Mandarin Oranges & Gastroparesis

Dr. W.L. Hasler, of the University of Michigan, estimates that 4 percent of the general population suffers from gastroparesis. MayoClinic.com recommends dietary changes, such as avoiding raw fruits and vegetables, as the first step to managing this condition.

The Facts

• Gastroparesis, a medical term, indicates a condition where your stomach does not move properly after you have eaten. Because of this, food remains in your stomach for longer than it should.

Symptoms

• According to Dr. Patricia L. Raymond of Chesapeake, Virginia, gastroparesis can cause you to feel bloated or abnormally full, with abdominal pain or even vomiting hours after your last meal.

Preparing Mandarin Oranges

• High in fiber and roughage, mandarin oranges can exacerbate gastroparesis. When canned, baked or frozen, however, their cell walls break down, decreasing the fiber. Raymond states that you can eat such foods, when properly prepared, without worsening your stomach pain.

Treatment

• In addition to dietary changes to treat gastroparesis, MayoClinic.com lists medications to control nausea and vomiting, such as diphenhydramine, better known as Benadryl, and those that stimulate the muscles of the stomach, such as erythromycin. Another option, surgery, involves stapling or bypassing the lower part of the stomach.