What Can You Eat If You Have An Ulcer

What Causes Stomach Ulcers Dont Assume Spicy Foods Are To Blame

Stomach Ulcer Diet: What Should You Eat When You Have A Stomach Ulcer

For decades, spicy foods were blamed for painful stomach ulcers. People doubled over in pain were advised to cut back on fiery foods.

In the 1980s, however, that theory was debunked, as was the thought that stress causes ulcers. Matthew Bechtold, MD, a gastroenterologist at MU Health Care, said the primary causes of ulcers are a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .

H. pylori spreads through contaminated food and water or unsanitary conditions. It can cause ulcers by growing in the lining of the stomach, producing inflammation and causing the stomach and intestinal lining to be more easily damaged by stomach acid.

NSAIDs that can lead to ulcers include popular over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen. They can irritate the stomachs lining and may interfere with chemicals that help regulate the protective lining.

Ulcers caused by NSAIDs can be prevented by reducing or eliminating use of the drugs. Your doctor may also prescribe a daily medicine, such as Prilosec, Pepcid or Cytotec.

Even though the beliefs about what caused ulcers were disabused more than 30 years ago, Bechtold said to this day many patients dont know that spicy foods are not harmful.

They tend to blame the spicy foods for their issues, he said.

A study on capsaicin the ingredient responsible for spiciness in peppers showed it might even be good for the stomach.

What Causes Gastritis And Duodenitis

The most common cause of gastritis and duodenitis is a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Large amounts of the bacteria invading your stomach or small intestine can cause inflammation.

H. pylori may be transferred from person to person, but exactly how is unclear. Its believed to be spread through contaminated food and water, although this is less common in the United States. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, approximately 20 to 50 percent of people in the United States may be infected with H. pylori. By comparison, up to 80 percent of people in some developing countries are infected with the bacteria.

Other common causes of gastritis and duodenitis include the long-term use of certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, or drinking too much alcohol.

Less common causes include:

How Can I Prevent Ulcers

You may be able to prevent ulcers from forming if you:

Talk to your doctor about alternatives to NSAID medications to relieve pain.
Discuss protective measures with your doctor, if you cant stop taking an NSAID.
Opt for the lowest effective dose of NSAID and take it with a meal.
Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.

You May Like: Venous Stasis Ulcer Wound Care

Advice On Taking Nsaids

If your stomach ulcer has been caused by taking NSAIDs, your GP will want to review your use of them.

You may be advised to use an alternative painkiller not associated with stomach ulcers, such as paracetamol.

Sometimes an alternative type of NSAID thats less likely to cause stomach ulcers, called a COX-2 inhibitor, may be recommended.

If youre taking low-dose aspirin to reduce your risk of embolism , your GP will tell you whether you need to continue taking it.

If you do need to keep taking it, long-term treatment with a PPI or H2-receptor antagonist may be prescribed alongside the aspirin to try to prevent further ulcers.

Its important to understand the potential risks associated with continued NSAID use.

Youre more likely to develop another stomach ulcer and could experience a serious complication, such as internal bleeding.

Page last reviewed: 14 January 2022 Next review due: 14 January 2025

The Risks Of Not Treating An Ulcer

Dr. Lalezari emphasizes, “Left untreated ulcers may progress to life threatening bleeding or even perforation of the stomach. Although it is uncommon, there is also a link to cancer. People with the typical signs of an ulcer should seek medical attention to be evaluated.”6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Read Also: How To Self Treat An Ulcer

What Should I Do If I Think I Have A Stomach Ulcer

Always seek medical care for a stomach ulcer. While you may be able to manage symptoms temporarily with over-the-counter medications, these wont heal the ulcer. You need to identify and treat the underlying cause. An untreated ulcer can lead to serious complications, even if your symptoms are mild. The major cause of stomach ulcers, H. pylori infection, can also lead to other complications.

What Should I Eat If I Have A Peptic Ulcer

What are the best foods to eat when you have an ulcer?

In this manner, what are the best foods to eat when you have an ulcer?Foods like yogurt, miso, kimchi, sauerkraut, kombucha, and tempeh are rich in good bacteria called probiotics. They may help ulcers by fighting an H. pylori infection or by helping treatments work better.

what should you drink if you have an ulcer?Although spicy foods are an irritant for some people with ulcers, medical professionals now place more emphasis on a high fibre diet rich in vegetables and fruits.

Contents

Also Check: Ulcerative Colitis And Lactose Intolerance

Also Check: Histiocytic Ulcerative Colitis Boxer Treatment

Fruits Vegetables Whole Grains And Other High

Add another star to fibres crown. Besides keeping you regular, fibre has a role in keeping ulcers at bay, especially those in the duodenum. A number of studies have found that people who eat high-fibre diets have a lower risk of developing ulcers. A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology looked at the diets of 47,806 men and found that those who ate 11 grams or more of fibre from vegetables had a 32 per cent lower risk of developing duodenal ulcers.

Scientists arent sure how fibre helps, but it may be thanks to the fact that it slows the emptying of the stomach and thus reduces the amount of time the stomach lining and duodenum are exposed to digestive acids. Soluble fibre, the kind found in oats, beans, barley, peas, and pears, also forms a slippery goo in the stomach that acts as a barrier between the stomach lining and corrosive stomach acids.

Recommended dose: General health guidelines suggest getting 25 to 35 grams of fibre a day.

Find out 30 painless ways to sneak more fibre into your diet.

Dont Ignore Your Ulcer

Understanding Ulcers: How Do You Know If You Have One? Dr.Berg

There are lots of good reasons to get help. If you put off treatment, your ulcer may start to block food from moving smoothly through your digestive system. You may often throw up or feel too full to eat. Over time, your ulcer could make a hole through your stomach lining and put you at risk of a severe infection. An ulcer that bleeds can also land you in the hospital.

Recommended Reading: What Can You Take For Stomach Ulcers

Limit Eating Too Much Chocolate

Chocolate is one of the types of foods to avoid with ulcers . It may increase your chances of developing ulcers or worsen your ulcer condition.

Actually, eating chocolate boosts the secretion of stomach acids this weakens the lining wall of the digestive tract, increasing the discomfort. It can also lead to heartburn.

For that reason, it is good to always limit the consumption of chocolate if you have ulcers.

Stomach Cancer And Other Conditions Associated With H Pylori

H pylori is strongly associated with certain cancers. Some studies have also linked it to a number of non-gastrointestinal illnesses, although the evidence is inconsistent.

Stomach Cancers

Stomach cancer, also called gastric cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. In developing countries, where the rate of H pylori is very high, the risk of stomach cancer is six times higher than in the United States. Evidence now suggests that H pylori may be as carcinogenic to the stomach as cigarette smoke is to the lungs.

Infection with H pylori promotes a precancerous condition called atrophic gastritis. The process most likely starts in childhood. It may lead to cancer through the following steps:

The stomach becomes chronically inflamed and loses patches of glands that secrete protein and acid.
New cells replace destroyed cells. But the new cells do not produce enough acid to protect against carcinogens.
Over time, cancer cells may develop and multiply in the stomach.

Although the evidence is mixed, some research suggests that early elimination of H pylori may reduce the risk of stomach cancer to that of the general population. It is important to follow patients after treatment for a long period of time.

Other Diseases

H pylori also is weakly associated with other non-intestinal disorders, including migraine headache, Raynaud disease , and skin disorders such as chronic hives.

Pasta And Chicken Foods For Ulcer And Gastritis

For patients suffering from Ulcer and gastritis, one must be very careful of what they eat. Some dishes result in the deterioration of the health situation of the patient. On the contrary, some dishes manage the situation and remedy it.

Both illnesses relate to intestinal issues, and they are therefore treated similarly. A patient suffering from Ulcer may eat similar foods with a gastritis patient. Both patients are also expected to stay away from the same types of food.

Dont Miss: Can You Drink Coffee With Ulcerative Colitis

Are Potatoes Good For Ulcers

Potato contains unique antibacterial molecules that can treat stomach ulcers, a new study has claimed. Scientists from Manchester University have discovered that a key molecule in potato can both cure and prevent the bacteria that lives in the stomach and causes stomach ulcers and heartburn, the Daily Mail reported.

You May Like: Pressure Ulcer Root Cause Analysis

Supplements May Be Beneficial

If your stomach ulcer is being treated with an antibiotic, consider taking a probiotic supplement as part of your diet plan. This can help reduce antibiotic-associated symptoms. It may also improve the effectiveness of the antibiotic.

Ask your doctor what probiotic would be best to take with your antibiotic medication. Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Saccharomyces supplements have shown benefits in people with H. pylori ulcers.

Deglycyrrhizinated licorice and curcumin extracts have shown promise in some ulcer research due to their action against H. pylori.

Recommended Reading: What Can I Do For Ulcers In My Stomach

Plantain Is Among The Best Ulcer

This large, green, banana-like fruit is starchy and sticky in texture. It helps to soothe inflamed and irritated mucous membranes and has some antibacterial properties to boot. Studies on rats with ulcers caused by daily aspirin use have shown that unripe green plantain can both prevent the formation of ulcers and help to heal them. Plantain works its magic best when its unripe.

Recommended dose: Until human studies determine the amount that might help, use the fruit as they do in Latin America, where green plantain is eaten boiled like a potato. Avoid fried plantain, as the fat can aggravate ulcers.

Here are the 50 best foods for your heart.

What Tests Will Be Done To Diagnose A Peptic Ulcer

Endoscopy. An upper endoscopy exam is expedient because allows healthcare providers to see inside your digestive tract and also take a tissue sample to analyze in the lab. The test is done by passing a thin tube with a tiny camera attached down your throat and into your stomach and duodenum. Youll have medication to numb your throat and help you relax during the test. Your healthcare provider may use the endoscope to take a tissue sample to test for signs of mucous damage, anemia, H. pylori infection or malignancy. If they take a sample, you wont feel it.

Imaging tests. Imaging tests to look inside the stomach and small intestine include:

Upper GI series. An upper GI X-ray exam examines the stomach and duodenum through X-rays. Its less invasive than an endoscopy. For the X-ray, youll swallow a chalky fluid called barium, which will coat your esophagus, stomach and duodenum. The barium helps your digestive organs show up better in black and white images.
CT scan. Your healthcare provider might recommend a CT scan if they need to see your organs in more detail. A CT scan can show complications such as a perforation in the stomach or intestinal wall. For the test, youll lie on a table inside a scanner machine while X-rays are taken. You may drink or have an injection with contrast fluid to make your organs show up better in images.

Tests for H. pylori. Your healthcare provider might want to test you separately for H. pylori infection. Tests may include:

What Causes Peptic Ulcers

Foods to Avoid if You Have a Stomach Ulcer

In the past, experts thought lifestyle factors such as stress and diet caused ulcers. Today we know that stomach acids and other digestive juices help create ulcers. These fluids burn the linings of your organs.

Causes of peptic ulcers include:

H. pylori bacteria . Most ulcers are caused by an infection from a bacteria or germ called H. pylori. This bacteria hurts the mucus that protects the lining of your stomach and the first part of your small intestine . Stomach acid then gets through to the lining.
NSAIDs . These are over-the-counter pain and fever medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Over time they can damage the mucus that protects the lining of your stomach.

Recommended Reading: What Can You Do For A Stomach Ulcer

Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cauliflower And Kale Can Help Prevent Ulcers

These cruciferous vegetables all contain sulforaphane, a compound that appears to squelch H. pylori. In one study, after patients who tested positive for the bacteria ate a half cup of broccoli sprouts twice daily for seven days, 78 per cent tested negative for the bacteria. Other studies, on mice, have shown that sulforaphane extracts can successfully destroy the bacteria in the mices digestive tracts.

Recommended dose: Consider eating a cup a day of broccoli, raw or cooked, or broccoli sprouts. Not only will the broccoli begin to battle your ulcer, but it will also provide more than a days worth of vitamin C and a generous amount of fibre: two more allies in the fight against ulcers.

Check out more impressive health benefits of Brussels sprouts.

How Can You Help Prevent An Ulcer

Dr. Simpson advises, “First you shouldn’t try to treat an ulcer on your own. If you think you have one see your doctor, and you should undergo a test called an endoscopy where they look into your stomach to see if you have a problem. When they look in your stomach they will take a biopsy to see if you have the bacteria, and if you have it they will use antibiotics to treat it. Drinking more than two drinks a day can also cause an ulcer, by disrupting the mucosa of the stomach.”

According to Dr. Lalezari, “As always an ounce of prevention is better than a gallon of cure so it’s best to follow a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables and a diet high in healthy fiber to prevent ulcer disease. Avoiding prolonged use of NSAIDS, and smoking will also help prevent ulcers from forming. Lastly, taking a few minutes each day to meditate and exercise can help decrease stress levels and help prevent a pesky ulcer from developing.”

You May Like: What Foods To Eat With A Peptic Ulcer

Plantain Can Help Prevent Ulcers

This large, green, banana-like fruit is starchy and sticky in texture. It helps to soothe inflamed and irritated mucous membranes and has some antibacterial properties to boot. Studies on rats with ulcers caused by daily aspirin use have shown that unripe green plantain can both prevent the formation of ulcers and help to heal them. Plantain works its magic best when its unripe.

Here are the 50 best foods for your heart.

Avoid Hot Chiles And Peppers

Pin on Blood Pressure, Circulation Remedies

Hot chiles, chili powder, and peppers are not good to eat if you have ulcers.

They contain high acids that can further weaken the lining walls of the digestive tract.

This can worsen and cause severe pain along the stomach and small intestine walls.

For that matter, you need to avoid them if possible. I hope you know how hot chiles are very bitter, so just avoid them to stay safe and reduce discomfort.

Recommended Reading: Do Stomach Ulcers Cause Gas

You May Like: Cure For Peptic Ulcer By Diet

What Are The Symptoms Of A Bleeding Ulcer

Bleeding ulcers dont always cause pain. Sometimes the first signs of a bleeding ulcer are signs of anemia. These include:

Dizziness or lightheadedness.

You might have a heavier bleed if you notice:

Blood in your poop, or black poop that resembles tar.

These symptoms require urgent medical attention.

Foods To Eat On The Gastritis Diet:

Foods that are high in fibre: E.g. fruit, vegetables, whole grains and beans
Low-fat foods: E.g. turkey mince instead of beef, fish and chicken
Alkaline foods, low in acidity: Such as bananas and green leafy vegetables
Still drinks: avoid carbonated drinks like cola and sparkling water as much as possible
No caffeine: caffeine is known to irritate the stomach lining.

Its also suggested that you eat foods that are high in good protein, like eggs.

In some cases, consuming more probiotics, the good bacteria for your gut, has been proven to help those with gastritis as well, as they combat bad bacteria that can lead to stomach infections.

MORE: What is diverticulitis? And could the diverticulitis diet help you?

What Are The Complications Of Peptic Ulcers

Ulcers can cause serious problems if you dont get treatment.

The most common problems include:

Bleeding. As an ulcer wears away the muscles of the stomach or duodenal wall, blood vessels may be hurt. This causes bleeding.
Hole . Sometimes an ulcer makes a hole in the wall of your stomach or duodenum. When this happens, bacteria and partly digested food can get in. This causes infection and redness or swelling .
Narrowing and blockage . Ulcers that are found where the duodenum joins the stomach can cause swelling and scarring. This can narrow or even block the opening to the duodenum. Food cant leave your stomach and go into your small intestine. This causes vomiting. You cant eat properly.