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Early Stage Ulcer Treatment Diets

Ulcers are painful sores on the lining of your digestive tract. Your digestive tract is made up of the stomach, the esophagus, the duodenum, and the intestines. Ulcers that form in the lining of the stomach are known medically as gastric ulcers. Ulcers form for many different reasons, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Early stage ulcers can often be managed via diet modifications that reduce acid and other corrosive agents responsible for burning the whole in the intestinal lining.

  1. Causes & Symptoms

    • Ulcers have many causes. A majority of ulcers are caused by bacteria called H. pylori. Producing too much stomach acid can also cause ulcers because the acid burns the lining of the stomach and digestive tract. Some over-the-counter drugs have been known to cause ulcers as well when they are taken for long periods of time. These medications include all anti-inflammatory drugs such as ketoprofen, naproxen and ibuprofen. Some prescribed medications can cause ulcers as well, particularly medications prescribed to treat arthritis, says the American Academy of Family Physicians.

      So, how do you know when you have an ulcer? Odds are if you are experiencing the symptoms of an ulcer then you probably do have one or at least have an ulcer that is beginning to form. For stomach ulcers, the first symptom may be feeling like you are hungry, but then feeling worse after you eat or drink something. Other symptoms of ulcers include stomach pain that wake you up in the middle of the night, the feeling of being full after only eating very little, a heavy feeling or feeling like you are bloated, a burning pain in the abdomen, unexplained nausea, vomiting, and weight loss (American Academy of Family Physicians, 2009).

    Foods to Eat

    • One of the most effective ways to help eliminate the symptoms of stomach ulcers or prevent ulcers from appearing in the first place is to change your diet. Changing your diet involves increasing your intake of food that has been shown to have healthy effects on ulcers.You should increase your intake of certain vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin E, and you should also increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. Both of these are shown to help with the lining of the digestive tract in its entirety, including the stomach, not only helping to subside symptoms, but also helping to prevent ulcers from forming initially. These vitamins can be consumed in supplement form or in foods. Fish, especially salmon, has high levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and fish should be eaten regularly.

    Foods to Avoid

    • Reducing the foods that are known to cause or irritate the ulcer is also an essential part of an ulcer treatment diet. Therefore, to prevent the symptoms of stomach ulcers, you should reduce the consumption of spicy foods, alcohol, caffeine and salt.

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