Bland diet (also known as light diet) relieves the digestive system and is therefore often used for diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. We explain what you should know about bland diet.
What is bland diet?
Bland diet is a diet that relieves the gastrointestinal tract and is intended to facilitate digestion. It is often recommended after fasting for a slow return to food or for certain diseases to improve well-being.
Eat healthy: When to use bland diet?
A diet that is easy on the stomach is rated as good, especially for the following complaints:
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea
- Flatulence
- Feeling of fullness
- Food intolerance
- Heartburn
- Abdominal pain
- Gastroenteritis
- Gastritis
- Nausea / vomiting
What happens in the body through bland diet?
The change in diet has the following effects on the body:
- Relieves the digestive system
- Alleviates complaints
- Supports the body in self-healing
The nutritional phases of bland diet
Whereas in the past a bland diet with typical home remedies tended to be one-sided, e.g. with only rusk, broth and tea, today a light full diet and the consumption of plenty of water (at least two to three litres a day) is recommended. The change in diet is implemented in several phases, various light recipes help to keep up. This is how the changeover proceeds:
Phase 1: Tea and broth
Unsweetened tea, broth, gruel, oatmeal soup, rice, crispbread, toast and rusk are on the menu for one to three days. The carbohydrates from these foods are easily digestible, there is little fat.
Phase 2: Light structure food
For the next seven to ten days, in addition to the foods already mentioned, there are light energy sources from carbohydrates and protein such as honey, low-fat curd cheese, compote, easily digestible vegetables and fruit (e.g. apple, melon, banana, zucchini and carrots), mashed potatoes, lean meat and fish. The food remains low in fat.
Phase 3: Light structure wholefood
This is a kind of trial and error phase in which you can test which additional foods your stomach can tolerate. Mild and diluted fruit juices, coffee, low-fat dairy products and biscuits can now be eaten again to give the body more fibre. You should avoid raw vegetables and salads, as both are hard on the digestion. This phase can be maintained as long as you wish or until the health problems have subsided.
Relaxed intestines: What should I avoid with bland diet?
Some foods are not suitable for bland diet recipes because they are not easy on the stomach. These include:
- Fatty foods (e.g. convenience food and fast food)
- Flatulent and difficult to digest vegetables (e.g. cabbage, mushrooms, cucumbers, garlic, peppers, tomatoes)
- Raw food
- Nuts
- Roasted or cured food (for recipes prefer cooking, steaming, grilling)
- Full Grease
- Milk products
- Stone fruit
- Pungent spices
- Alcohol
- Desserts
Fresh citrus fruits