Seven Foods You Should Eat if You Have Stomach Ulcers
Stomach ulcers are lesions that develop in the mucous lining when there’s excessive production of acidic juices. To combat this problem, we suggest seven foods that can alleviate their symptoms and prevent recurrences.
According to the experts at Medline Plus, the most common cause of stomach ulcers is the growth of H. pylori bacteria. They can also be caused by the excessive consumption of some medications.
The main symptom is a feeling of pain or burning in the abdominal region. However, it may also be accompanied by acid reflux, a feeling of heaviness, and intolerance to irritating foods.
Most of the cases are mild, and the only necessary treatment is a change in diet. Nevertheless, occasionally they present complications such as vomiting and bleeding. If this occurs, you should talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
There’s a wide variety of foods that can help regulate the pH levels in the stomach to accelerate the relief of this problem. Next, we’ll share in detail seven of the best that you should try if you find yourself faced with this disorder.
Seven foods to eat if you have stomach ulcers
Dietary habits are key to the treatment of stomach ulcers. While some foods worsen symptoms, others contain nutrients and properties that can help repair the tissues to achieve rapid relief.
Of course, these are a supplement to any treatment prescribed by your doctor. In fact, although these foods may control the symptoms, you shouldn’t consider them as a replacement for your recommended medications.
1. Carrots
Carrots are one of the most widely recommended vegetables for patients with stomach ulcers. They have healing properties that help repair the stomach lining affected by excess acids.
Whether prepared in a juice, puree, or salad, this wonderful food can control uncomfortable symptoms such as burning and acid reflux. This is mainly due to its vitamin A content which is a powerful antioxidant. A fact that was confirmed in an article published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry.
2. Apples
Due to their high concentration of essential nutrients, apples are one of the most popular fruits.
They contain dietary fibers that act as regulators for the digestive system. They’re recommended for the relief of stomach ulcers, but also for gastritis, constipation, and diarrhea.
You might also like to read: Peptic Ulcers and Helicobacter Pylori
3. Aloe vera
The crystals in the aloe vera plant are known for their healing and antimicrobial action. If you have stomach ulcers and eat aloe vera you can control the excessive production of acidic juices and the irritation of the gastric mucus.
In addition, it provides aloe emodin and aloin. These components repair damaged tissues, according to a study conducted in 2012.
4. Achiote
The World Health Organization claims that more than 80 percent of the population uses traditional medicine to meet their primary care needs. Achiote (Bixa Orellana), a plant native to tropical America is used as a diuretic. This is due to its hypoglycemic and prostatic anti-inflammatory properties, among its many other uses.
In particular, the effect of the infusion of the leaves or seeds in relieving gastritis and heartburn has been documented.
5. Bananas
Bananas are rich in alkalizing compounds that, once absorbed by the body, help regulate the pH of the stomach. At the same time, they help to stop the discomfort caused by acid reflux and gastritis.
Eating bananas can help stop the deterioration of the gastric mucus and reduce the presence of ulcers. They’re gentle on the stomach and their nutrients help to heal damaged tissues.
6. Potatoes
Considered one of the best antacid foods, potatoes are part of an excellent food group that helps deal with stomach ulcers. Their benefits are attributed to the significant amounts of starches, fiber, and antioxidants they contain. This contributes to optimizing the digestion process.
Their components reduce the inflammation process and help with the healing of tissues irritated by acids. In addition, they reduce abdominal burning and stop swelling and reflux.
You might be interested to read: How Many Types of Ulcers Are There?
7. Flax seeds
Flax seeds soaked in water release a gelatinous substance that’s effective in relieving stomach ulcers. Their consumption helps to calm the inflammation and burning caused by this problem.
Among other benefits, flax seeds are an important source of omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber. These nutrients are recommended to promote the repair of stomach tissues in the case of ulcers.
Flax seeds can be consumed with yogurts. These foods contain large amounts of bacteria that compete with H. Pylobactor for colonization of the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, their regular consumption helps to reduce ulcers and other digestive problems, as stated in an article published in 2017.
Foods that you should avoid if you have stomach ulcers
There are many acidic foods that can worsen the situation of patients with stomach ulcers. It’s important to learn to identify them since it’s not a good idea to consume them during the recovery process.
The main ones are:
- Carbonated drinks.
- Spicy foods.
- Bread and processed baked goods.
- Alcohol.
- Coffee and caffeinated drinks.
- Fried foods and fast food
- Confectionery and products made with refined sugar.
Permitted foods and how to prepare them
Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, vegetables, fruits, and cereals can be included in the diet to treat stomach ulcers. However, preparation and presentation are key.
For example, meat must be lean, and grilled or stewed. White fish such as hake should also be grilled or boiled. Eggs should be boiled or made into an omelet. Dairy products must be zero fat.
When it comes to vegetables, avoid onions, cabbage, cauliflower, or cabbage. In general, those that cause flatulence. If eaten, they should be boiled. As for fruits, discard citrus.
It’s important not to eat just before bedtime and, during the day, to eat little and often. If you follow this advice, your symptoms should improve.
However, it’s worth taking this information into account: “Unlike a few years ago, today, rigorous dietary regimens aren’t recommended, as there’s no evidence to recommend any type of diet for ulcer patients. It’s best to simply avoid those foods that the patient knows from experience causes them symptoms.”
Improving your diet to avoid stomach ulcers
By eating these foods that help with stomach ulcers, you’ll be able to alleviate the symptoms to a certain extent. However, you should immediately seek medical help at the first sign of any complications. Although they’re not always serious, it’s important to be checked out by a doctor.
Finally, a varied diet rich in fresh foods significantly reduces the risk of suffering from this type of disorder.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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- Domínguez Fernández RN., Arzate Vázquez I., Chanona Pérez JJ., Welti Chanes JS., et al., Gel: structure, chemical composition, processing, biological activity and importance in pharmaceutical and food industry. Revista Mexicana de Ingenieria Química 2012.
- Ferrer López, I., Pérez Pozo, J. M., & Herrerías Gutiérrez, J. M. (2004). Guía de seguimiento farmacoterapéutico sobre úlcera péptica. Grupo de Investigación en Atención Farmacéutica (GIAF). https://www.ugr.es/~cts131/esp/guias/GUIA_ULCERA.pdf
- Suzuki T., Masui A., Nakamura J., Shiozawa H., et al., Yogurt containing lactobacillus gasseri mitigates aspirin induced small bowel injuries: a prospective, randomized, doublé blind, placebo controlled trial. Digestion, 2017. 95: 49-54.
- Veloz, A. I. R., Perera, L. M. S., & Dorvigny, B. M. (2012). Tratamientos convencionales y medicina alternativa de la úlcera péptica. Revista cubana de farmacia, 46(1), 127-137. http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0034-75152012000100015
