10 Tips to Prevent Gastritis Flare-Ups During Ramadan Fasting to Keep Your Worship on Track
Ramadan fasting is an obligation for Muslims. However, for someone suffering from maag, fasting can be challenging. There are many aspects that must be considered by maag sufferers when fasting, and it is certainly different from people who do not suffer maag.
Skipping meal times can trigger maag flare-ups. This raises concerns because during fasting we are required not to eat or drink from dawn until sunset. In other words, the stomach will be empty for a prolonged period.
But don’t worry, maag does not mean you cannot fast. There are several tips to prevent maag kambuh (flare-ups) during the fast that you can apply so that the fasting process runs smoothly. Let us read the full explanation.
What is maag?
According to the journal ‘Sistem Pakar Diagnosa Penyakit Asam Lambung Pada Orang Dewasa Menggunakan Metode Forward Chaining Berbasis Web’ (2022) by Momy Dahlia Sinaga and Alfannisa Annurullah Fajrin, maag, or gastritis, is an inflammation in the stomach caused by an increase in gastric acid secretion and irritation or sores in the stomach. Maag can cause sufferers to feel pain in the upper abdomen and a queasy stomach due to irregular eating patterns.
Causes of Maag Flare-Ups
In general, maag is caused by irregular eating patterns or not eating for a long enough period. As a result, gastric acid levels rise and the surface of the stomach is eroded, creating what resembles ulcers.
Summarised from the journal ‘Tingkat Pengetahuan dan Sikap Masyarakat Terhadap Penyakit Gastritis di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Barombong Kota Makassar’ (2016) by Trimaya Cahya Mulat, here are common causes of maag:
An irregular eating schedule makes the stomach struggle to adapt and can cause excess gastric acid which irritates the mucosal lining of the stomach. Therefore, one way to prevent maag is to eat on time.
Maag can also be caused by stress. Stress can cause hormonal changes that stimulate the stomach’s gastric cells excessively.
Consuming foods with a hard texture that are eaten hot, for example meatballs, can be a trigger for maag.
Consuming beverages containing caffeine such as coffee and tea, spicy and acidic foods, and foods that produce gas such as tubers, beans, cabbage, and others can also trigger maag.
Tips to Prevent Maag Flare-Ups During Fasting
Even if you have a history of maag, you can still perform the Ramadan fast safely and comfortably. Here are several tips to keep fasting smooth for maag sufferers, summarised from the Ministry of Health website and from the Nahdlatul Ulama University Surabaya site.
- Avoid Spicy Foods
If you suffer maag and want to fast safely, one tip you can follow is to avoid foods that impact the stomach both during sahur and iftar. Examples of foods that adversely affect the stomach are spicy foods. Spicy foods can directly irritate the stomach. Thus, the potential for maag flare-ups is higher.
- Avoid Fatty Foods
In addition to spicy foods, fatty foods should also be avoided to protect the stomach during fasting. Unhealthy fats slow digestion and increase gastric acid. Therefore foods such as seblak which contain a high amount of oil and are also spicy should be avoided during the fast.
- Reduce Coconut Milk and Dairy Consumption
In addition to avoiding spicy and fatty foods, you should limit consumption of coconut milk and dairy during the fast. These two foods can hinder the movement of the stomach in emptying its contents. Therefore the potential maag flare-ups increase.
- Avoid Foods That Contain Excess Gas
Maag sufferers who want to fast smoothly are advised to avoid foods that produce excess gas. For example tubers, such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, as well as legumes. Consuming these foods will cause effects on the stomach such as bloating and fullness. This will trigger an increase in gastric acid which leads to maag flare-ups.
- Maintain Eating Patterns During Fasting
In essence, fasting is a safe activity for someone with maag. The most important thing to watch is the importance of maintaining eating patterns during fasting. If you have a history of maag, break your fast with light takjil before the maghrib prayer to give the stomach a rest after a day of emptiness. You can continue with a larger meal after the maghrib prayer with portions that are not too large to avoid overeating.
- Increase Vegetable and Fruit Intake
In addition to avoiding foods, maag sufferers who want to fast with ease are advised to increase their consumption of vegetables and fruits. The fibre content in these foods is good for stomach health. Vegetables and fruit help neutralise gastric acid, reduce inflammation and prevent maag flare-ups.
- Avoid Overeating
Eating too much when breaking the fast or during sahur will cause digestive troubles and an increase in gastric acid. This is because too much food in the stomach can…