A gastric ulcer is a sore in the stomach lining caused by H. pylori infection or long-term use of certain medications. A gastric ulcer diet involves eliminating foods and drinks that worsen symptoms, such as caffeine, fats, and spicy foods. Positive lifestyle changes like reducing stress and quitting smoking can also help.
Gastric ulcers are found in the lining of the stomach. The symptoms are made worse by excess acid present in the stomach. A gastric ulcer diet is a plan to minimize the intake of foods and drinks that can aggravate or worsen the ulcer. There are some common items that are more likely to induce symptoms such as caffeine, fats, and spicy foods, but each individual will find different items that they can or cannot eat. Positive lifestyle changes can also reduce the symptoms of a gastric ulcer and may help it heal.
A gastric ulcer is an open wound or sore located in the lining of the stomach, often caused by an infection from the bacterium Heliobacter pylori. Long-term use of certain medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin, can also damage the stomach lining enough for an ulcer to develop. Once an ulcer has formed, excess stomach acid can aggravate the wound, causing unpleasant symptoms and increasing the size of the ulcer by causing further erosion of the stomach wall around the existing ulcer.
The key to a gastric ulcer diet is to identify and eliminate foods and drinks that damage the digestive tract and cause more excess stomach acids. This causes less irritation and may give the ulcer a better chance of healing. Keeping a food diary is an easy and effective way to identify which foods make symptoms worse. Once identified, these items can be eliminated from a gastric ulcer diet. A diary is also an effective way to form a gastric ulcer diet plan because each patient will find a wide variety of different foods and drinks that worsen or reduce symptoms.
There are some items that are more likely to worsen symptoms in most patients, and the amount consumed should be reduced or eliminated from a gastric ulcer diet plan. Caffeine is known to stimulate and increase the production of stomach acids, particularly if consumed on an empty stomach. The intake of fatty foods should be reduced because large amounts of acid are produced to digest the fat. Fruits particularly high in acid, such as citrus, should be avoided as they introduce excess acid into the stomach. Avoiding foods that cause heartburn or indigestion, such as spicy foods, is simple because they are easily identified, and the presence of heartburn indicates excess stomach acid that will make ulcer symptoms more severe.
It is important to avoid overeating because the acid level in the stomach increases with large amounts of food. Many people who suffer from gastric and duodenal ulcers find it beneficial to eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. When following a gastric ulcer diet, it is also advisable to use reduced-fat substitutes, such as milk and cheese.
Other lifestyle changes can also help relieve gastric ulcer symptoms. Reducing stress and anxiety has been shown to relieve ulcer symptoms. Quitting smoking will also reduce symptoms. It is recommended to avoid taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs because these drugs can cause further damage to the stomach lining and existing ulcer.
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