Have you been battling with this unbearable pain in your stomach walls for years, and have tried on how to get rid of it all to no avail? After eating a certain food, you go through excruciating pain? Then this article on food for ulcer patients is definitely for you. 

What Is An Ulcer?

Ulcers are painful sores or open wounds that are found in the lining of the lower throat, digestive tract, stomach and small intestines.

An ulcer occurs when protective mucus found in the wall lines of the stomach becomes ineffective which allows the acid in the stomach to destroy the digestive tract.

Causes Of Ulcer.

Right from time, we have always thought that ulcer was caused by the kind of food we eat. But the discovery has been made us know that it’s not just certain food we eat that causes ulcer, but also bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori(H Pylori) and excessive use of anti-inflammatory pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen etc. 

Types Of Ulcer.

There are different types of ulcers which are all very painful and unbearable. To get a cure for your ulcer, you have to know the type you are suffering from.

In this article(food for ulcer patients), follow me as we go through the different types of ulcers, their symptoms and their cure.

1. Peptic Ulcer.

Peptic Ulcer is woundlike sores that are found in:

• The oesophagus(throat).
• The lining of your stomach.
• The upper portion of your small intestine.

When digestive juices damage the walls of your stomach or intestine, it forms a sore called a peptic ulcer. There are different types of Peptic ulcers but they all have the same symptoms. They include:

• Gastric ulcers: the sore happens on the inside of the stomach.
• Duodenal ulcers: The sore occur on the inside of the upper portion of the small intestine.

Causes:

The most common causes of peptic ulcers are infection by a bacteria called  Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen sodium and others.

Peptic ulcers are not caused by stress or spicy foods. However, they can worsen the symptoms.

Symptoms:

Below are the most common symptoms of the peptic ulcer;

• Heartburn
• Bloating 
• Weight loss
• Chest pain
• Fatty food Intolerance
• Severe pain in the upper abdomen
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Burning  sensation in the stomach (stomach pain)
• Feeling fainty.

The acid in the stomach worsens the pain just as much as having an empty stomach. Peptic ulcer pain usually gets worst at night and between meals.

The pain can be reduced by taking acid reduction medicins or some kind of food for ulcer that will be listed below as you keep reading this article on food for ulcer patients.

Cure:

Antibiotics are used in treating Peptic ulcer and antacid is taken to reduce the symptoms. Probiotics and alkaline food for ulcer patients should be taken frequently to help boost up your immune system. To cure or prevent peptic ulcers, you have to stay away from some lifestyle like;

• Reduce your intake of alcohol. If you must take alcoholic beverages, do not take more than one.
• Always wash and sanitise your hand to prevent infections.
• Never take your medication with alcohol as this can worsen the situation.
• Regulate your use of pain reliever medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen.
• Eat healthy by taking lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains.
• Stay away from smoking tobacco, cigarettes or hard drugs.

When to See a Doctor.

If you are experiencing the above symptoms, it is advisable to see your doctor. And if the pain returns after taking antacids or acid blockers, also see your doctor to recommend other treatment options.

Read Also:20 Health Benefits of bitter leaf

Arterial Ulcers:

An arterial ulcer happens when enough blood is not supplied to the leg which causes an open sore to develop. An arterial ulcer affects the lower part of the leg. ankle, toes and feet. If proper treatment is taken or if you eat the right food for ulcer, Arterial ulcers can take months to heal.

Causes.

An arterial ulcer is caused by low delivery of oxygen and rich blood nutrient to the tissues ie high blood pressure. This type of ulcer is mostly found in people with the following condition:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Age
• Kidney failure
• Obesity
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• High blood fat and cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Renal failure
• Clotting and circulation disorders
• Heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease. 

Symptoms:

Below are the symptoms of arterial ulcer:

• Slow to heal injuries due to the poor blood supply to the wound.
• red, yellow, or black sores.
• Wounds are deep.
• Tight and hairless skin.
• Pain in the leg, ankle, foot, toes
• Lack of blood in injury 
• Cure
• Keep sore dry and clean.
• Antibiotics can help reduce symptoms.
• Circulation of blood in the affected area by home remedy or surgery.

Mouth Ulcer:

Mouth ulcer are sores that are found in the mouth. It can be painful and uncomfortable.

Causes:

• Injury from biting the tongue or inside the cheek.
• Eating of spicy food
• Acidity
• Burns from hot food
• Injury from toothbrush
• Vitamins deficiencies 

 Symptoms

• Fever
• Absences of craving/appetite.
• Trouble biting or cleaning the teeth.
• Irritation of the sores by salty, spicy or sour foods.
• Enlarged jaw

Cure:

• Mouth ulcer heals on its own after two weeks.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Use salt and water solution to rinse the mouth regularly.
• Until the ulcer has completely healed, avoid spicy or very hot food.
• Take vitamins like vitamin c, etc
• Take lots of fruits.

When To See Your Doctor:

See your doctor if after three weeks and mouth sore has refused to heal.

In an ulcer patient, ulcer may not completely heal, so it is important for you to eat right.

Below are some food for ulcer patients:

Food For Ulcer Patients

Vegetables.

• The body gets a good source of nutrients from vegetables. 
• They assist with safeguarding the body from unfamiliar bodies.
• High vitamins and minerals can be found in vegetables.
• It has vitamins A, B, C,E,K, calcium, fibre, potassium, iron, calcium, magnesium etc.
• They help in digestion and constipation which helps keep the stomach healthy.
• Eating lots of vegetables will help fasten the healing process of yourulcer.
• You can make vegetable sauce or soup, but make sure you put very little pepper.

Unripe plantain.

Plantain is the number one food for ulcer patients. Unripe plantain has a very high fiber which makes the nutritional value very high. It has vitamin E, B2, pectin, starch, phosphorus,calcuim etc which help with the fast healing of your ulcer.

If you add unripe plantain to your diet routine, it will help with gastrointestinal tract diseases, it can also help you shed some unwanted fat in the body.

Unripe plantain can be eaten in different ways. You can boil it and eat it with vegetable sauce or you can make porridge from it or make flour from it and eat with soup.

Read Also:Benefits of Fruits and Veggies – How These 15 Fruits and Veggies Can Benefit Your Health.

Fish And Egg

Fish has omega 3 fatty acids in it. These omega 3 acids produce a compound that is known as prostaglandins which help to protect the lining of the intestines and stomach from the risk of getting ulcers.

Fish and eggs are good sources of protein which is good for ulcer patients. Boiled eggs are more nutritious much better than fried eggs. Boiled fishes are less likely to irritate the stomach lining than fried fish. You can explore with your food by using your fish and egg to make a sauce with fresh tomatoes and eat it with your brown rice. This kind of food for ulcer patients is good.

Green Pepper

Another name for green pepper is bell pepper. Green pepper is not peppery and it tastes so good and adds flavour to your food. Green pepper can be used to make different types of vegetable recipes. Research has shown that green peppers have many healing properties. that is why it is a good food for ulcer patients.

Green pepper is low in calories and has a decent inventory of nutrients and minerals. They can be cooked or eaten raw as they are sweet and crunchy. The presence of germ-free properties in capsicum safeguards the body against food contamination. Green peppers are additionally mitigating in that they are generally excellent in relieving pain.

Okra

Okra is one of the best food for ulcer patients. Okra is a popular vegetable. There are several ways in which you can prepare your okra. it can either be fried, boiled or pickled. Okra has been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.

Okra has low calories and high dietary fibre content with which it aids the digestive system, helping to relieve and prevent constipation. Regular consumption of okra helps in neutralizing acids and speeds the healing of peptic ulcer by providing a temporary protective coating for the digestive tract.

Garden Egg.

Garden egg is a vegetable that is shaped like an egg. the garden egg is one of the healthiest food for ulcer patients. it contains fibre, beta carotene and many essential vitamins and minerals.

Garden egg helps in the digestion of food by ensuring smooth passage of food in the body to guide against bloating which most of the time causes ulcer pains. 

A study conducted shows that garden egg can be used for the treatment of stomach ulcers. The study which was undertaken to evaluate the possible anti-ulcer effect of the African garden egg reveals that garden egg possesses ulcer protective properties, making it a cheap source of natural anti-ulcer remedy. It can be eaten fresh alone or prepared into a stew and eaten with rice or boiled yam, plantain or any other food.

Cucumber.

Cucumber belongs to the same family as zucchini, watermelon, pumpkin and other types of summer squash. Since it is mostly made of water and important nutrients that are essential for the human body, cucumber is highly recommended as food for ulcer patients.

Cucumber helps to regulate the acidity and movement of the stomach since it is a perfect blend of both fibre and water. Cucumber has excellent cleaning properties and it actively removes accumulated waste and toxins from the body. It often acts as an antioxidant when you consume it with barbecued or fried foods.

Wheat

Wheat I is a very good food for ulcer patients. That being said, ulcer patients can benefit a whole lot from including wheat and it’s products in their diet.

Millet and Corn Pudding

Popularly made in the form of pap or ogi, millet and corn pudding are very soothing foods for ulcer patients. Pap is frequently eaten to protect and heal digestive systems, stimulate appetite and to ease the symptoms of stomach ulcers. Their preparation is quick making it a fast food for ulcer patients. Being soft in texture makes them easily digested. They are best paired with milk.

 Sweet Potato

It’s high in vitamin A, C and there’s evidence that this nutrient can help shrink stomach ulcers and may also play a role in preventing them. Other foods with a good dose of vitamin A include spinach, carrots, cantaloupe, and beef liver.

Apples, pears, oatmeal, and other foods that are high in fiber are good for ulcers in two ways. Fiber can lower the amount of acid in your stomach while easing bloating and pain. Research has also shown that a diet rich in fiber may help prevent ulcers. as an ulcer patient, you can never say no to this food.

Garlic:

Garlic is a great addition to your food for ulcer patients. It is also anti biotics and is great at healing wounds fast. add garlic to your diet like soup, stew, sauce etc. ifs a very nice flavour.

 Decaffeinated Green Tea

Green tea is not left out when it comes to food for ulcer patients. It can be taken together with any meal.

Supplements 

If your stomach ulcer is being treated with an antibiotic, consider taking a probiotic supplement as part of your diet plan. This can help reduce antibiotic-associated symptoms. It may also improve the effectiveness of the antibiotic.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt is also a good foo for ulcer patients. Ulcer patients should never run out of yoghurt. It contains a micro-organism that inhibits ulcers. It has also been said to heal ulcer faster than anything. Greek yoghurt is most potent, as opposed to the sweetened one which you really should avoid at all costs.

Read  Also:Healthy Intermittent Fasting and Keto Meal Plan For Beginners

Honey

Honey is one great food for ulcer patience to take. Honey has been known to fight bacteria that’s why it’s the best bet for ulcer patients. Start by taking a tablespoon of raw, unprocessed honey in the morning and at night to calm a fiery belly. Spread it on toast or a cracker to keep it in the stomach longer.

Eat a variety of healthy foods from all the food groups. Eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat dairy foods. Whole grains include whole-wheat bread, cereals, pasta, and brown rice. Choose lean meats, poultry (chicken and turkey), fish, beans, eggs, and nuts. A healthy meal plan is low in unhealthy fats, salt, and added sugar. Healthy fats include olive oil and canola oil. Ask your dietitian for more information about a healthy meal plan.

A diet for ulcers and gastritis is a meal plan that limits foods that irritate your stomach. Certain foods may worsen symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, heartburn, or indigestion.

Other food for ulcer patients you should try are:

• cauliflower
• cabbage
• radishes
• apples
• blueberries
• raspberries
• blackberries
• strawberries
• cherries
• bell peppers
• carrots
• broccoli
• leafy greens, such as kale and spinach
• probiotic-rich foods, such as yogurt, kefir, miso, sauerkraut, and kombucha.
• olive oil and other plant-based oils
• garlic
• licorice
• turmeric

Food To Avoid as An Ulcer Patient.

Just as there is food for ulcer patience, so is there food for ulcer patience to avoid taking. To get rid of ulcers, there are some certain food, drink, faty food, acidity you need to avoid eating. Below is the list of things to avoid:

• Dairy food made from whole milk or cream.
• Peppers and Hot chiles.
• Spicy or strongly flavoured cheeses, such as jalapeno or black pepper
• Highly seasoned, high-fat meats, such as sausage, salami, bacon, ham.
• Chocolate.
• Tomato paste, tomato sauce, or tomato juice.
• Black and red pepper
• Chili powder
• Mustard seed and nutmeg
• Whole milk and chocolate milk
• Hot cocoa and cola
• Any beverage with caffeine
• Regular and decaffeinated coffee
• Peppermint and spearmint tea
• Green and black tea, with or without caffeine
• Orange and grapefruit juices
• Drinks that contain alcohol

With this article on food for ulcer patients, I hope you have learned what and what not to eat for ulcer patients. Live by it and see how fast you heal from ulcer completely.

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