Health & Wellness

Your Best Diet Options for Stomach Ulcers

 

Who hasn’t had a tummy ache or a stomach bug at least once in their life? Unfortunately, a stomach ulcer is a completely different animal. Known also as gastric ulcers, these sores in the lining of the stomach or small intestines can be quite painful. These can be caused from everything from overuse of painkillers to an increase in stomach acid but for those suffering from stomach ulcers the most important thing is “how do I get relief?” Probably the easiest and most effective way to recover from stomach ulcers is through diet. I can give you some insight into stomach ulcers and the best diet to expedite your healing.

Stomach Ulcers and Diet

While gastric ulcers (commonly known as stomach ulcers) can be caused by a number of factors, one of the simplest interventions sufferers can turn to in order to alleviate symptoms is changing their diet. This can be difficult, especially if your favorite food or snack is the culprit causing your stomach ulcer. Also, changing your diet may only be one aspect of your recovery program, in fact, diet change can be only part of your treatment your doctor prescribes. Your best option is finding a licensed dietitian to help design a diet program right for you. If you need help finding a registered dietitian, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has an online database. Look for foods that are:

• Rich in probiotics
• Fiber-rich foods
• Foods high in Vitamin A (sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, liver etc.)
• Vitamin C rich foods (citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, etc.)

Introducing foods that are conducive to healing your stomach ulcer is a great first step but it’s also important to eliminate foods that can exacerbate the situation. Some foods you might want to avoid include:

• Milk
• Alcohol
• High fat foods
• Spicy foods

Steps for a Stomach Ulcer Friendly Diet

If your doctor decides that changing your diet is part of your stomach ulcer treatment plan, what are the best steps to take? As I stated earlier, just adding foods is one part of the equation but removing foods that make your ulcers worse needs to be done. Here are some steps to take when designing your recovery diet:

1. Choose lean protein over red meat: Yes, protein is good but unfortunately red meat is difficult to digest. This can cause bloating or gas making your ulcer worse. Try substituting poultry such as chicken, fish, beans, or tofu.
2. Introduce high-fiber foods: Foods high in fiber can help promote regularity and reduce the risk of ulcers by reducing acid levels. Eating foods such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables can help reduce inflammation.
3. Probiotics: I’m sure you seen ads on TV about the benefits of probiotics and eating foods rich in them can help with stomach ulcers. Probiotics can help balance intestinal bacteria and foods like kimchi or kefir can reduce the risk of H. Pylori infection while helping to improve the body’s natural immune system.
4. Avoid foods that increase stomach acid: Certain foods can trigger an increase in stomach acid leading to an increase in stomach ulcer symptoms. Spicy foods, coffee, fatty-fried foods, and onions or garlic can all increase stomach acid production.
5. Include healthy fats: It seems counterintuitive to introduce fats to your diet but believe it or not our body does need healthy fats. This does not mean an increase of trans fat or saturated fat but healthy fats from olive oil, avocados, or nuts/seeds.

While there is no widely accepted diet that can be the end all solution for a stomach ulcer, sticking to a diet plan is quite important. Shopping and meal planning can become easier if you stick to a diet meal plan. Often the Mediterranean Diet can be a great blueprint to help those suffering from stomach ulcers. This diet also emphasizes limiting caffeine and alcohol while promoting fiber and healthy fats to reduce inflammation.

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