Diet

It is important to first tell the patent what he or she may eat before listing the foods which should avoided. This is done so as not to discourage the patient with a long list of “don’ts.”


The patient can eat the following

• The caloric intake of the patient should be decreased by lowering the amount of carbohydrates.
• The patient should eat at least 4-5 times per day at regular intervals.
• Rare, tender beefsteak; inner cut, rare roast-beef; roast or broiled chicken; broiled or stewed sweetbreads.
• Pudding (without adding too much sugar), Jell-O.
• Boiled potatoes, carrots and beats.
• Milk, cheese, soft boiled eggs, oats and rice porridge with milk.
• Sweet fruit juices and alkaline mineral water.
• Watered down black tea and vegetable oil.
• Small baked potatoes, tender string-beans, young peas, etc.; light bread that is at least 24 hours old; cooked fruits.

The patient should not eat

• No pork, no matter how it’s cooked, and no veal; no pickled or smoked meats; no geese or duck meat; all fried and greasy food; broths and other food that stimulates gastric secretion or that has to be digested for too long.
• No biscuits, waffles, muffins, and no hot bread; jams, syrups, and honey.
• No coffee, cacao, chocolate, soft drinks, sauces, and spices.
• No puddings, rich pastries, and pies.
• No vegetables that are rich in fiber, especially cabbage, radish, onions, spinach, etc. Pickled vegetables are also forbidden.
• No products made from fermented milk.
• No food and drinks that are too hot or too cold.
• Most importantly – no fluids should be drunk as the patient is having a meal.
  This means - no water, milk, coffee, and tea during and 2 hours after a meal. The reason for this rule is that saliva converts starchy food into glucose (which gastric acid cannot do). Also, if the patient drinks during the meal, it will dilute the gastric acid, allowing for fermentation to begin, which largely destroys the nutrition of the food, and causes a buildup of gas.