Many people do not have a clear understanding of whether mineral water is allowed for gastritis. On the one hand, everyone knows that many resorts with mineral springs offer treatment for diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. On the other hand, this drink may contain a variety of minerals, and gastritis is also characterized by increased or, and it is not clear in which cases mineral water will be beneficial and in which it will be harmful.
Is it allowed to drink mineral water if you have gastritis?Let's try to understand this issue, but first, a little history.
Brief historical information
The taste qualities of mineral water are very unique, although they depend on its specific composition. It is not surprising that the healing properties of this liquid were unknown for a long time; moreover, it is not available everywhere. It just so happens that the first people to notice the positive effect of mineral water on the human body were in ancient Mesopotamia in the third millennium BC. e., as evidenced by surviving documentary primary sources. But neither then, nor much later, people were able to unravel the mystery of this drink, believing that the healing properties were bestowed from above.
For centuries, mineral water has been the subject of myth-making, especially in Ancient Greece. The Romans were the first to actively use mineral water sources for mass treatment/health improvement. They built special structures in such places - thermal baths, and nearby they built temples dedicated to the gods of healing art.
Such baths in one form or another have survived to this day in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria and other countries.
In Russia, the first place where you could drink mineral water was the Marcial Waters spring, discovered during the time of Peter I in Karelia. Later, balneological and mud resorts were opened in much warmer regions, where it was possible to improve one’s health throughout most of the year - near Pyatigorsk (Essentuki) and in Georgia (Borjomi).
Now we will look at which mineral water is useful for gastritis.
Classification of mineral waters
This drink is ordinary groundwater, which, seeping through rocks, has been saturated over centuries and millennia with carbon dioxide and various mineral components.
All mineral waters are divided into three categories:
- canteens in which the concentration of minerals does not exceed 1 gram/liter is ordinary table water, which tastes practically no different from drinking water, and the taste of mineral additives is almost indistinguishable;
- medicinal and dining rooms, for which the mineral saturation index is in the range of 1 – 10 grams/liter. They may contain such biologically active components as boron, silicon, iron, arsenic;
- medicinal, characterized by a fairly high level of mineralization, over 10 grams/liter. The saturation of medicinal drinks with mineral salts is high; these can be bromine, fluorine, hydrogen sulfide, iodine, iron, boron and other components. It is these drinks that are used to treat a whole range of pathologies - pancreatitis, cholecystitis, gastritis, stool disorders, urolithiasis.
One should also distinguish between natural mineral waters, formed in the natural conditions of a particular area, and artificial ones, which are produced by adding salts to drinking water in the same proportions as in natural analogues.
Treatment of gastritis with water
The first rule that should be learned by those who suffer from gastritis (and this is almost every second resident of our country) is that in any form of the disease you should not drink water with gases. The fact is that carbon dioxide is a substance that provokes this condition - the reflux of stomach contents back into the esophagus, which can cause burns.
To answer the question of what mineral water to drink if you have gastritis, you need to know what type of gastritis you suffer from. We are talking, first of all, about the acidity of gastric juice. Most cases of the disease (according to some data, up to 90%) occur with gastritis with high acidity, but pathologies with the opposite diagnosis are also not uncommon. And although they have the same name, the causes and methods of treatment are generally different.
This means that if a particular mineral water is beneficial for gastritis with high acidity, then hydrochloric acid can only worsen the patient’s condition.
Practical advice is as follows: if the secretion of gastric juice is increased, you should drink bicarbonate mineralized water. It is also called alkaline because its pH level is 7 and above. An alkaline environment, as is known, is a neutralizer of acidity, so this mineral water is indicated for acid gastritis and many other gastrointestinal diseases that require an increase in the level of alkalinity - pancreatitis, gastric/duodenal ulcers, colitis, liver pathologies.
How much water to drink for chronic gastritis? The answer to this question depends on the degree of neglect of the disease. If the symptoms of gastritis practically do not bother you, until you feel relief. If symptoms are severe, self-medication is unacceptable.
In the form of gastritis with low acidity, it is necessary to drink acidified water with a pH less than 5. In this case, mineral water can effectively eliminate such unpleasant symptoms of hypoacid gastritis as heartburn, belching, flatulence, and a feeling of heaviness in the stomach. With the systematic use of such mineral water, you can achieve better digestibility of food and reduce the likelihood of food poisoning.
Acidic mineral water, along with increasing the acidity of gastric juice, has a restorative effect on the secretory function of the mucous membrane.
Recommendations regarding the use of mineral water for gastritis
We have more or less figured out what kind of water to drink for what type of pathology, all that remains is to consider the question of how much water to drink for gastritis.
The general recommendations here are as follows: regardless of the form and condition of the disease, you should consume 0.5 liters of mineral water daily. It is advisable not to change the manufacturer and specific composition of mineral water, even if a product with the same acidity is available. You need to drink water heated not to room temperature, but to body temperature - these will be the most favorable conditions for the stomach. Too cool a liquid will have an irritating effect on the mucous membrane, eliminating the beneficial component of this product.
Mineral water (its medicinal table variety), and for pregnant women, but they should be included in the menu for these categories only with the consent of the doctor and according to the regimen prescribed by him.
If you have questions about how much water to drink for gastritis, if it is prescribed for use as a medicine, then here, of course, the dosages are completely different. You need to start this therapy with small portions, about 50 grams, gradually increasing their volume to half a glass. As for the composition of mineral water, it should contain a maximum of 1 gram of salts and minerals per liter of liquid. With a higher concentration, instead of a healing effect, the drink will have the opposite effect, promoting an even greater spread of inflammatory processes.
The duration of treatment for gastritis with mineral water depends on many factors, including the current state of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as the results of drug therapy and diet, but in any case, only a doctor should adjust the duration of treatment with mineral water.
In particular, mineral water for gastritis with high acidity takes a long time to drink, since the duration of the course of treatment is long, at least a month. If the stomach is in advanced condition, therapy can last a year or even more.
If there are no problems with the digestive tract, you should not regularly use medicinal or even table-medicinal mineral water: it has the ability to change the composition of the environment in the stomach and duodenum, which is extremely undesirable, since it can provoke the development of diseases that will then have to be treated with it .
What water to drink for gastritis with reduced secretion? These are drinks with sodium chloride content: Kuyalnik, Alma-Ata, Mirgorodskaya, Borjomi No. 17. A glass of water is drunk 20 - 30 minutes before meals, in slow sips. With this method of consumption, water will remain in the stomach just before a portion of food arrives there.
For gastritis with high acidity, it is recommended to drink Borjomi along with Essentuki water No. 4, as well as mineral waters from Arzni, Matsesta, Zheleznovodsk - they are characterized by a hydrocarbonate-sodium composition that contributes to the alkalization of an overly acidic environment. For this form of the disease, drink water 60 minutes before meals, and you need to drink a glass very quickly, in one gulp, in one sitting. This will allow the mineral water to seep into the intestines before the food enters the stomach and have a positive effect on the food from there.
For a form of gastritis with normal secretion of hydrochloric acid, doctors recommend treatment by taking Essentuki No. 4/17, Sevan, Hankavan.
Contraindications for drinking mineral water for gastritis
However, the question of whether it is possible to drink mineral water with gastritis is far from clear-cut. Not being a medical drug, this drink also has disadvantages such as contraindications and side effects that limit the scope of its use.
The following pathologies are absolute contraindications to the prescription of medicinal mineral waters:
- renal failure;
- allergic reactions;
- cancer of the esophagus, intestines, stomach;
- hypothyroidism
Relative contraindications:
- pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- tendency to bleed;
- diarrhea.
Since mineral water for heartburn and gastritis can be prescribed for a fairly long period, it will help remove stones from the urinary/bile ducts. And this is the reason for the appearance of sharp and acute pain, sometimes leading to painful shock. This side effect must be taken into account by those who have these pathologies.
Conclusion
What mineral water you can drink for gastritis, in what dosage and for what forms of the disease, you cannot decide on your own: despite the obvious benefits of therapy with this drink, if the composition of the water or dosage is incorrectly selected, you can aggravate your condition.
Gastritis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the gastric mucosa. The bacteria Helicobacter pylori is considered a common causative agent of the disease. Once inside the body, they attach to the cells of the inner surface of the organ and begin to multiply, damaging the membrane. Also, the reasons will be the abuse of alcohol and medications, the quality of food and a sharp change in diet (diet, gluttony of fast food).
How to recognize gastritis in a person? Symptoms include intermittent pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, belching, weight loss, and excess accumulation of gases in the stomach. To fully diagnose the disease, a gastroenterologist will prescribe a fibrogastroscopic examination (using a microcamera), ultrasound, blood and stool tests. If the disease is not treated, it can develop into a stomach ulcer or even cancer.
When inflammation worsens, you should follow a diet, limit the consumption of chocolate, coffee, alcoholic beverages, soda, spicy, smoked, and fried foods. In addition to drug treatment for gastritis of the stomach, doctors usually prescribe drinking mineral water.
Types of mineral water
Depending on the purpose of application, it is divided into three types:
- Dining room. This includes water sold in regular stores. Its mineralization is extremely weak (1-2 g/l); it can be used for cooking in unlimited quantities.
- Medicinal water has a slightly higher mineral content (2-8 g/l). The waters include Borjomi and Narzan. It is possible to drink such a liquid, but not regularly or in small quantities, preferably as prescribed by a doctor. An excess threatens an exacerbation of the disease or a general deterioration in well-being.
- Medical dining room. The composition contains more than 8 g/l of minerals and trace elements. You need to drink carefully, exclusively in courses, taking into account the temperature and time of day, while at the same time observing the dosage. The mentioned species includes Essentuki 17 and Donat.
Mineral waters are distinguished by the composition of the incoming substances: alkaline (bicarbonates predominate in the composition and soda is strongly felt), chloride (have a bitter-salty taste and consist of a salt of the chloride group), sulfate (have a choleretic effect and a higher concentration of sulfuric acid salts), mixed, biological active and carbonated.
In nature, there are sources that provide water that already contains gas. This liquid has bacterial properties. Helps with reduced secretion of gastric juice. Artificial saturation preserves the beneficial properties of water.
How to choose the right mineral water for gastritis
When contacting a doctor, he determines whether it is permissible to be treated with mineral water and which category to give preference to. It is recommended to strictly follow the doctor’s instructions; contradictions or reverse actions will lead to a negative effect on the body.
The right medicine stabilizes gastric juice, normalizes acidity, and stimulates wall tone. The choice of water is influenced by the chemical composition.
How does the acidity level affect gastritis?
The acidity of gastric juice is determined using probing, intragastric pH-metry, probeless examination methods (probing is contraindicated in some patients): this is the method of ion exchange resins (when ingesting a resin that colors urine in a certain color, the diagnosis can be determined using a color scale), desmoid test by Sali, acidotest, gastrotest.
Acid in the stomach performs a bactericidal function. With its deficiency, microorganisms freely penetrate inside, affecting the microflora of the stomach, proteins are not completely digested, the fermentation process is activated, and a person cannot avoid constipation, gas, and pain.
High levels of acidity lead to heartburn and bouts of pain. This happens due to prolonged increased release of hydrochloric acid and insufficient acid neutralization.
Depending on the level of acidity, mineral water is selected according to two criteria: either to restrain the effect of hydrochloric acid, or to stimulate the cells of the gastric mucosa to secrete secretions.
Mineral water for gastritis with high acidity should have secretion-slowing properties. Borjomi, Arzni, mineral waters from the Matsesta resort, Slavyanovskaya (from the city of Zheleznovodsk) and other sulfate waters are best suited. Before use, it is recommended to heat the liquid in a water bath, without bringing it to a boil. Drink quickly, an hour before each meal.
Borjomi for gastritis is good for its unique set of useful substances: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, fluorine, silicon, aluminum, sulfates - the listed ions lower acid levels, normalize intestinal function and improve digestion. The liquid is of volcanic origin, the source is located at a depth of ten kilometers, and while the water rises, it does not have time to cool. Along the way, it is enriched with additional useful substances. It is useful to drink Borjomi to cleanse the body: water thins mucus, loosens stools, removes toxins and relieves heartburn.
For gastritis with reduced secretion, choose mineral water, which activates metabolism. It is recommended to take shortly before the start of a meal, approximately 15 minutes. There is no need to heat such water; it is recommended to swallow slowly. You should buy mineral water with sodium chloride and bicarbonate composition. For example, Essentuki 17 is suitable. When taken orally, the process of transfer of phosphoric acid, activated by enzymes, slows down. Lack of protons reduces the formation of pepsins (enzymes), secretin (peptide hormone), thereby increasing intestinal motor activity.
The course of taking Essentuki 17 water at the resort is 20 days, outpatient use is allowed for a little more than a month. It is permissible to repeat the reception after six months. For treatment purposes, when drinking, you should release the gas from the bottle; water is sold only carbonated.
How gas formation affects the choice of mineral water
Drinking carbonated mineral water can lead to the formation of gases and flatulence. Food causes a feeling of fullness, gases prevent food from passing further, enlarge the intestinal opening, which leads to pain.
Correct usage
Treatment with mineral water should begin with small portions. Half a glass, no more. The concentration of salts in water should not exceed grams per liter. If side effects occur, you should consult a doctor and stop using this mineral water.
A person can take 50-200 milliliters of medicine per day. The dose may be increased for patients with high height/weight. Mineral water for gastritis achieves a greater effect at a resort without losing temperature and mineral composition, thus maintaining its medicinal properties in full. Mineral water can also be used for baths and enemas, and even inhalations.
Mineral water for gastritis with an integrated approach to treatment will give the greatest results. To achieve your goals, it is necessary to combine water consumption with proper diet, daily routine and physical activity.
Mineral water is drunk without mixing with other medications and without consuming different types. Exceptions are described for patients suffering from constipation or other chronic diseases.
Contraindications for use
There are diseases for which it is better not to carry out drinking treatment with mineral waters.
- In case of circulatory disorders, cardiovascular diseases, acute pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys), intestinal diseases, severe diarrhea with nausea, and bleeding, it is strictly forbidden to drink mineral water.
- It is not advisable to drink mineral water with alcohol or take it in the morning during the hangover stage. In the latter case, reactions occur that lead to irreversible consequences for the gastrointestinal tract.
- Independent uncontrolled use of medicinal water leads to stones in the kidneys and gall bladder.
- It is not recommended to give mineral water to children under three years of age.
- During pregnancy, you should consult a gynecologist about the volume, temperature and time of administration, the method and nature of the mineral water. For a woman, late toxicosis, threat of miscarriage, vomiting, bleeding, if the placenta is located in the lower part of the uterus, and the presence of scars on the uterus are contraindications.
- Even for a healthy person, drinking carbonated mineral water can have disastrous consequences. When ingested, gases affect biologically active substances, slowing down or speeding up metabolism. Carbonic acid resulting from the reactions provokes self-digestion of the stomach. Carbon dioxide stretches the edges, causing belching. Gas carries stomach acid into the esophagus, causing cancer. Refrigerated soda contains twice as much carbonic acid, which causes holes in the stomach, sometimes leading to rupture of the esophagus.
- If you drink soda in large quantities, carbon dioxide destroys tooth enamel.
What mineral water can you drink if you have pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis is treated with complex therapy methods, the main one of which is a strict diet, including control of food intake and fluid volume. Mineral water helps to improve the functions of a damaged digestive gland. Thanks to its effects due to the selection of qualities and composition, mineral water is one of the non-drug methods of treating pancreatitis.
Minerals are necessary for the body during pancreatitis.
Beneficial features
Mineral waters are extracted from deep wells. There, the liquid accumulates various salts, minerals and microcomponents that characterize its special properties:
- potassium, which controls the speed of transmission of nerve impulses, thereby increasing intestinal and gastrointestinal motility and body tone;
- sodium, which has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart and regulates water-salt metabolism;
- calcium, which strengthens bones, regulates blood clotting and central nervous system performance;
- magnesium, which is involved in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and is the main element of the enzyme composition of the human body;
- chlorine, which promotes digestion;
- sulfates, which increase bile secretion and regulate the amount of hydrochloric acid in gastric juice;
- bicarbonates that affect stomach functions.
Healing liquids are classified according to the content of a specific dissolved microelement. An equally important property is the concentration of nutrients in the amount of grams of total mineral content per liter of liquid.
The doctor decides which water is best to drink for pancreatitis.
The effect of mineral waters
Pancreatitis is a condition when the gland is destroyed under the influence of gastrointestinal enzymes formed outside the intestine, but in the pancreas itself. Because of this, mucosal tissue begins to self-destruct. The principle of pancreatitis therapy is to reduce the activity of pancreatic catalysts. These measures are necessary during exacerbations of the chronic stage or when acute pancreatitis is diagnosed. In a state of remission, it is necessary to take preventive measures that will stop the relapse of the disease at the very beginning or prevent its occurrence.
Most patients with pancreatitis are prescribed medicinal table waters with pH˃7. With their help, the production of gastric juice is suppressed, which leads to a decrease in the amount of pancreatic enzymes. Mineral water for pancreatitis also effectively relieves swelling of the mucous membrane, which improves the permeability of the digestive tract and biliary tract. The effect is explained by the ability of mineral water to remove excess fluid from cells and the entire body.
In the affected area, the environment has a pH˂7, which corresponds to increased acidity. The use of the product allows you to neutralize the environment, increasing the pH, and convert it to alkaline. Thanks to this reaction, swelling and inflammation are relieved, the pancreas is reduced in size, and its function is normalized.
Zinc in mineral waters initiates the synthesis of insulin, which is necessary in case of deficiency of this substance in patients with pancreatitis. Mineral water has a special effect in cases of permanent illness with damage to cells that secrete insulin and glucagon.
Species diversity
A variety of mineral waters on store shelves.
The concentration of mineral salts determines the classification of water:
- by hydrocarbonate;
- sulfate content;
- chloride content
- table drinking water with a concentration of 1 g/l, suitable for use in any dose;
- table mineral water with a content above 2 g/l;
- a table-medicinal product with a mineral concentration of up to 8 g/l, consumed in measured quantities so as not to disturb the acid-base balance;
- medicinal mineral water with a ratio of salts and minerals above 8 g/l, prescribed by the attending physician and taken according to a specific regimen.
Mineral water of any kind does not need to be purified, as this may disrupt the composition and unique properties.
Borjomi
Mineral "Borjomi".
For pancreatitis, this water allows you to saturate the body with minerals and microcomponents lost during fasting during the period of relapse. Borjomi is effective:
- relieves spasms;
- stops the inflammatory process in the gland;
- facilitates the process of adaptation of the stomach to food consumption;
- stabilizes the flow of bile.
Water should be drunk only when heated and one and a half hours before meals. In addition to pancreatitis, carbon dioxide-bicarbonate sodium-alkaline Borjomi is used in diagnosing:
- stomach diseases characterized by high acidity;
- duodenitis, which occurs due to inflammation of the duodenum;
- dysfunction of the gallbladder and bile ducts;
- imbalance of water and salt in the body.
Essentuki
Mineral water extracted in Essentuki is effective in relieving pancreatic pathology, which is explained by its sodium chloride composition. It is enriched with organic compounds and gases that stimulate nitrogen metabolism, promote the formation of red blood cells and increase hemoglobin.
Mineral water "Essentuki".
The product is extracted from layers 1.5 km deep. There are several types of mineral water, which differ in composition and effect on the body. The most commonly used table and medicinal mineral waters are:
- No. 17 is classified as medicinal, so independent use is prohibited. If you have pancreatitis, you should drink with caution and only as prescribed by your doctor.
- No. 4 refers to medicinal table types prescribed for chronic inflammatory process at the stage of remission.
- No. 20, classified as low-mineralized table water, is allowed for consumption in unlimited quantities.
The product effectively relieves pain. You need to drink it regularly twice a day.
Narzan
The water is a sulfate-hydrocarbonate mineral water enriched with magnesium and calcium. Feature of the composition: the presence of substances contained in rocks from mining sites. The product has a therapeutic effect for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, heart, blood vessels, central nervous system, and metabolic disorders. There are three types of mineral water, differing in the level of mineralization and carbon dioxide concentration:
- general action or low-mineralized, used for baths, irrigation, rinsing, use in acute pancreatitis or relapse of pathology;
- dolomite, suitable for the prevention of attacks in permanent pancreatic pathologies and other digestive disorders without relapse;
- sulfate water is a valuable medicinal drinking water and is indicated for use outside of deteriorating conditions.
Narzan water is also used in the treatment of pancreas.
The last two types should be consumed only in the pump room from the spill area. Two hours after being extracted from the source, Narzan loses its properties, the components oxidize, and the healing liquid itself acquires a sharp metallic taste.
The maximum permissible portion of warm liquid in the permanent phase and in the remission stage is 200 ml per day. If the disease is at a worsening stage, it is allowed to drink up to 2 liters of general-purpose mineral water without gas while completely abstaining from food.
Other types of mineral water
For chronic pancreatitis, any moderately mineralized mineral waters are prescribed. They neutralize inflammatory processes in the digestive system, reduce congestion in its ducts and gallbladder channels. Recommended:
- Luzhanskaya;
- Slavyanovskaya;
- Smirnovskaya;
- Naftusya;
- Jermuk;
- Azovskaya;
- Arkhyz;
- Druskininkai;
- Morshynskaya;
- Mirgorodskaya.
Rules for using mineral water for pancreatitis
Treatment with mineral water, like any medicine, has specific rules:
- the temperature of the liquid before use should be from 36 to 40 °C;
- It is recommended to release gases first;
- You can drink water at the stage of remission as a preventive measure; in case of exacerbation, consultation with a doctor is recommended;
- main types: Essentuki No. 4, 20, Borjomi.
- At one time you should drink no more than ¼ glass, gradually increasing to 250 ml.
- The daily norm varies depending on the severity and form of the disease from 7 glasses to 2 liters.
- For prevention, three times of application 40 minutes before meals is sufficient.
- when the functions of the gallbladder and bile excretion channels decrease, product consumption is reduced to 1-1.5 glasses 50 minutes before meals.
- what mineral water is required for a specific case of pancreatitis and how much to drink is decided only by the attending physician.
Which mineral water is good for patients with gastritis?
Mineral water is prescribed for many pathologies of the digestive system. The mineral water helps normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and also has a good choleretic effect. Additional benefits include:
- improves liver function;
- restores the gastric mucosa;
- restores the muscle layer of the digestive organ.
Mineral water helps well, especially for those patients with gastritis who have increased or decreased gastric secretion, as well as if the disease occurs in a hyperacid form.
Healing properties
Mineral water for gastritis helps to reduce not only the aggressive effect on gastric secretion, but also has a positive effect on the duodenum. In order to get rid of heartburn, as well as excessive stomach secretion, you need to take mineral water, which is rich in bicarbonates and useful metals.
For diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, this composition helps bind hydrochloric acid and also weakens its production in a short period of time.
Some mineral waters contain bicarbonate, which helps reduce hydrogen ions in the human body. Additional benefits of such waters include:
- participates in the production of gastric juice;
- helps the patient get rid of heartburn;
- increases appetite;
- helps eliminate the inflammatory process not only in the gastric mucosa, but also in the esophagus;
- promotes regular bowel movements.
Treatment with mineral waters can be carried out for gastritis in combination with drug therapy.
Types of mineral waters
Types of mineral water are divided according to their composition.
Acidic
If a patient has hypoacid gastritis, then it is necessary to take water that contains at least 7 pH. With the help of this water you can avoid bloating and also get rid of belching.
You can also take acidic mineral waters for chronic gastritis. They help reduce the risk of digestive poisoning.
Alkaline
Such mineral waters can be used for inflammatory processes that occur in the glands of the stomach and on the mucous membrane itself, for example, in the atrophic form of gastritis. With the help of such a mineral water, you can quickly increase acidity, as well as restore secretory activity directly on the gastric mucosa. In addition, alkaline mineral water helps stimulate the walls, thereby relieving the patient of many unpleasant symptoms.
Sulfate
Often, for gastritis, doctors prescribe water that contains a lot of sulfates. This composition of water helps to normalize the functioning of the gallbladder and ducts themselves.
Chloride
In order to quickly improve intestinal motility, it is useful for the patient to take chloride water.
Ferrous
These are waters that contain many iron elements. They help restore blood composition if the patient has anemia. If you take water with iron elements correctly, you can quickly get rid of this problem.
How and what kind of water to drink for gastritis
Mineral therapy is prescribed for certain diseases to achieve a positive result in complex treatment. Therefore, you should know how to drink water properly; otherwise it will bring harm rather than benefit.
Mineral water is prescribed according to the scheme. First you need to drink 100 ml of water per day. If you drink a lot of it at once, the risk of an inflammatory process directly on the stomach tissue increases.
Doctors prescribe water treatment in courses that, as a rule, do not exceed 1 month. After completing the course, you need to take a short break. Thus, you need to continue treatment throughout the year.
Important! Carry out treatment 2-3 times a year. If at the time of treatment nausea, bloating or belching occurs and the general condition worsens, you should stop drinking water and consult a doctor.
List of commonly prescribed mineral waters:
- Martin.
- Minskaya.
- Narzan.
- Borjomi.
- Tyumen
- Kashinskaya.
- Nizhnesergievskaya.
- Semigorskaya.
- Essentuki No. 4, 17, 20.
- Arshan.
It should be noted that each mineral water listed has a different degree of mineralization with hydrocarbonate and chloride-sulfate elements. Therefore, before taking water if you have an existing disease, you must consult a doctor.
Water with high acidity
In this case, you can use several types of mineral water. In case of high acidity, gastroenterologists recommend drinking them in combination with diet therapy.
- It is useful to take Essentuki No. 17. This water is prescribed during the period of exacerbation of the disease. You can also use Essentuki as a preventative measure to prevent the development of gastritis.
- Borjomi helps very well with gastritis, and unlike Essentuka No. 17, it can replace some medications, because Borjomi has a healing effect on the patient’s body.
You need to remember the golden rule. If you have high acidity, never drink cold mineral water. Before drinking water, it must be heated to 40 degrees. Warm drinking removes excess carbon dioxide from the digestive organ, which in turn leads to stimulation of the secretion of gastric juice.
Additional benefits of warm mineral water:
- Helps eliminate spasm.
- Increases the motor function of the digestive organ, in particular the stomach.
You need to drink the mineral water in one gulp, this is the only way it will quickly penetrate the intestines. The course of treatment for high acidity is at least 3 weeks a year.
Low acidity water
If the patient has low acidity due to gastritis, you can also use Essentuki, but only number 4.
Often, for gastritis with low acidity, doctors prescribe Mirgorodskaya or Izhevskaya.
- Narzan.
- Morshynskaya.
- Tyumen.
- Baden Baden.
- Truskavets.
- Shaambars No. 2.
- Feodosia.
If, with high acidity, the patient must take warm water, then with low acidity, doctors prescribe chilled mineral water. It must be taken 15 minutes before meals. Water remains in the stomach, thereby binding to food, which in turn helps to quickly break down and digest acids.
During this course of the disease, you should drink water only in small portions. Due to prolonged swallowing and rinsing the mouth with mineral water, an irritating effect is created on the mucous membrane. This mechanism helps to activate not only the motor, but also the secretory activity of the digestive organ.
With normal acidity
If the patient has normal acidity, it is necessary to drink Hot Spring or Essentuki No. 17 half an hour before the main meal.
Basic admission rules:
- In the first few days you need to drink 100 ml.
- On the third day, you can increase the dosage, for example, to 250 ml.
- Do not interrupt treatment.
- You should drink mineral water for 4 weeks.
- Then you need to take a break and continue taking it.
If complications occur, you should stop taking it and consult a doctor.
Before taking it, it is necessary to take into account the individual characteristics of the person and certain factors, for example:
- Secretion of acid in the digestive organ (low or increased).
- Additional pathologies.
- Consider concomitant diseases (for example, kidney or gallbladder disease).
A large amount of salts contained in mineral water can negatively affect the functioning of internal organs, so the choice of water must be taken seriously. If you can’t choose on your own, then it’s best to seek help from a gastroenterologist. As soon as the patient undergoes the necessary examination, the doctor will be able to select the right mineral water that will be suitable for this particular patient.
Contraindications
As strange as it may seem, such treatment also has its contraindications.
- If you have high acidity, you should never drink mineral water, which contains many acidic components.
- If the patient has low acidity, then it is necessary to avoid alkaline water.
- Before use, you must carefully study the composition. If you are intolerant to one component of the composition, you should not drink this water.
To normalize the digestive system, especially when diagnosed with gastritis, it is recommended to drink mineralized water as an adjuvant. Quite often, mineral water for gastritis is used for preventive and therapeutic purposes due to its high content of beneficial microelements. Initially, it is important to choose the right brand of water and familiarize yourself with the rules for drinking the drink so as not to aggravate the course of the disease.
Features and useful properties
Mineral water contains beneficial salts, vitamins and microelements that have a healing effect. As a rule, mineral water for gastritis has different effects on the inner walls of the stomach, so each stage of gastritis has its own treatment regimen.
Depending on the composition and quantity of certain chemical elements, mineral water is:
- Alkaline, where hydrocarbonates predominate. This drink has the ability to reduce acidity, thereby reducing burning and inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Especially useful for heartburn.
- Sulfate, where the content of sulfates is high. Recommended for the treatment of diabetes, chronic hepatitis, obesity, as well as for normalizing the functions of the gallbladder.
- Chloride, where the concentration of chlorine anions is increased. Stimulates metabolic processes in the body. Increases the concentration of acid in digestive juice.
In addition, the presence of different cations in mineral water divides them into calcium, ferrous, magnesium and sodium. Based on the amount of mineralization, water is divided into table water (up to 2 g/l), medicinal table water (from 2 to 8 g/l), and medicinal water (from 8 to 12 g/l).
According to research, even daily intake of 5 glasses of table mineral water reduces the risk of breast cancer by 79%, bladder cancer by 50% and colon cancer by 45%.
What kind of water to drink if you have gastritis?
When choosing a specific brand of water, you should consult with a gastroenterologist, who will prescribe a suitable mineral water in accordance with the diagnosis.
The following factors are taken into account:
- increased or decreased in the patient;
- are there any ulcerative processes on the mucous membrane;
- Are there any pathologies of the gallbladder, liver, kidneys, pancreas.
Gastritis with high acidity
In this case, you should select water with alkaline properties, where the label indicates a pH level above 7. It neutralizes excessively produced acid. These brands of water include:
Table sodium chloride water, suitable for daily use. Helps with failure of metabolic processes in the body, pancreatitis, and liver diseases. Use with caution in patients prone to edema and with high blood pressure.
Hydrocarbonate water enriched with potassium, magnesium, chlorine, calcium, iron ions. Contains little salt. In case of stomach pathology, it is recommended to use it daily during periods of exacerbation and as a preventive measure.
Healing water containing fluorine and silicic acid elements. Mineral water is useful for gastritis with high acidity, obesity, and to eliminate hangover syndrome. Water is prohibited for patients who have low hydrochloric acid production.
Hydrocarbonate mineral water with a high salt content. Use mineral water for stomachs with high acidity, diabetes, pancreatitis, colic. Contraindicated for those with kidney disease, low acidity, or allergies.
Prescribed to patients with high secretion of stomach acid, in the treatment of ulcers, pancreatitis, and liver diseases.
Useful in the treatment of many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, including gastritis accompanied by high acidity. Due to the high content of salts and minerals, it regulates digestive processes, eliminates the feeling of nausea and relieves heaviness in the stomach.
Alkaline water, with a mineralization level from 5.5 to 7.5 g per 1 liter. Drinking Borjomi for gastritis is useful for reducing acidity in the stomach. It also normalizes the production of enzymes in the digestive organs, thereby improving the patient’s condition.
Gastritis with low acidity
With this pathology, you should take mineral water with a pH value below 7 to avoid unpleasant symptoms such as belching and bloating. Frequent intake of acidic mineral waters effectively eliminates digestive problems.
- Izhevskaya;
- Feodosia;
- Narzan.
According to clinical studies, Feodosia mineral water is similar in effect to Essentuki-4. If you take it 1.5 hours before meals, the acidity of gastric juice decreases. But if you drink water 20 minutes before a meal, the opposite effect is observed and the secretion of gastric juice increases.
Sodium chloride mineral water "Tyumen" is especially valuable due to its complex chemical composition. Used for preventive and therapeutic purposes for gastrointestinal diseases.
Medicinal table water “Narzan”, when used in a course, helps to increase the production of digestive juice. The magnesium salts contained in Narzan normalize the activity of food enzymes.
The geological origin of “Narzan” is the glaciers of Elbrus. When they melt, water is formed, which flows through underground filters and is enriched with useful elements along the way. Further accumulating underground, it comes out.
The most effective treatment for gastritis is with mineral water in special sanatoriums where healing water is extracted from local wells.
Mineral water for atrophic gastritis not only promotes the production of digestive juice, but also partially restores the secretory activity of the stomach walls. To increase the production of gastric juice, you can drink mineral waters with sodium chloride, for example, “Izhevskaya”, “Mirgorodskaya”, “Essentuki”.
How to use?
To achieve the maximum positive effect, the intake of healing water must be carried out according to the scheme. First, drink ¼ glass of mineral water per day. After a week, the volume of liquid should be increased to 1/3 cup. Gradually, as you get used to it, the dosage is increased to 1 glass, but no more. The course of treatment lasts one month, after which a break is taken. Therapy is carried out two to three times a year.
If you have low acidity, it is recommended to take slightly cool mineral water on an empty stomach half an hour before starting a meal. They drink it slowly, in small sips. During interaction with food, it promotes its better breakdown and digestion.
In case of high acidity, mineral water should be drunk warmed up to 40°. When heated, excess carbon dioxide CO2 is removed from the water, which stimulates secretion. Take a healing drink for gastritis of this form 1–1.5 hours before meals exclusively in one gulp, so the water enters the stomach faster and has an inhibitory effect on the production of digestive juice.
If pain and heartburn bother you at the end of a meal, then mineral water is prescribed after meals. It relieves spasms and softens pain.
Contraindications
You should not take mineral water uncontrollably and in large quantities. Incorrect selection of a medicinal drink that does not correspond to the diagnosis will only harm and worsen gastritis.
Frequent intake of mineral water (especially medicinal water) not only does not help improve your health, but also disrupts the water-salt balance.
Those who have problems with the bile ducts and urinary system should take mineral water with caution. Long-term consumption of water can provoke stone passage and also cause colic.
It is not advisable to drink carbonated mineral water if you have gastritis, as gas bubbles irritate the walls of the stomach. In addition, a drink with gas during gastritis can cause gastroesophageal reflux, when gastric juice enters the esophagus when gas escapes. This means that a burn to the mucous membrane may occur.
Therapy should be stopped if the following symptoms occur:
- bloating;
- belching;
- lethargy;
- loss of appetite.
Gastritis is an insidious disease that causes a lot of inconvenience and has many limitations. Its treatment requires an integrated approach, including the consumption of healing mineral water. It is important to accurately select the composition of the water that matches the diagnosis and follow all prescribed recommendations.
The information on our website is provided by qualified doctors and is for informational purposes only. Don't self-medicate! Be sure to consult a specialist!
Gastroenterologist, professor, doctor of medical sciences. Prescribes diagnostics and carries out treatment. Expert of the group for the study of inflammatory diseases. Author of more than 300 scientific papers.
The use of mineralized water helps normalize acid formation in patients with stomach problems. The right drink relieves heartburn and restores the body's functioning. To improve your well-being, sometimes just one glass of mineral water is enough, with the help of which the work of enzymes is stimulated and secretory function is normalized. Thanks to the special composition of the “mineral water”, mucus is removed from the body, which is an optimal environment for the development of pathogenic infections.
Water, which is used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, is characterized by a high content of dissolved salts, trace elements and biologically active components. At the same time, the increased concentration of chlorides promotes increased secretion and increased acidity of digestive juice. Sulfides have the opposite effect and have a laxative effect. And the effect of bicarbonates on the body can cope with intestinal spasms. Water with a high bromine content is used to treat neuroses, and water enriched with iron is used for anemia.
Each natural mineral water has its own composition, due to which it can be considered:
- medical canteen;
- fresh dining room;
- medicinal.
The concentration of minerals depends on the source and even on the well. The specific composition of water is indicated on the labels of the bottles in which it is bottled for sale. Depending on the values of these numbers, indications for the use of the liquid are established.
The effect of medicinal water on the body
Increased acidity in the stomach is a consequence of increased production of gastric juice. Its effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa gradually leads to the development of an inflammatory process. Disruption of the stomach causes the appearance of various diseases, among which the main one is gastritis with high acidity.
To neutralize the negative effects of digestive juice on the gastrointestinal tract, alkaline mineral waters are used - such as Borjomi and Essentuki. Their pH level is above 7, and their composition is dominated by sodium ions and bicarbonate ions. Thanks to these components, the action of water is especially effective in eliminating heartburn, which is one of the main symptoms of high acidity.
Rules for drinking mineral water with high acidity
The use of mineral water for gastritis with a high level of stomach acidity requires the implementation of several recommendations regarding the quantity, frequency of intake and temperature of the liquid. For example, “Borjomi” most effectively fights heartburn if you drink this water half an hour after eating, and “Essentuki” - about 30–45 minutes. If the symptom is constantly present, the mineral water should also be consumed 30 minutes before meals. The course of treatment for high acidity should be at least 5–6 weeks. Therapy begins with a small amount - from 0.25 to 1 glass per day, depending on the doctor’s recommendations. The dosage is gradually increased, reaching a full glass during each dose.
Alkaline mineral water has the best effect on the body when the following conditions are met:
- the water temperature should be at least 35 degrees, which allows you to get rid of most of the carbon dioxide, which is not very beneficial for the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, warm water relieves pain more effectively;
- The liquid must be drunk as quickly as possible - preferably in one sip. This allows the mineral water to quickly reach the stomach and begin to have a beneficial effect.
It is undesirable to reheat the liquid, since heat treatment reduces the concentration of useful substances. In addition, if it is impossible to take medicinal mineral water three times a day, they try to take at least twice a day. And, if the patient suffers from diarrhea, the frequency is reduced by drinking mineral water once a day - usually before dinner.
Treatment of high acidity in pregnant women
When treating the stomach during pregnancy, it is allowed to use only table water, the mineralization of which does not exceed 1 g per liter. Medicinal table and medicinal “mineral waters” that can have an adverse effect on the body of a pregnant woman (diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and kidneys) are not recommended for use in this situation. Although, if there are appropriate indications, they can be prescribed by a doctor. But only in the first trimester, since during the last trimester the carbon dioxide contained in the water not only does not eliminate heartburn, but also becomes its cause.
- compliance with the daily norm of at least 7–8 glasses per day. In fact, this water replaces regular tap water, which contains too much chlorine and other dangerous substances;
- refusal to use artificially mineralized liquids, which are purified tap water to which salt has been added.
In order to avoid oxygen deficiency, pregnant women should drink not just mineral water, but also oxygen-enriched water. It is called oxygenated and has a positive effect not only on the stomach, but also on the immune system as a whole, allowing one to cope with toxicosis and normalizing blood sugar levels. You can buy this water in almost any pharmacy.
Rules for choosing mineral waters
When choosing water to treat high acidity, you should focus on the following factors:
- high-quality water is produced only in glass bottles;
- In addition to “Essentuka” and “Borjomi”, you can use any water that has properties that inhibit secretion. For example, “Naftusya No. 1”, “Slavyanovskaya” and “Smirnovskaya”.
When purchasing unfamiliar types of water, be sure to read the recommendations on the label. And if you have problems choosing the right mineral water, it is advisable to consult a doctor.
When treating gastritis with mineral water, it is imperative to observe the frequency of its intake. It is also recommended to choose the right type of “mineral water” for each type of acidity and use it only when heated.
Mineral waters have been used as a remedy for various diseases for many hundreds of years. There is historical information that mineral waters were used in ancient civilizations both as hydrotherapy procedures and internally as medicines for diseases of the stomach and intestines.
In Russia, places with mineral springs have been known since the 18th century, first near St. Petersburg, and then in Pyatigorsk and Georgia.
Mineral water is mainly used in the treatment of stomach diseases. The modern mineral water market has a fairly wide range. The question arises: what mineral water can you drink if you have gastritis? This article offers an answer to this question.
Mineral water is essentially ordinary underground water, saturated with mineral salts and carbon dioxide. These components are added to water from rocks through which mineral springs emerge.
Based on the saturation of salts found in mineral springs, they are divided into three groups:
- Table mineral waters, with a concentration of no more than 1 g/l. This is a very low concentration and therefore table mineral water is not much different from ordinary drinking water.
- Medicinal table waters, their saturation with salts is from 1 to 10 g/l. They contain iron, magnesium, silicon, boron, chlorine, sodium, etc.
- Healing waters They are highly rich in salts and bioactive substances. They are used only for medicinal purposes, when prescribed by a doctor.
In accordance with the advantage of salt composition, they are divided into three groups: hydrocarbonate, sulfate and chloride.
It should also be taken into account that mineral water for gastritis can be of natural or artificial origin. In the latter case, it is obtained by adding a certain set of salts to drinking water in the ratios inherent in certain natural analogues.
What are the benefits of mineral water
The effectiveness of treatment with mineral waters depends on their chemical composition, the variety of combinations of chemical compounds that make up its salts.
There are six main mineral components in mineralized waters:
Patients suffering from gastritis often ask the question: is it possible to drink mineral water with gastritis? Mineral water for gastritis is used as a direct remedy and as a prevention of relapses. The goal of therapy is to normalize the secretory function of the stomach. So mineral waters, different in composition and salt content, give positive results in the treatment of gastritis of various etiologies:
- alkaline or bicarbonate is effective for hyperacid gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer;
- sulfate water is good for the liver, gall bladder and its ducts;
- chloride mineral water improves intestinal motility.
How to choose the right mineral water for gastritis
When choosing mineral water, patients with gastritis in any form should remember that carbonated water is strictly contraindicated for them. Carbon dioxide, which is part of carbonated mineral water, can provoke a complication of gastritis such as reflux - the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, which negatively affects its condition.
The second thing that patients with gastritis need to keep in mind is to take into account the pH of gastric juice when choosing mineral water. Since most gastritis has a high pH, in these cases the best option would be hydrocarbonate, alkaline water. It neutralizes excess acid in the stomach, which is a positive effect in the treatment of hyperacid gastritis.
For hypoacid and atrophic gastritis, you should choose acidified mineralized water. Its effect is not only that it relieves the unpleasant symptoms of the disease, but that it restores the functionality of the gastric mucosa.
Mineral water in the treatment of hyperacid gastritis
What mineral water to drink for hyperacid gastritis? For this disease, Borjomi mineral water is recommended. It has a sodium bicarbonate composition, which is useful for normalizing stomach acidity.
How to drink Borjomi for gastritis with hyperfunction of the gastric mucosa? There are nuances to drinking this water. You should drink a glass of water in one gulp an hour before meals. This technique allows water to pass from the stomach to the intestines and then, during meals, have a positive effect on the food lump already from the intestines, which is more effective.
Use of mineral waters for hypoacid gastritis
For normoacid and hypoacid gastritis, they are prescribed Essentuki No. 17 And № 4 . How to drink Essentuki 17 for gastritis? It is taken cold 30 minutes before meals. This mineral water not only eliminates the symptoms of hypoacid gastritis (heartburn, belching, heaviness in the stomach), but also activates the process of digestion and absorption of food.
Mineral water in the treatment of gastritis combined with enteritis
Chronic gastritis and intestinal diseases are usually combined. In such cases, depending on the form of gastritis, low-mineralized water is prescribed. Take it warm, half a glass before meals.
It has an antispastic effect, relieves pain in the intestines, promoting the digestive process and the evacuation of food through the intestines. Sodium-containing mineral water normalizes intestinal motility.
Treatment of gastritis in children and pregnant women with mineral water
In the treatment of children, you can also use non-carbonated mineral water of suitable acidity. The volume of water per day is calculated as 3 ml/kg of the child’s weight.
Therapeutic mineral water for pregnant women is prescribed by a doctor and used under supervision, since the state of pregnancy imposes special requirements on the prescription of such treatment. Unreasonable use of mineral water can cause the formation of kidney stones in a pregnant woman or have a negative impact on the development of the fetus.
Dangerous consequences
Long-term intake of mineral water for gastritis is dangerous due to the possible release of gallstones and urinary stones and cause the development of hepatic or renal colic. Therefore, those patients who have problems with the kidneys or gall bladder should take mineral water only as indicated and prescribed by the attending physician.
Useful video
You can learn about the types of mineral water and its use in this video.
Methods of therapy
When treating gastritis of various etiologies, not only drinking treatment is used, but also other methods of therapy:
- Gastric lavage. This method is prescribed when there is a violation of evacuation with prolonged stagnation of a food bolus in the stomach. It is also acceptable for large amounts of inflammatory mucus in the stomach, persistent nausea and severe heartburn.
- Therapeutic enemas are prescribed when it is impossible to apply drinking treatment.
Gastroenterologist's opinion
Gastroenterologists use the healing properties of mineral water in the treatment of gastritis. But despite all the effectiveness of hydrotherapy, doctors advise not to forget that this product should be treated as a medicine.
Treatment, taking into account all the features, should be prescribed only by a specialist doctor. Unreasonable treatment, even with such an affordable remedy as mineral water, is fraught with worsening of the condition. We must not forget about contraindications. Mineral water should not be taken during exacerbation of gastritis, accompanied by vomiting, pain or bleeding.
conclusions
Summarizing the above information, certain conclusions can be drawn.
You should not treat mineral water like ordinary water, with which you can simply quench your thirst. Even table mineral water may have contraindications. For treatment purposes, it should be purchased in pharmacies and used as prescribed by the attending physician. Only if the important conditions for taking mineral water, which were discussed in this article, are met, will it bring undoubted benefits in the treatment of gastritis.