What Is Ulcer Diet
An ulcer diet is aimed to lessen the pain and irritation that arises due to a painful sore that occurs in the lining of the stomach, oesophagus or small intestine. Diet plays a vital part in an overall care plan and helps to mitigate symptoms and heal the ulcer.
An ulcer diet together with a proper treatment plan may help to :
Correct nutritional deficiencies that may be causative factors for symptoms.
Supply adequate protein and other essential nutrients that the body needs to recover.
Help eliminate foods that worsen the inflammation.
A high fibre diet is associated with a low risk of peptic ulcers and adding foods rich in zinc and selenium may speed up the healing process.
Help to manage other related conditions like Crohns disease, celiac disease or bacterial infections, which may be contributing factors for ulcer development.
It is also advisable to limit certain foods that make trigger excess acid production and reflux.
What Are The Alterations To Diet To Treat Stomach Ulcers
Even though the clinical practice guidelines for the care of stomach ulcers do not include any specific dietary recommendations, a meal pattern that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes may be a good place to begin.
There is a correlation between eating a diet high in fiber and having lower levels of stomach acid production. Fruits and vegetables, thanks to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and cell-protective properties, can help reduce the severity of gastric ulcers as well as the symptoms associated with them.
If you have an ulcer in your stomach, you should also consider making some changes to the following aspects of your diet:
- If you find that drinking coffee aggravates the symptoms of your ulcer, you might want to cut back on how much you drink or try switching to another liquid, such as decaffeinated coffee or tea.
- Keep a record of the foods you eat and the symptoms you experience. If particular foods or drinks bring on discomfort or pain, you should avoid consuming them.
- Because of the high concentration of beneficial bacteria that may be found in yogurt and other fermented milk products like kefir, treatment for H. pylori may be more effective when consumed regularly.
Gastritis Duodenitis And Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease is the chronic inflammation of part or all of your digestive tract. The exact cause is unknown, but doctors believe that IBD may be the result of an immune disorder. A combination of factors from the environment and a persons genetic makeup also appear to play a role. Examples of IBD include ulcerative colitis and Crohns disease. Crohns disease may affect any part of your digestive tract and often spreads beyond the intestinal lining and into other tissues.
A study published in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases reported that people with IBD are more likely to develop a form of gastritis or duodenitis that isnt caused by H. pylori than people who dont have the disease.
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Nutritional Assessment On Peptic Ulcer
It aims to identify possible nutritional alterations and determine properintervention to ensure the individuals’ health. Malnutrition in this case may occurespecially when there is stenosis, which prevents normal ingestion of foods18.
For nutritional assessment, some important indicators are used in this process, suchas the anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical evaluations. The anthropometricassessment consists of weight and height measurements that may be used in conjunctionin the assessment of the nutritional status by means of BMI , butthis method does not distinguishes losses of fat or lean mass. In addition, weightmay be concealed by hyper-hydration or de-hydration, thus not resulting in anaccurate determination of the nutritional status in these specific cases18.
Total body bioelectrical impedance is a method used to measure the body mass, liquidvolume, and body fat, being recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and theFood and a Food and Drug Administration as a valuable technique for thispurpose14. Indirectcalorimetry is a non-invasive method to determine the nutritional needs and theutilization rate of energy substrates from oxygen consumption and carbon dioxideproduction obtained by analysis of the inhaled and exhaled air by the lungs8.
What Is A Peptic Ulcer
A peptic ulcer is a sore or hole that forms in the lining of the stomach or intestine.
The word peptic refers to the digestive tract. An ulcer in the lining of the stomach is a gastric ulcer. An ulcer in the first part of the small intestine is a duodenal ulcer.
The lining of the stomach is a layer of special cells and mucous. Mucous prevents the stomach and duodenum from being damaged by acid and digestive enzymes.
If there is a break in the lining , the tissue under the lining can be damaged by the enzymes and corrosive acid. If the ulcer is small, there may be few symptoms. The wound can heal on its own.
If the ulcer is deep, it can cause serious pain or bleeding. Rarely, acids in the digestive juices may eat completely through the stomach or duodenum wall.
Peptic ulcers are very common. They become more common as people age.
The bacterium Helicobacter pylori is believed to cause most peptic ulcers. This bacteria causes inflammation in the stomach lining. This probably makes the lining vulnerable. But only a minority of people infected with H. pylori develop ulcers.
Another common cause of ulcers is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen .
NSAIDs block the formation of some prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are chemicals that normally help protect against ulcers. With less prostaglandins, ulcers are more likely to form.
- Family history
- Excessive alcohol use
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Dietary Fibre & Vitamin A
Research shows that a high fibre diet decreases the risk of developing ulcer disease. Although both insoluble and soluble fibres demonstrate this association, there is a stronger association between diets high in soluble fibre and a decreased risk for developing ulcers.
Foods that are high in soluble fibre include oats, psyllium husk, legumes, flax seeds, barley, nuts, and certain vegetables and fruits, such as oranges, apples, and carrots.
Findings from a prospective cohort study that included 47,806 men, showed that a diet rich in vitamin A from all sources might reduce the development of duodenal ulcer, as might diets high in fruits and vegetables, possibly due to their fibre content.2 A prospective cohort study follows, over time, a group of similar individuals who differ with respect to certain factors under study, to determine how these factors affect rates of a certain outcome however, more research is necessary to verify results because there are so many other factors involved with this type of study that could confound the data.
Animal studies demonstrate that vitamin A increases the production of mucus in the gastrointestinal tract. Impaired mucosal defense can allow ulcers to develop. Therefore, vitamin A may have a protective effect against the development of ulcer disease.3
Good sources of vitamin A include liver, carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and collard greens.
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How Is Atrophic Gastritis Diagnosed
An AG diagnosis usually involves a combination of clinical observation and testing. During a physical exam, your doctor will check for stomach tenderness by lightly pressing on certain areas of your stomach. Theyll also look for signs of B-12 deficiency, such as paleness, rapid pulse, and neurological deficits.
Your doctor might order blood tests to check for:
- low levels of pepsinogen, a protein produced by the stomach cells
- high levels of gastrin, a hormone that stimulates the production of stomach acid
- low levels of B-12
- antibodies that attack stomach cells and intrinsic factor
In some cases, your doctor may need to perform a biopsy. Your doctor will insert an endoscope, down your throat and into your stomach. Theyll then take a sample of tissue from your stomach to look for evidence of AG. The sample of stomach tissue can also indicate signs of an H. pylori infection.
If you dont already have a gastroenterologist, you can browse doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.
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Does Coffee Irritate Stomach Ulcers
Yes, coffee can exacerbate ulcers in the stomach. It has been proven that drinking coffee can impact the creation of acid in the stomach, and this action is not solely attributable to the caffeine in the coffee. It is believed that the other components of coffee, such as catechols and N-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamine, encourage the production of gastric acid. This is the reason why ulcer symptoms are made worse by drinking coffee.
Coffee, on the other hand, has at least one molecule that inhibits the creation of stomach acid. This molecule is called Nmethylpyridinium, and it is an antioxidant that is produced when coffee beans are roasted.
Despite the common piece of advice that people who have stomach ulcers should stay away from coffee, research has not clearly shown that coffee makes ulcer pain worse. In addition, the findings of studies on the effects of coffee on a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms are not entirely applicable to the typical person who drinks a modest amount of coffee.
For instance, some of these studies investigated the symptoms that people experienced after drinking an abnormally large amount of coffee, while others included only people who were already aware of their sensitivity to coffee, and still, others concentrated on the adverse effects that people felt rather than those that were medically diagnosed.
Is Banana Good For Ulcer
Bananas, both raw and ripe, have been found to be extremely helpful in the treatment of stomach ulcers, as they contain antibacterial compounds that inhibit the growth of ulcer-causing H. pylori. Bananas are also excellent at clearing out the acidity of gastric juices, which reduces inflammation and strengthens the stomach lining.
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Foods Safe To Eat With Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are sores that form in the lining of your stomach due to erosion of the protective mucus layer. Bacteria called Helicobacter pylori or long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can cause this erosion and expose the lining of your stomach to harmful digestive juices. Although foods do not cause ulcers, certain foods can increase acid production and further irritate your ulcer. Consuming foods that are more ulcer-friendly instead may reduce pain and help your ulcer heal.
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Treatment Options For Ulcers
Ulcers caused by H. pylori will most likely need to be treated with antibiotics. Strict adherence to your treatment plan and close follow-up with your doctor are the best ways to make sure your treatments are effective and your ulcers are healing.
You will also be prescribed a medication that temporarily keeps your stomach from making or secreting as much acid as it normally would. This medication may be a proton pump inhibitor or H2 blocker.
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How To Treat Gastric Ulcer
This article was co-authored by Roy Nattiv, MD and by wikiHow staff writer, Jessica Gibson. Dr. Roy Nattiv is a board-certified Pediatric Gastroenterologist in Los Angeles, California. who specializes in a broad range of pediatric gastrointestinal and nutritional illnesses such as constipation, diarrhea, reflux, food allergies, poor weight gain, SIBO, IBD, and IBS. Dr. Nattiv received his undergrad degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and his medical degree from the Sackler School of Medicine in Tel Aviv, Israel. He completed his pediatric residency at the Childrens Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, and his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco . While at UCSF, he was a California Institute of Regenerative Medicine fellowship trainee and was awarded the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Fellow to Faculty Award in Pediatric IBD Research. In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Nattiv is active in the research community and has been published in several high-impact medical journals.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 28,109 times.
The Peptic Ulcer Diet
There is a specialised diet, or rather, eating guidelines, that will significantly increase your ulcers rate of healing. When this diet is followed, it will limit the foods that will irritate the ulcer as certain foods can aggravate the symptoms and result in bloating, heartburn, stomach pain and indigestion.
It is vital that you stick to this eating plan as anything that aggravates your ulcer will only make your symptoms worse and your healing process longer. You may also be putting yourself at risk of other complications developing such as the peptic ulcer bleeding should you not adhere to these recommendations.
Please note that this eating plan is not a means of treatment, but rather a way to promote the healing of your ulcer. You will need to still have your ulcer diagnosed and treated by your doctor and stick to the treatment therapy accordingly in order to ensure that you undergo a full recovery.
The following can also be used for those who suffer from gastritis.
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When To Seek Medical Advice
You should visit your GP if you think you may have a stomach ulcer.
Seek urgent medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- vomiting blood the blood can appear bright red or have a dark brown, grainy appearance, similar to coffee grounds
- passing dark, sticky, tar-like stools
- a sudden, sharp pain in your tummy that gets steadily worse
These could be a sign of a serious complication, such as internal bleeding.
What Foods Should I Avoid When Dealing With Stomach Ulcers
People every day who are suffering with gut issues have a hard time deciding what they should and should not eat. This can be extremely difficult if you are suffering from health issues such as a stomach ulcer. A stomach ulcer is an open sore on the lining of the stomach. It can cause stomach pain or an upset stomach and it can also lead to internal bleeding.
The foods you eat have a huge impact on your health and how you feel, more so when you have a stomach ulcer. By eating certain foods you can irritate the ulcer and make yourself feel worse, but by eating the right foods you can help reduce your symptoms and even promote healing.
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More Tips For Stomach Ulcer Recovery
For an effective stomach ulcer diet, do the following:
- Eat smaller portions throughout the day.
- Have dinner two or three hours before bedtime.
- Take plenty of water. The recommended eight glasses of water a day will suffice.
- Dont stress. If you are feeling stressed out, try to relax by doing some relaxing exercises, or practice mindfulness.
- Reduce smoking if you are already a smoker or quit smoking altogether. Smoking aggravates stomach ulcers.
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Antacids Versus Nutrients Bioavailability
Deficiency of vitamin B12 is common in patients with peptic ulcer due tothe prolonged use of antacids, making difficult the bioavailability of this vitamin.Vitamin B12 can be synthetized by the intestinal microbiota in the colon,but is not absorbed. Deficiency of this vitamin causes impaired cell division andmegaloblastic anemia. It is estimated that 80-90% of patients lacking vitaminB12 develop neurological alterations, if not treated24. As a result, recommendation is for2.4 µg/day of this vitamin, which can be obtained from animal foods, such asmilk, meat and eggs.
Absorption of folic acid can be impaired in subjects that make chronic use ofaluminum-based antacids ,because antacids make the pH of the jejunum more alkaline23. In these cases, intake of 400 µg/day of thisvitamin is necessary, which can be supplied with ingestion of leguminous foods, suchas lentils, and meats. It is important to emphasize that the reduction of the gastricacidity by antacids or antiulcers alters proteins digestion and affects good digestion offoods21.
Antacids can also diminish absorption of iron, causing iron-deficiency anemia.Gastrointestinal bleeding can be observed in gastroduodenal ulcer and infection byH. pylori1 andmay be associated with the development of anemia. Gastric bleeding is a majorcomplication of peptic ulcer22.
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Assess Your Individual Tolerance
No evidence suggests that spicy or citrus foods affect ulcer disease, although some individuals do report worsening of symptoms after eating these types of foods. It is important to find out what works for you. If you notice that your symptoms get worse after eating certain foods, then limit or avoid them so you can feel your best, making sure that you dont eliminate an entire food group.
Why Change My Diet
There are so many benefits to changing your diet if you suffer from stomach ulcers that it would be foolish not to. When you follow a diet that primates healthy stomach and gut health you will:
- Obtain the protein and nutrients that your body needs to repair itself.
- Help you to remove all foods that are aggravating the small intestine and stomach lining.
- It can help to minimize or control the symptoms of related conditions like bacterial infections, Crohns disease, or celiac. These can aggravate ulcer symptoms.
- Help to fill in any contributing nutritional deficiencies.
Certain foods help to repair the gastrointestinal lining that erodes form long term use of anti-inflammatory drugs or bacterial infection.
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What Causes Stomach Ulcers Dont Assume Spicy Foods Are To Blame
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.