief?

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Ekoh

· #7 · Sep 20, 2021

EricaS said:
Hi, my name is Erica and I was just diagnosed wi GP and I'm a vegetarian as well. Im very upset and depressed about this whole situation 😕 on top of this i have a lot of other health issues and I'm severely anemic. I cant eat greens bc they hurt my stomach, I don't understand how the drs tell you to have a liquid diet. For me liquids, broth, soups, are just as painful. And no fruits? How are we suppose to get nutrients? I'm thinking of seeing a dietitian... idk...
how have you been? Have you found any relief?

Soups and liquids are almost worse than solids for me bc it fills my stomach up and I puke. I haven't found anything other than soylent and Ensure plant-based drinks and smoothie mixes. I try to find different amys meals to eat bc they are usually very simple but I don't have a big appetite and can't eat anything most days

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