Gastritis is caused by the inflammation of the stomach lining. The immediate effect of this is upper abdominal pain or discomfort, which can be occasionally accompanied by vomiting, nausea, or stomach bleeding. Gastritis can range from mild to severe. Mild cases of gastritis go away in a day or two with self-care, which involves being mindful of gastritis foods to avoid and eat. Severe cases may last for longer periods and require medical attention.

Whether a person is suffering from a mild case of gastritis or a severe case, taking care of the diet can help to alleviate a lot of symptoms and prevent further aggravation of the condition. There are certain foods that may cause bloating, stomach discomfort, or heartburn. These may make gastritis worse. Anything that causes discomfort should be avoided when gastritis strikes. Here are a few gastritis foods to avoid:

• Dairy products : The consumption of dairy products has different effects on different people when they have gastritis. For some people, the lactic acid and amino acids of milk and dairy products may worsen the symptoms of gastritis. Dairy products are some of the gastritis foods to avoid in this case. However, for some people, eating dairy-based products, especially probiotic-based products, may cause no discomfort at all.
• Tomatoes : Tomatoes are acidic. Their consumption may irritate the already inflamed stomach lining. Tomatoes in raw or cooked form and any tomatoes-based products should be avoided. A little amount can be alright, but if any discomfort is experienced, it is best to avoid eating tomatoes completely.
• Citrus juices and fruits : Fruits such as oranges, limes, lemons, and grapefruit have high acidic content. Eating these fruits or their juices can cause pain in the case of gastritis. They aggravate the inflammation and may cause stomach ulcers.
• Caffeinated beverages : Caffeine-based beverages worsen gastritis symptoms. Beverages such as tea and coffee can trigger stomach pain and increase burning sensations. Some people have bad reactions to caffeinated beverages. However, beverages with minimal caffeine content such as green tea can soothe the inflammation. It is recommended to have green tea whenever there is any caffeine craving during a bout of gastritis.
• Alcohol-based drinks : This is one of the best gastritis foods to avoid. An excess consumption of alcohol can increase the inflammation symptoms and erode the lining of the stomach further. However, it has been observed that a moderate consumption of alcohol often helps to avoid the occurrence of gastritis in some cases.