Don’t treat the symptom, treat the cause! It is very important to determine the cause of your gastritis. Once you have determined the cause, eliminate it and do not re-introduce it.
Common Causes of Gastritis (Stomach Inflammation)
- Spicy or acid foods
- Coffee
- Stress
- Helicobacter Pylori (h. pylori); a main cause of gastritis
- Autoimmune diseases that attack the stomach lining, such as pernicious anemia
- Ibuprofen, aspirins, NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
- Bile Reflux
- Alcohol
- Celiac Disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity
How do you treat Gastritis?
Each product recommendation has a reasoning for treating chronic gastritis so please determine which would apply to your specific situation.
Manuka Honey: Manuka is very healing for ulcers and also is known to help kill h. pylori. Best to take Manuka honey between meals - about 1 tablespoon three times a day. For more information about Manuka Honey, check out this detailed blog, Manuka Honey's Healing Effects.
L-Glutamine Powder: Glutamine is known to help heal gastritis because glutamine assists in repairing damaged tissue. It is best to add between 10 to 30 grams to a liter water bottle and drink throughout the day - NOT all at once. Sip it. First, start low - 10 grams (2 scoops) to see how you do. If you feel you need more, you may increase by 1 scoop at a time. Start your day with L-glutamine upon waking and also take a big sip of it before bedtime so your stomach lining is bathing in it all night. Drink a lot of water with the glutamine so it doesn’t constipate you.
Zinc Carnosine (ZCG): Kills h. pylori and effective for gastritis and acid reflux. Take 75 mg Zinc Carnosine once to twice per day.
ProBiota 12: Probiotics are needed to help increase beneficial organisms in the digestive tract as harmful ones can cause issues - such as helicobactor pylori (aka: h. pylori). Consider taking 50 to 200 billion CFU's of ProBiota 12 after dinner once a day.
Saccharomyces boulardii: This beneficial yeast is a killer to h. pylori. Consider taking 3 capsules twice a day any time of day of Saccharomyces boulardii for two to three months. If taking triple antibiotic therapy as a result of a positive urea breath test, S. boulardii improves the effectiveness of the triple antibiotic therapy.
Pro-Digestion Intensive: To help support the digestion of your foods as improper digestion of things like gluten irritate the lining of the stomach causing gastritis. Prevent that from happening by supporting your digestion with an effective digestive enzyme. Consider taking 1 to 2 capsules with every meal. Never take without a meal.
PreGestion: Low stomach acid typically is a cause of gastritis. This is counter intuitive but it is a fact. H. pylori would not invade a stomach that is high in stomach acid as stomach acid kills h. pylori. Only start taking PreGestion with meals (1-2 capsules) after a week of healing the stomach lining with Glutamine, Manuka honey and Saccharomyces boulardii.
Taurine: Taurine is recommended for people who have liver issues or problems with digesting fats. Liver issues or problems digesting fats can cause backflow of bile which is a cause of gastritis. Consider taking 1-2 capsules of Taurine with breakfast and 1-2 capsules at dinner. Should you experience loose stools, back off and reduce the dose by half as Taurine stimulates bile flow which can cause loose stools. For those of you constipated, you'll love Taurine.
Homocystex: Chronic gastritis causes vitamin B12 deficiency especially if you have been taking antacids or proton pump inhibitors. I highly recommend you replenish your vitamin B12, folic acid and vitamin B6 by taking Homocystex. Consider taking 1 capsule in the AM and one in the afternoon with a meal.
Water Bottle: To keep you hydrated and sipping your L-glutamine powder all day long. A bottle NOT made of plastic is best. To learn why, check out my blog about BPA, a nasty toxin, in plastic bottles here.
Treatment duration:
In regards to how long to take these supplement, almost all of these supplement recommendations are required only for a few months time. Consider one month of use for every year of gastritis. I do not recommend the use of any of these long term except ProBiotia (capsules) and L-glutamine powder.
Re-posted per Dr. Ben’s podcast on 8/16/11.
In Health and Happiness,
Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods
