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How Can One Gain Weight Without Being Hard On The Stomach When Diagnosed With MALS?

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Posted on Thu, 9 May 2024
Question: My partner has been diagnosed with XXXXXXX is 85 & cannot have surgery. Has been told he needs to gain weight in stomach area to relieve pressure on artery ; but has trouble with indigestion. How can he gain weight with diet that will not be hard on stomach ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (41 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Tips for weight gaining with MALS

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

Gaining weight can help relieve pressure on the celiac arteries in patients diagnosed with MALS who are not good candidates for surgery. However, the pain associated with food intake and associated GERD in your husband's case can make gaining weight difficult task.
The first step is to start a food diary. Keep track of what he is eating for each meal, how many meals he is consuming and symptoms (or no symptoms)he experiences each time after taking food. Keep track of the good diary for atleast a week, which helps identify the foods that trigger his symptoms.

Also, eat small frequent meals rather than 3 larger portions. Make sure that dinner is light and atleast an hour before going to bed.
Include healthy fats in diet like avocado, coconut oil, peanut butter, almonds etc to help gain weight. Fish like salmon, mackerel are also healthy fat sources.
Drik smoothies made with berries and yogurt (as yogurt is more easier on the stomach than whole milk). Avoid carbonated, caffeinated drinks, chocolate, citrus fruits and alcoholic beverages which can worsen GERD. XXXXXXX muffins, granola bars, rice, and potatoes etc. are healthy carbohydrate sources which can be included in the diet.
He can also take 40 mg pantoprazole to help relieve GERD. Raising the head end of bed using blocks underneath bedpost while sleeping can also reduce GERD symptoms.

Hope this answers your questions
Please let me know if you need further clarifications
Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (34 minutes later)
Is yogurt from almond milk or coconut milk as effective as yogurt from cows milk . He has been eating the former but should he switch to dairy yogurt?
Thanks for good advice.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Almond, coconut milk vs cow's milk

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

The almond milk and coconut milk has lower calories than cow's milk. So, cow's milk yogurt is preferable since he is trying to gain weight. That being said, some individuals with GERD do not tolerate dairy products well. If he has issues with dairy products, then Yogurt from almond/coconut milk is the better option. So, he can actually do a trial of cow's milk yogurt and see how well it is tolerated. If there are no issues, switching to whole cow's milk yogurt will help gain weight faster.

Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (1 hour later)
Thank you for information previously sent to me. I have further questions regarding diet and exercise. 1. Does yogurt made from coconut or almond milk have the same protein substance as dairy yogurt?
2. Patient does sit-up exercise on the end of the bed while anchoring his feet and using 5 lb weights (approximately 100-200 ). Will this cause him to develop more muscle and hinder the build up of more fat to ease the artery/ligament problem
(MALS) ? (He does other exercises using bicycle and bouncer, and stretch bands.)

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Follow up: Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (22 minutes later)
Do you have an answer regarding my questions about the exercises on my previous questions?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal (26 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Cow's milk has higher protein content

Detailed Answer:
Hello again,

Cow's milk has higher protein content than almond and coconut milk. So, yogurt made from Cow's milk is likely to have higher amount of protein.
Exercises he is doing in on moderate amounts and will not affect weight gain and fat build up as long as it is made sure that he is getting more than adequate calories (approximately more than 2500 calories)every day.

Regards
Dr.Lekshmi
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Lekshmi Rita Venugopal

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2012

Answered : 3808 Questions

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How Can One Gain Weight Without Being Hard On The Stomach When Diagnosed With MALS?

Brief Answer: Tips for weight gaining with MALS Detailed Answer: Hello, Gaining weight can help relieve pressure on the celiac arteries in patients diagnosed with MALS who are not good candidates for surgery. However, the pain associated with food intake and associated GERD in your husband's case can make gaining weight difficult task. The first step is to start a food diary. Keep track of what he is eating for each meal, how many meals he is consuming and symptoms (or no symptoms)he experiences each time after taking food. Keep track of the good diary for atleast a week, which helps identify the foods that trigger his symptoms. Also, eat small frequent meals rather than 3 larger portions. Make sure that dinner is light and atleast an hour before going to bed. Include healthy fats in diet like avocado, coconut oil, peanut butter, almonds etc to help gain weight. Fish like salmon, mackerel are also healthy fat sources. Drik smoothies made with berries and yogurt (as yogurt is more easier on the stomach than whole milk). Avoid carbonated, caffeinated drinks, chocolate, citrus fruits and alcoholic beverages which can worsen GERD. XXXXXXX muffins, granola bars, rice, and potatoes etc. are healthy carbohydrate sources which can be included in the diet. He can also take 40 mg pantoprazole to help relieve GERD. Raising the head end of bed using blocks underneath bedpost while sleeping can also reduce GERD symptoms. Hope this answers your questions Please let me know if you need further clarifications Regards Dr.Lekshmi