Diet For Pepcid Ulcers

Peptic ulcers are holes in the mucosa lining of the gastrointestinal system that may develop in your esophagus, stomach or duodenum, the first section of your small intestine. At one time, doctors thought that peptic ulcers resulted from eating too many spicy foods. However, it is now known that these crater-like erosions are primarily caused by other factors, such as taking certain medications or playing host to bacteria. Fortunately, you can put out the fire and manage your symptoms by adhering to a special diet for peptic ulcers.

Diet Matters

• Take an inventory of your dietary and lifestyle habits and make changes accordingly. Starting a diet for peptic ulcers is a smart move, but your efforts will be undermined if you consume too much alcohol, caffeine or carbonated drinks. This includes decaffeinated coffee and tea, too.

  Make sure you drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water each day. Ideally, you should drink filtered water to reduce the risk of becoming infected with Heliocobacter pylori (H. pylori), which is often found in well water and sometimes even bottled water. This clever bacterium ensures its survival in your body by secreting an enzyme that neutralizes your stomach acid. According to the Mayo Clinic, H. pylori is the major cause of peptic ulcers and affects approximately 10 percent of the general U.S. population and more than half of those over the age of 60.

  Include plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. In addition to these foods providing high fiber content, they also offer beneficial antioxidants and flavonoids.

  Model the Mediterranean method when cooking and preparing foods, which calls for using healthy oils that contain unsaturated fatty acids, such as olive oil. According to researchers at the University Hospital of Heraklion in Greece, intake of unsaturated fatty acids, namely eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), help to inhibit H. pylori.

  Reduce your consumption of animal fats and trans-fatty acids. This means limiting red meat and processed foods, particularly baked goods and fried foods.

  Consider making deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) part of your diet for peptic ulcers. Early studies, such as one published in the journal Practitioner, reported that DGL supplementation promoted the healing of ulcers and helped to restore healthy mucosa lining in 32 subjects with chronic peptic ulcers of the duodenum.