4 Products to Avoid In Case of Stomach Ulcer

Peptic ulcer, more popularly known as stomach ulcer, is a rupture in the stomach’s lining. More specifically, it occurs when open sores (or holes) appear on the inner lining of the stomach. There are two kinds of stomach ulcers: duodenal ulcers, which appear in the upper part of the small intestine and gastric ulcers, which are in the stomach itself.

It’s a very, very painful condition caused more commonly by an infection due to Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium. Prolonged usage of aspirin and other types of painkillers like naproxen sodium and ibuprofen can also trigger the appearance of the ulcer.

One of the most common symptoms of a peptic ulcer is stomach pain. This happens due to stomach acid, especially when it’s empty. Feelings of fullness, heartburn, loss of appetite, weakness, bloating and unexplained weight loss can also be included in the list of symptoms.

Smokers and heavy drinkers are especially exposed to this condition. These categories of people tend to be more stressed, which adds up when it comes to the development of an ulcer.

In the case of ulcer, you should immediately consult a medical specialist. Your doctor may prescribe various antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection and advise you to take antacids to lower the amount of acid present in the digestive tract.

Another important thing is to watch what you eat. There is no specific list of foods you should avoid in case of stomach ulcer, but there are a few products you could stay away from in order to facilitate the healing.

• Spicy Foods

Spicy foods don’t cause stomach ulcer by themselves, so you can throw that information in the misconception bin. Still, you are not in the clear, as spicy products like seasonings or hot pepper can do damage to the lining of the stomach, thus enhancing the gravity of the stomach ulcer.

• Red Meat

Red meat is a big no-no for people suffering from a stomach ulcer.

Red meat has loads of fat and protein, and the stomach will have a very hard time digesting it. In order for the stomach to digest it, as time progresses, it will produce more and more acid, which can irritate the stomach lining and, as a result, worsen the condition. Therefore, you should avoid red meat at all costs until the ulcer is completely healed. Replace it with healthier, safer alternatives such as chicken or turkey.

• Alcohol

Alcohol poses a problem both for people with and without a peptic ulcer. Usually, alcohol can increase the acidity level in the stomach and aggravate the existing ulcer and might trigger the appearance of it.

• Coffee

Coffee contains caffeine and other substances that cause the stomach to pump high amounts of acid. This beverage enhances the process of gastric emptying, which will leave your stomach with no food to digest and a lot of useless excess acid. The highly acidic content of the stomach might pass into the small intestine. Don’t think of switching to decaffeinated coffee, because it has the same effect.

Stomach ulcer is no joke and should be treated seriously in case it appears. Make sure to follow these small tips and consult with your doctor regularly.