Ulcer Diet : Ulcer Foods To Eat & Avoid

One of the main reasons why ulcers are caused is your food habit. Therefore, maintaining a proper and regular diet is crucial. Moreover, you also need to be aware of what to eat when you have an ulcer. Otherwise, the condition might worsen.

What is Ulcer?

An ulcer is a condition that is categorized by an open sore along the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. The main types of ulcers include duodenal ulcers that develop in the upper portion of the small intestine and gastric ulcers that develop mainly inside the stomach. 

One of the main reasons which cause an ulcer is a bacterium. This is also called Helicobacter pylori. This bacterium damages the protective mucosal barrier of some regions in the intestinal tract and this, in turn, makes it easy to secrete acid that is required for the digestion of food. As a result, the gut’s lining starts to inflame. 

Besides, smoking and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the other reasons for ulcers. 

Ulcer Causes

Following are some of the most common ulcer causes:

Helicobacter Pylori infection: This is considered to be one of the major causes of ulcers. This is caused by the bacteria H. Pylori, which directly causes inflammation in the stomach and increases acid production. Up to 90% of people report this cause of stomach ulcers.

Tumors and Diseases: Although this can be the less common cause for ulcer, the tumor also has a role to play, as it increases the acid production in the stomach. This acid, over time, erodes into the stomach creating an ulcer.

NSAIDs: This is caused as the result of frequent or excessive use of non-steroidal and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, and others. This impairs the mucous lining of the stomach. Stomach acid can cause severe damage.

There are also other causes that result in ulcers, and they include:

• Bleeding: It is caused by a broken blood vessel in the stomach. This can be identified from a dark or bloody stool
• Perforation: This is the result of a hole created in the stomach wall and is considered to be a serious condition, which lets digestive juice and food leak into the abdominal cavity. This may turn out to be life-threatening too over the days if not treated at the right time. 
• Blockages: This will prevent the food from moving properly through the digestive tract.
• Peritonitis: It is the condition where the infection in the lining may become serious.

Also Read : 11 Ways to Alleviate Acidity at Home 

Ulcer Symptoms

Here are the 6 symptoms to help you identify whether you are a victim of the ulcer as mentioned below:-

• Unable to eat sufficiently 
• Discomfort between your meals 
• Feeling full just within a few spoons of food quickly 
• Stomach pain in the midnight not allowing you to sleep 
• Burning, pain, or bloating feel in the stomach 
• Pain experienced for days or even weeks and might come off and on

If not taken care of at the right time, these symptoms might also add up with a few other serious symptoms telling you your condition is getting severe like nausea, sudden weight loss, pain in the back, blood in the stool, and vomiting blood. Once you identify these symptoms, you can then think of foods to avoid during an ulcer and improve your situation.

Ulcer Foods and Drinks to Avoid

There are some types of foods to avoid with stomach ulcers. By understanding them, you can try to manage your diet and learn to balance the ulcer impacts. Here are the foods that you must seriously avoid in your diet: 

1. Alcohol: Strictly no alcohol! Any type of alcoholic drink can irritate your stomach. Moreover, this will also not let you heal, and even when you are taking medications, you would not be able to manage your health. Therefore, strictly avoid drinks that will affect your health. 
2. Caffeine: Such as coffee, tea, and any type of caffeinated beverage should be avoided. These types of drinks will increase the acid production in your stomach and will aggravate the condition. 
3. Processed Foods and Meats: Never take any types of processed foods and meats, seasoned foods, sausages, fried meats, and fatty meats. They will increase the stomach acid and will trigger reflux. 
4. Spicy Foods: Foods like chili pepper, sauces, black pepper, condiments, and any other types of hot foods should be avoided as they can increase your stomach pain and are one of the worst foods that cause acid reflux.
5. Salty Foods Should Be Avoided: Make sure that you take only limited salt content in the food, as they may increase the growth of H. Pylori. Therefore, olives, pickles, and any other types of fermented vegetables and high salt content foods should be avoided. 
6. Cocoa and Chocolate: Try to avoid taking more chocolates and cocoa as they will increase the secretion of acid in the stomach and trigger acid reflux. 

Best Ulcer Foods To Eat

When you have ulcers, the right foods can help heal and ease the discomfort. Gentle on the stomach and reduces acid production is the way to go. Non acidic fruits like bananas, melons and apples are great because they don’t irritate the stomach lining and gives you essential nutrients. Carrots, spinach and broccoli are also good because they are low in acidity and high in vitamins and fiber that promotes healing. For protein, go for lean meats like chicken and turkey or plant based protein like tofu or beans which are easy to digest.

Whole grains like oats, brown rice and whole wheat bread are soothing and regulates stomach acid. Low fat dairy like yogurt or milk can give relief because of its cooling effect on the stomach but should be consumed in moderation because some people may trigger symptoms. Herbal teas like chamomile or ginger tea are known for its soothing properties and can reduce inflammation. Also drink plenty of water and avoid spicy, fried or acidic foods and alcohol and caffeine which can worsen ulcer symptoms.

However, there are also certain foods that you may need to take to improve your health and reduce ulcers. Common fruits that are good for healing stomach ulcers which include: 

9 Best Ulcer Fruits To Eat

• Apples
• Grapes
• Pomegranates
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Bell Peppers

Taking the appropriate food would be suitable for easily reducing the effect of ulcers in the body. Vegetables such as cauliflower, kale and even broccoli will be effective in improving health. These also contain essential antioxidants along with vitamins for healing ulcers.
You can take lean protein-rich foods such as skinned chicken and lean meat when you are suffering from ulcers.

Dairy foods like yogurt kefir are also good choices to quickly reduce ulcers and treat your condition. Whole grain cereals like oats, millet, quinoa, and fiber-rich foods are another best choice to treat an ulcer. Finally, try to include herbs and spices like turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and garlic, which are good for combatting ulcers, and they also have rich content of antioxidants.

Also Read : Preventing Gastric Ulcers using Ayurvedic Treatment

Ulcer Diet Chart

Ulcer or gastric ulcer in the stomach can be painful, and the duodenal ulcer is the first part of the intestines. Common symptoms of duodenal ulcer will be waking at night due to upper abdominal pain. The doctor would advise maintaining a proper diet chart for those who are suffering from the Ulcer. You can follow the ulcer diet chart below, which is suitable for reducing the symptoms.

• Breakfast – Take a Brown bread Egg sandwich with an apple
• Mid-Meal – Drink Coconut water with biscuits
• Lunch – Eat Roti, Soybean Curry and some curd
• Evening – Drink Tea, Roasted Papad or bhuna chana
• Dinner – Eat Roti and Bottle Gourd Curry

Ulcer Curing Foods : The Bottom Line

If you have an ulcer in your stomach, eliminate spicy foods, citrus foods, raw vegetables or salads, and carbonated beverages from your diet. These ulcer foods to avoid will certainly help you to improve your condition and lead a healthy life. Taking the right food is also suitable for reducing the need for medication during ulcers.

The Bottom Line

If you have an ulcer in your stomach, eliminate spicy foods, citrus foods, raw vegetables or salads, and carbonated beverages from your diet. These ulcer foods to avoid will certainly help you to improve your condition and lead a healthy life. Moreover, the need to take medications will also be eliminated.

References:

1. What are the best foods to eat with a stomach ulcer?. MedicalNewsToday [Internet]. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/stomach-ulcer-diet. Accessed Feb 15, 2022.

2. Stomach Ulcer Diet. GI Society – Canadian Society of Intestinal Research [Internet]. https://badgut.org/information-centre/health-nutrition/diet-for-ulcer-disease/. Accessed Feb 20, 2022.
3. Healthy Eating Guidelines For People with Peptic Ulcers. HealthLink BC [Internet]. https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/healthy-eating-physical-activity/conditions/digestive/healthy-eating-guidelines-people-peptic. Accessed Feb 23, 2022.

4. GERD Diet: Foods That Help with Acid Reflux (Heartburn). John Hopkins Medicine[Internet]. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/gerd-diet-foods-that-help-with-acid-reflux-heartburn. Accessed Feb 25, 2022.

5. Eating to fight peptic ulcers. Chicago Health Magazine. https://chicagohealthonline.com/eating-fight-peptic-ulcers/. Accessed Feb 27, 2022.