What type of diet would you recommend for someone who has an ulcer?
Thank you for your input.
First, you should ask your doctor about what nutrition therapy, s/he would prescribe. Depending on the ulcer, it may be treated with an antibiotic if H-Pylori bacteria has infected the valve at the bottom of your stomach where food enters the small intestine.
It depends on whether you are having symptoms or not. If you are having symptoms, eat only cooked foods, limit your intake of milk to 2 cups per day and avoid gas-forming foods (broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, baked beans) caffeine-containing foods (coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate) and alcohol. Some spices like garlic, pepper, curry, chili powder and cayenne also stimulate the production of acid in the stomach. Also, you should eat 3 meals per day. The acid will work on the food rather than your stomach or intestinal wall. Any food other than lime juice will neutralize the acid because a food is less acidic than the acid your stomach produces.
Prescribed drugs and antacids are effective in healing and preventing ulcers both gastric and duodenal (intestinal).
If you aren’t having symptoms, you can eat whatever you want except caffeine, alcohol and the above spices. Milk has been found to stimulate the production of acid so limit to 2 cups per day.
There is some new research that ulcers may be caused by an infection and treatment with antibiotics has been suggested. Talk to your doctor about this.
