Most raw vegetables and fruits help relieve symptoms of
ulcers. Certain types, such as those with fiber, flavonoids, antioxidants and
vitamin B-12, are particularly beneficial. Other foods, including citrus fruits
and spicy vegetables, might make your symptoms worse. Consult your doctor for
specific advice regarding the dietary treatment of your ulcer.
Ulcers
are open sores that develop in your stomach, small intestine or esophagus.
Depending on where the ulcer is located, you may find it referred to by
different names. Ulcers in your stomach are gastric, those in the small
intestine are duodenal, and ulcers in your esophagus are esophageal. Mayo
Clinic notes that spicy foods and stress do not cause ulcers. A common cause is
an H. pylori bacterial infection. You might also develop an ulcer if you use
anti-inflammatory drugs long term.
Even
though the stomach secretes an acid for food digestion and metabolism, its
walls are protected from the corrosive actions of this acid by a special
mucosal coat. When that protection is removed, stomach acid eats into the
lining of the stomach to form open sores. Helicobacter pylori, which is
responsible for most ulcers, weakens the protective coat in the stomach and the
part of the intestine close to the stomach. This allows the stomach acid and
other digestive juices to erode the surface of the linings below the coat.
Long-term use of NSAIDs is the second leading cause of ulcers. The drugs provide relief from pain by blocking prostaglandin, a chemical produced in the body. However, this blockade reduces the blood flow in the vessels supplying the stomach and so opens the stomach linings to the corrosive actions of the digestive juices.
Fiber
A
high-fiber diet can help heal peptic ulcers and also prevent a recurrence, says
Dr. Ronald Hoffman, founder and director of the Hoffman Center, a New
York-based medical clinic. High-fiber fruits include blackberries, blueberries,
figs, raspberries, apples, pears and prunes. Vegetables that are high in fiber
include squash, lentils, broccoli and celery. The American College of
Gastroenterology recommends that, when increasing dietary fiber, you do so
slowly and boost your water intake to aid in the digestion process.
Vitamin A
Vitamin
A can help speed the healing process when you have a peptic ulcer. Frozen
spinach is especially high in vitamin A, with a single half-cup serving
containing more than 200 percent of the recommended daily value. Frozen kale,
frozen peas, red peppers and carrots are other good sources of vitamin A.
Fruits that are high in vitamin A include mango, papaya, cantaloupe and
peaches. Apricots are not only a great source of of Vitamin A, they also
contain iron, a mineral that may become depleted when taking medication for a
peptic ulcer.
Flavinoids and Antioxidants
According
to the University of Maryland Medical Center, people with peptic ulcers should
eat fruits and vegetables that contain flavonoids and antioxidants. Flavonoids
may inhibit the growth of the H. pylori bacteria that is responsible for many
peptic ulcers, while antioxidants can minimize the damage an ulcer can cause on
a cellular level. Flavonoid-rich fruits and vegetables include apples,
cranberries, garlic and celery. Good sources of antioxidants are tomatoes,
cherries, blueberries, bell peppers and squash.
Cautionary Foods
One
aspect of treating ulcers is avoiding foods and beverages that could increase
the acidity in the stomach. Some fruits are known to contribute to stomach
acids and you should avoid them when treating ulcers. Citrus fruits such as
oranges, tangerine, lime and lemon are good examples of acidifying fruits to
avoid. You should also avoid tomatoes and grapefruit. These acidifying fruits
can worsen the symptoms of your ulcer and cause acid reflux and heartburn.
Work
with your doctor for a dietary plan if you are treating a stomach ulcer. In
certain instances, consider your symptoms an emergency and immediately contact
your doctor. Serious symptoms include an increase in the severity of your
abdominal pain, vomiting blood or other material that resembles coffee grounds,
and blood in your stool, or black, tarry stools.
If
stomach pain, indigestion and nausea are a daily occurrence for you, you may be
suffering from a peptic ulcer. Peptic ulcers are open sores in the lining of
the stomach, esophagus or duodenum caused by bacteria or a reaction to
anti-inflammatory medication. While following a special diet won't cure a
peptic ulcer, it can help speed up your recovery and ease some of the painful
symptoms associated with the condition.
Special Precautions
It
is important to remember that dietary changes will not cure a peptic ulcer. If
you are experiencing a burning pain before and after eating, bloating,
indigestion, weight loss, vomiting, nausea or lack of appetite, consult a
doctor for advice and treatment. Before consuming any fruits and vegetables,
it's important to rinse them properly to minimize the risk of ingesting the H.
pylori bacteria that cause many peptic ulcers.
Ulcers are open sores in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract. They are mostly found at the stomach, esophagus and duodenum. Ulcers are formed when the environments of these surfaces are so acidic that their mucosal linings are slowly eroded. While it is popularly believed that spicy foods and stress are responsible for ulcers, scientific evidences point to high acidity acid, long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori.
Safe Fruits
Fruits
you can eat while treating ulcer include apple, peach, berries, pear, banana,
melon and kiwi fruit. While it is preferred to take these fruits in their raw
forms, if you rather won't you can steam or juice them. Instead of taking your
daily fruit intake at once, spread it over three to four servings. Lastly, do
not consider fruits an adequate substitute for fluids. Drink lots of water.
Healing Fruits
Some
fruits are especially helpful in relieving the symptoms of ulcers and can even
protect against Helicobacter pylori. Apples, cranberry and their juices contain
flavonoids and antioxidants that inhibit the growth of the bacteria. You should
also consume fruits rich in fibers unless you also have inflammatory bowel
disease.
References
- Drugs.com: Diet For Ulcers And Gastritis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Peptic Ulcer
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin A and Carotenoids
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Nutrition for Everyone: Iron and Iron Deficiency
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: What I Need to Know About Peptic Ulcers
- The American College of Gastroenterology: Digestive Health Tips: 10 Tips on Dietary Fiber
- Fruits and Veggies More Matters: Best of: Iron
- Dr. Ronald Hoffman; Ulcers; Ronald Hoffman, M.D., C.N.S.
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Peptic Ulcer
- "Nutrition"; Modulation of Helicobacter Pylori Colonization; M. Gotteland; 2008
- DrHoffman.com; Ulcers; Ronald Hoffman
- "The Medical Clinics of North America"; Diet and Nutrition in Ulcer Disease; R.B. Marotta; 1991
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