A bland diet requires one to eat only those foods that have a bland taste. This HealthHearty article gives more information on this diet, and a list of foods that are to be consumed or avoided.
If you are consuming spicy food, carbonated drinks, beverages, sugary foods, etc., and simultaneously, are suffering from gastrointestinal problems, then it’s high time to switch to the bland diet to prevent aggravation of your health condition. Preceding this, comes the question of what the diet comprises. Before going into the details of the diet, let’s look into the benefits of the diet.
What is a Bland Diet?
A bland diet is advised to people suffering from health ailments, mostly associated with the digestive and endocrine system. People suffering from acute pancreatitis, gallstones, gastritis, and ulcers are strictly restricted from consuming calorie rich foods. Spicy substances cause inflammation in the intestine, and patients face difficulty to digest. Doctors also suggest such a diet to people suffering from dyspepsia, acid reflux, indigestion, reflux oesophagitis, bowel problems, vomiting, nausea, heart burns, and gas problems. The foods included under bland diet contain minimum calories, and prepared in minimal seasoning. The cooking procedure being simple, avoids addition of excess oils and spices.
Foods List
The recipes included under this menu should be free from stimulants, that enhance gastric acid secretion, or create esophageal pressure, and they should also be low in sodium. Such foods containing no or a very less amount of acids are also known as soft foods. The following table shows the foods included under a bland diet.
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A Few Tips
The diet also requires you to cook the food in minimum amount of oil. People suffering from severe gastrointestinal problems must eat boiled foods. For example, chicken doesn’t cause digestion problems, but when cooked with dollops of sauce and oils, it will be detrimental to your health. Therefore, opt for baked or grilled recipes. The same applies for cooking vegetables as well. Avoid salad oil, mustard oil, cream sauces, dressings, gravies, vinegar, etc., as much as possible. To enhance the taste you can add cinnamon, parsley, pepper, and paprika. Whole grains are an excellent source of carbohydrates, that keeps you energetic, without harming your internal organs. Refined grains and cereals often cause acid reflux and therefore, should be avoided.
Bland diet also imposes limitation on consumption of excessive sweets. Although you have the liberty to consume puddings, custards, cookies, ice creams, etc., make sure you eat them in moderation. Other sweet dishes that can be consumed include marshmallows, candies, gelatin, jelly, molasses, etc. Cottage cheese and cholesterol-free butter are always preferred due to their low calorie content. Have fresh, skimmed milk, and evaporated milk in moderate quantity. You should also derive nutrition from soy products like tofu and soy protein. Peanut butter and margarine is often suggested to people suffering from liver and digestive tract disorders.
Apart from these, you should also know the foods that must be avoided while suffering from such kind of body ailments. If you are regularly experiencing acidity or any kind of digestive problems, then the first and foremost thing you must do is, curtail acidic foods from your menu. This includes citrus fruits and vegetables like berries, lemons, grapes, oranges, tomatoes, and other types of fresh fruits that are acidic in nature. Pickles, salsas, fried foods, richly seasoned foods should be curtailed from your diet. Decaffeinated coffee and green tea is advised, although there a stringent restriction on alcohol, coffee, tea, and aerated drinks.
It is highly recommended that you get your diet plan chalked out by your doctor, if you are suffering from severe complications of digestive system.
Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by an expert on the subject.
