Environmental Nutrition: Eating to fight peptic ulcers
People used to say stomach ulcers were caused by too much stress or spicy food, and the best thing to do when the pain flared up was to drink a nice big glass of milk. It turns out everything about that statement was wrong.
What they are
Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of the stomach and the upper portion of the small intestine. They typically cause burning stomach pain, especially when the stomach is empty. They also may cause bloating, belching, heartburn, nausea, or intolerance to fatty foods. Occasionally, ulcers can cause severe symptoms, like blood in vomit or stools, or trouble breathing, and can lead to gastric cancer.
Since 1982, when scientists discovered that many peptic ulcers are caused by a bacterium called H. pylori, antibiotics, along with medicines that decrease stomach acid, have been the main treatment. Ulcers also can be caused by over-the-counter pain medications, including aspirin, ibuprofen (like Motrin and Advil) and naproxen sodium (like Aleve), but not acetaminophen (Tylenol). Smoking and stress can make ulcers worse.
What to eat
That cup of milk may feel good at first, but then it may cause an increase in stomach acid that makes stomach pain worse. But there are foods that can help ulcers get better. In general, experts recommend vitamin-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains to give your body the nutrients it needs to heal. Foods with lots of vitamins A and C may be particularly helpful. If the acid in vitamin C-rich foods, like citrus fruits and tomatoes, make stomach pain worse, there are lots of other options.
What may help
For ulcers caused by H. pylori, a 2015 review in the journal Nutrition Research explored which foods help, and which don't. The following foods and extracts are the most promising choices to help fight H. pylori:
--Probiotics in yogurt, the fermented milk product kefir, and commercial probiotic products may help standard therapy work better and could lessen treatment side effects (look for Lactobacillus or Saccharomyces boulardii).
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