Can You Eat Pickles If You Have Gastritis?

Gastritis commonly refers to irritation or inflammation of the stomach lining. Diet can make this medical condition worse, with spicy and acidic foods especially increasing the production of acid and irritating the stomach lining.

If you have gastritis, you might consider avoiding acidic foods like pickles, which may irritate your stomach. But what are the symptoms of gastritis — and can pickles cause other GI issues like gas? Here are other signs, symptoms, and treatment options to know.

When your stomach digests food, it naturally produces acids to help break food down. But sometimes, this acid can irritate or damage your stomach lining. When this happens, gastritis symptoms occur, which can include the following, according to New York Presbyterian:

• Loss of appetite
• Indigestion
• Bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting or stomach cramps after eating
• Constipation or diarrhea in some people

According to Medline Plus, these symptoms may last only a few days or linger for months.

But do foods like pickles cause gas for people with gastritis? In some cases, yes: Fermented foods like pickles, sauerkraut, and kimchi can cause an overproduction of gas in the intestines, according to Stanford Medicine.

To prevent gastritis symptoms and excessive gas, avoid eating trigger foods and eat smaller, more frequent meals to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, notes Northwestern Medicine.

If you’ve been diagnosed with gastritis by your doctor via an endoscopy, X-ray, or breath test, there are a few treatment options they might suggest, according to the Mayo Clinic.

If your gastritis is caused by H. pylori bacteria, for example, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics to kill the infection. Other medications to reduce stomach acid might be recommended, such as proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole), antihistamines (Pepcid), or antacids (Tums).

Lifestyle changes, such as limiting foods that are particularly irritating to your stomach, are advised. Fermented or acidic foods like pickled vegetables, spicy foods, alcohol, or caffeine are usually triggers for gastritis and chronic acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), says Harvard Health.

Foods high in fat might also take longer for your stomach to digest, thereby increasing acidic irritation, notes the Cleveland Clinic.

You might be able to eat pickles in moderation, but if you notice that they cause abdominal pain, discomfort, or acid reflux symptoms, you might consider limiting or avoiding them. Similarly, salty, fatty, or spicy foods may lead to stomach pain and irritation, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

A gastritis-friendly diet (or a diet to stick with while healing from gastritis) may involve avoiding seasonings like garlic, cayenne, and hot chili peppers and sour foods or spices like cinnamon. Instead, eat foods that are easily digestible and cause your stomach to secrete less acid, like the following, notes Mass General Brigham:

• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Whole grains high in fiber
• Dairy products like yogurt, milk, or cottage cheese

Some people make their own pickles by adding vinegar, spices, salt, and cucumbers to jars. During the pickling process, bacteria digest the sugar in cucumbers, also known as fermentation. This results in a compound called lactic acid, which gives pickles their sour taste, notes ScienceDirect.

Research shows that lactic acid may help kill harmful bacteria like H. pylori. However, making and eating pickles to try to heal your H. pylori infection (and subsequently, gastritis) is not advised. The acidity from homemade pickles may still irritate the stomach lining.

If you’re unsure of the cause of your gastritis symptoms, visit your doctor to get properly diagnosed. From there, they can determine whether you need a course of antibiotics or acid-reducing medications.