Indian Diet Plan For Hiatus Hernia (Hernia Diet Chart)

Hernia is a bulge or outgrowth in the tissue or an organ. A hiatus hernia is a pouch that grows on top of the stomach and bulges out from the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the abdominal and chest cavities. The esophagus passes through the diaphragm just before it meets the stomach, through an opening called the esophageal hiatus. Hiatus hernia is the most common form of hernia that a person can suffer from—Indian diet plan for hiatus hernia (Hernia diet chart).

Types of Hernia

• Sliding Hiatus Hernia: It is formed at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach. This causes a small portion of the stomach to slide into the chest cavity. At times, this slides down from the chest cavity back to the original position, hence it is named as a sliding hiatus hernia. When the hernia is in the chest cavity it leads to gastroesophageal reflux commonly known as GERD.

• Paraesophageal Hiatus hernia: Paraesophageal hiatus hernia is a hernia that forms beside the esophagus. The upper part of the stomach pushes up the hiatus alongside your esophagus forming a bulge beside it.

• A mix of sliding and para-esophageal hiatus hernia: Type 3 has the esophageal junction sliding up along with a protrusion from the stomach alongside the esophagus.

Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia

• Gastroesophageal reflux /GERD
• Heartburn
• Bloating
• Burping
• Chest pain
• Stomach upset
• Nausea and vomiting
• Regurgitation of food in the oesophagus

Causes of Hiatal Hernia

• Large opening of hiatal region since birth
• Injury to the hiatal area
• Aging
• Pressure on the abdomen due to obesity, pregnancy, coughing, straining while passing stool, or lifting something heavy

Complications of a Hiatus Hernia

• Oesophagitis: Constant acid reflux causes inflammation in the esophagus lining. This may not only lead to pain but it can also cause difficulty in swallowing, ulcers, or even bleeding.

• Oesophageal stricture: Chronic inflammation leads to scarring and hardening of the oesophageal lining. This narrows down the oesophageal passage causing an oesophageal stricture which further leads to difficulty in swallowing.

• Barrett’s esophagus: Chronic severe inflammation leads to changes in the structure of the lining of the esophagus. This condition is known as Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus can be precancerous if not treated right.

• Gastrointestinal obstruction: The stomach as well as the other organs can get stuck or compressed by the protrusion of the hernia. This can lead to gastrointestinal obstruction.

• Gastritis: The long-standing acid accumulated in the pouch of the hernia can cause inflammation, stomach ulcer as well as bleeding.

• Ischemia: The hernia might compress the organ till there is a complete cut of blood supply leading to inflammation and pain.

Treatment for Hiatus Hernia

• Medication

Medication is not required in the initial stage. However, if the pain and reflux get severe, start with antacids that help to reduce the reflux. Proton pump inhibitors help in less secretion of acid in the stomach.

• Surgery

The junction of the esophagus and stomach is tightened to prevent acid reflux. The diaphragm hole from where the hernia had protruded is closed to prevent any further formation of hernia.

• Diet

Consume a diet that helps to lose weight. Indian diet plan for hiatus hernia (Hernia diet chart) consists of foods that are low in fat, moderate in proteins, and high in complex carbohydrates. Eat food that does not trigger severe acid production or neutralize the acid content in the stomach. Avoid spicy and greasy food.

Along with the treatment mentioned above, follow a few more tips to manage the hiatus hernia.

Indian diet plan for hiatus hernia (Hernia diet chart)

Before we see the sample Indian diet plan for hiatus hernia (Hernia diet chart), here are some useful tips to enhance your treatment.

Tips to Manage Hiatal Hernia

• Lose weight

Heavy abdominal obesity makes the person more prone to hiatus hernia. Losing weight and reducing abdominal girth helps reduce the pressure on the junction of the esophagus and stomach.

• Eat small meals

Eating heavy meals leads to a gush of acid secretion to digest the food. Eat small meals that trigger only a small amount of acid for food digestion.

• Avoid high-fat foods

Fats require stomach acid and enzymes for digestion. Fatty foods are a trigger for acid secretion in the stomach. Switch your high-fat foods with foods that are steamed, boiled, grilled, or barbequed.

• Early dinner

Food requires a minimum of 1 and a half to 2 hours for complete digestion and absorption in the body. Sleeping immediately after dinner leads to indigestion and accumulation of food content and acid in the stomach itself. The longer the acid is in touch with the stomach lining higher the chances of inflammation in the stomach. Consume dinner at least 2 hours before sleeping to avoid this situation.

• Sleep position

While sleeping keep your head 6 inches higher from the body and sleep towards your left. This prevents the backflow of acid in the esophagus from the stomach while sleeping

• Quit smoking

Smoking triggers excess acid production in the stomach. Smoking also kills the hunger senses leading to long gaps between the meals. This can worsen the hiatus hernia symptoms. Tips and diet plan to quit smoking 

• Avoid alcohol

Alcohol directly might not cause acid production. However, deep-fried snacks when eaten along with alcohol might lead to acid reflux.

• Select appropriate clothing

Avoid wearing clothes that are too tight along the waist. Wear comfortable clothes while eating. Avoid clothes with elastic at the waist if you suffer from a hernia.

Indian Diet Plan For Hiatus Hernia (Hernia Diet Chart)

This a sample of the Indian diet plan for hiatus hernia (hernia diet chart).

Sample diet plan for Hiatus Hernia

Energy: 1200 kcal     Carbohydrate: 200 gms        Proteins: 60 gms        Fats: 20 gms

Empty Stomach: 1 glass saunf (aniseeds 1 teaspoon soaked overnight) water

Breakfast: 1 Bowl rawa upama or 3-4 small rawa dhokla or 2 egg whites

Mid-morning: 1 cup of Green Salad

Lunch: 2 Multigrain Phulka + 1 cup Dal + 1 Cup Vegetable + 1 cup Curd or 100 gms chicken or fish

Mid- Afternoon: 1 Glass of Buttermilk

Evening: 1 Fruit or 1 cup vegetable Soup

Dinner: 1 medium Millet Roti or ½ cup rice + 1 cup Vegetable + ½ cup Dal + 1 cup Curd or 1 glass buttermilk

Bedtime: 1 glass of warm water with lemon juice and a pinch of black pepper powder

End note

Hiatus hernia often goes unnoticed. However, medication to control the acid production is required when the symptoms get severe. Along with medications, a low-fat diet, losing weight, small meals, as well as avoiding smoking and alcohol help to manage hiatus hernia. Always consult a certified expert for the best results. Visit our services page to avail a personalized diet plan.