Ginger: Gastroparesis Super Food
Take a peek in my fridge, purse or pantry, and you'll find some form of ginger in each one. I'm a big fan of natural remedies that actually work and not only is ginger a time-tested treatment for nausea and digestive discomfort, it's also been shown to speed up gastric emptying. If it's not currently part of your management plan, I encourage you to give it a try. There's a wide variety of ginger products available, so here's a rundown of my favorites.
NOTE: In large amounts, ginger may prevent blood clotting. Please check with a healthcare provider if you have a bleeding disorder or take medication to prevent blood clotting.
Tea - Perfect for late night (or middle-of-the-night) bouts of nausea, ginger tea can be made from fresh ginger or from purchased tea bags. Try drinking a cup about 30 minutes before meals to stimulate gastric juices or after meals to aid digestion. My favorite: Traditional Medicinals.
Soda - There's a reason your mom gave you ginger ale when you had an upset stomach -- it works! If you find that the carbonation exacerbates bloating or belching, let the soda sit open for a while before drinking. Some brands don't actually contain any ginger, so be sure to check the ingredient label.
Syrup - Ginger syrup, also called tonic, is usually a mixture of ginger extract and honey. It can be taken directly off the spoon (like cough syrup), stirred into hot water, mixed with soda water, or even added to smoothies. My favorite: Ginger People Ginger Syrup.
Capsules - The study I referenced in the beginning of this post utilized ginger filled capsules, which are inexpensive and readily available. If you're able to easily swallow and absorb pills, then taking 1,000 mg two to three times a day is one of the easiest ways to reap the benefits of ginger.
Crystallized/Candied Ginger - These chewy, bite-size pieces of preserved ginger are sweet, spicy and very effective for alleviating nausea. (Some may find this too fibrous. It depends on personal tolerance/preference.) My favorite: Ginger People or Reed’s crystalized ginger.
Ginger Candies - Less intense and certainly more kid-friendly than crystallized ginger, ginger candies come in both hard and soft varieties. They're great to keep in your purse or pocket while you're out and about, especially while traveling. For kids with GP, sucking on ginger candies can be a discrete way to manage nausea during the school day. My favorite: Reed’s Ginger Chews, Ginger People Gin-Gins, and Tummy Drops (very mild)
Cookies - No, I don't recommend eating ginger cookies as a primary strategy for managing symptoms, but they can help to settle the stomach. You can find low-fat ginger snaps in the grocery store. Just make sure ginger is actually listed as an ingredient!