Say goodbye to gas problems in winters

Those burps after every 10 seconds, folds in the stomach, the hands grasping the belly because it sometimes gets unbearable, these problems often become part of your schedule with the onset of winter. All these are symptoms of gastritis, a problem that aggravates in winters. The reason: plates loaded with fried potato sticks or pakoras and cups of hot coffee or tomato soup with butter floating on top.

"Gastritis occurs when you consume food that doesn't suit your body cells and when digestion doesn't occur, this problem occurs. Right food is the fuel to the body cells. When the food doesn't suit you, it doesn't get digested and fermentation occurs," says Dr Satish Kapoor, advisor, Holistic Health Care, Healing Hands.In the initial stages, gastritis is not a severe problem, but if left untreated for a long time, it may lead to serious complications.The symptoms of gastritis are burping, belching, fullness in the stomach, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting and a coating on the tongue that often leads to bad breath.Gastritis is common in winters. Dr Kapoor suggested some Ayurvedic and home remedies to deal with the problem.

"One should never consume food that does not suit his/her body cells. At a certain point of time, you get to know what is good for you and what is bad for you. Depending on one's metabolism, age, height, weight and workload, there is a diet that has to be followed in order to remain fit."

Lots of fruits, especially pineapple apple, peaches, pear and melon, and khichdi must be consumed as and when the symptoms tend to show their face. Lots of fresh yogurt and cottage cheese must be taken as much as possible.In summers, our food consumption is light and water intake is more which helps the body in preventing certain diseases, including gastritis. But in winters, as the intake of fried food, coffee, tea and sometimes also alcohol grows unknowingly, and water intake is very less, so it gives a chance to the problem to increase.You must not have water when you are having food. Instead, drink water 10 minutes before the actual meal and half an hour after the meal. It helps dilute gastric juices. 

Apart from water, drink fresh juice every day. Lemon juice will help a gastritis patient in overcoming the problem. Also, ginger is very effective in gastritis. Take a small piece of ginger, and chew it with salt. Take a teaspoonful of ajwain, swallow it with lukewarm water before chewing. Handful dry figs are to be soaked in warm water for at least 10-15 minutes. The water is to be filtered and strained properly. This herbal water gives a soothing effect.

• Jaggery (20-25 gms) and dry fruits such as soaked almonds, cashew nuts and dates (khajur) are very beneficial for gastritis, especially in winters. 
• It should be kept in mind that meals must be eaten slowly because it helps in solving the problem of gastritis to a large extent. Relax for while and after taking a meal. 
• Regular exercise and deep breathing is an effective way to get rid of gastritis. 
• Salad and fruit intake must be increased. 
• Oily food is a strict no-no for gastritis patients.

So all you have to do in winters is take a small step of bringing about a change in your lifestyle and shoo away those gas problems, the Ayurvedic way.