6 Foods You Should Avoid If You Have Stomach Ulcer
Stomach ulcers occur when the lining of the stomach is damaged by the Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria or by regular use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as painkillers. Below are foods that will help protect and repair your stomach lining and increase the good bacteria that will fight H. pylori.
1. Citrus fruits
Eating citrus fruits such as orange, grapefruit, lemon and others is due to the fact that these foods contain a significant amount of acid, which can aggravate your ulcer. Therefore, you need to be careful about how you introduce these elements into your body by eating them.
2. Processed foods
You should try to avoid eating processed foods, as they contain high amounts of fat, salt and sugar, as well as other ingredients that can worsen your ulcer symptoms. Therefore, you should moderate your consumption of them.
3. Alcohol
If you want to prevent your stomach ulcer from getting worse, avoid drinking alcohol, as it can cause inflammation of the lining of your stomach and make your ulcer worse.
4. Spicy and salty foods
Although spicy foods do not cause ulcers, they can irritate your stomach lining. “Hot” foods make your stomach hurt and trigger your disease symptoms.
5. High-salt foods
Foods high in salt are no friend of your stomach either. Studies show that large amounts of salt in your stomach make the H. pylori bacteria more active and attack the lining of your digestive tract.
6. Caffeine
Foods that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas and even some chocolates, can increase the production of gastric juice in your stomach and trigger acid reflux symptoms. These digestive reactions can make your stomach ulcers even worse.
