Peptic Ulcers - Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle Changes

It was common in the past to restrict people suffering from peptic ulcers to frequent intake of small amounts of bland foods and milk. Exhaustive research conducted since then has shown that a bland diet is not effective in reducing the incidence or recurrence of ulcers, and that frequent small meals throughout the day are no more effective than consumption of three meals per day. Large amounts of food should still be avoided because stretching or swelling of the stomach can result in painful symptoms.

Fruits and Vegetables. The good news is that a diet rich in fiber may cut the risk of developing ulcers in half and speed healing of existing ones. Fiber found in fruits and vegetables is particularly protective; vitamin A contained in many of these foods may increase the benefit. Some studies on associations between specific food chemicals and ulcers are as follows:

• In one study, apples and yams appeared to be especially helpful.
• Apples, celery, cranberries, onions, red wine, and green and black tea are also high in natural chemicals known as flavonoids that appear to inhibit H. pylori growth and have many other health benefits. In fact, cranberry juice specifically may have properties that help prevent H. pylori from infecting the intestinal lining.
• Grapefruit has antioxidant properties that may help heal ulcers
• Laboratory experiments suggest that a compound found in broccoli and broccoli sprouts, called sulforaphane, may also be lethal to even drug-resistant strains of H. pylori.
• Tea has chemicals that may help protect against cancers in the stomach and esophagus.

Milk. Milk actually encourages the production of acid in the stomach, although moderate amounts (two to three cups a day) can be drunk without harm.

Coffee and Carbonated Beverages. Coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated), soft drinks, and fruit juices with citric acid increase stomach acid production. Although no studies have proven that any of these drinks contribute to ulcers, consuming more than three cups of coffee per day may increase susceptibility to H. pylori infection.