Appendicitis refers to the inflammation of the appendix, a small finger-like hollow organ found at the end of the large intestine. Appendicitis occurs due to an obstruction in its lumen which further leads to inflammation and distension of the appendix. The obstruction can occur due to parasitic infections, overgrowth of lymphoid tissues, fecaliths (hardened faeces that make stone-like structures) and any type of tumour near the appendix. It is usually associated with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, malaise and light fever. Certain foods can trigger this condition. We’ll explore more about what foods can cause appendicitis.
List of foods which can cause or worsen appendicitis
The food we eat plays an important role in managing appendicitis. Moreover, certain dietary choices can make a person prone to appendicitis. There are foods which can either reduce or promote appendicitis. So if you’re wondering what foods make appendicitis worse, we’ve listed below certain foods that you should avoid:
- Deep fried and junk food: Food that is deep fried, containing high amounts of sodium, saturated fat, and preservatives, should be strictly avoided. Some common fried foods such as French fries, onion rings, deep-fried chicken, among others, contain high amounts of unhealthy fat which can make a person more prone to appendicitis.
- Processed meat: Processed animal meat often contains high amounts of preservatives. Such meat products can cause or aggravate appendicitis.
- High fat foods: Some foods are very rich in saturated fat and include butter, cheese, fatty meat like chicken breast, etc. High-cholesterol foods include shellfish, egg yolk, chicken liver, etc. These foods can cause stone formation and blockage of the appendix lumen.
- High sugar and refined carbohydrate products: High sugar and refined carbohydrates are known to cause poor digestion and inflammation which can make a person prone to an infection or an obstruction in the appendix lumen, which can cause appendicitis.
- Certain high lactose dairy products: Studies have found that regular and high consumption of processed dairy products such as ice creams, cheese, etc. can cause appendicitis.
- Spicy food: Spicy and chilly foods are known to trigger appendicitis pain by inducing acidity, and should be avoided by appendicitis patients. Acidic food is also known to make appendicitis worse.