This recommended stomach ulcer diet includes a couple of minor adjustments to your lifestyle, as well as some small but sensible changes in your eating habits. This ulcer diet is more of a guide that will keep you aware of what foods are good, or bad, for your ulcers – it is that simple.
There are no hard and fast rules here. Various foods will affect various people in various ways, even if those foods are actually recommended in an ulcer diet.
To achieve the main goals of your stomach ulcer diet, avoid the habits below
- Try not to drink too much tea or coffee – caffeine raises acid levels.
- Try abstaining from alcohol – it also raises acid levels
- Smoking – nicotine also raises acid levels. Smoking is known to delay ulcer healing.
- Try not to use any form of aspirin (check packaging inserts)
- Medications containing ibuprofen (check packaging inserts) can delay the healing process
- Antacids should be used sparingly or avoided as these may cause diarrhoea.
- Stop eating any food that causes discomfort – even if it tastes nice!!
Bad stuff: The bad stuff in short is anything that hurts you. The most common of these are;
- Abrasive roughage – like bran, nuts, popcorn, and seeds.
- Red meat in large quantities – animal proteins are high in acids.
- High-fat breads and cereals such as croissants, biscuits and crackers, and granola-based cereals. Also breads with nuts or dried fruit, or seeds.
- Wild rice
- Raw vegetables, corn, tomatoes and tomato based products
- Berries, figs, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, pineapples, and tangerines
- Orange, pineapple and grapefruit juice
- Highly processed or seasoned meats or poultry or fish – such as corned beef, polonies, sausages, sardines and anchovies
- All fried or fatty meat, poultry, or fish
- Highly seasoned salad dressings, cakes, cookies, pies, pastries
- Chips, doughnuts, fried potatoes and buttered popcorn
- Coconut, chocolate and sweets and desserts containing nuts, coconut or fruit should be avoided.
To achieve the main goals of your stomach ulcer diet, here are some common sense to follow
- Chew your food properly
- Eat SLOWLY. Taking meals ‘on the run’ is a no-no
- Chew and swallow food slowly. Be relaxed when you are eating
- Sit upright or even stand up when you eat
- Choose low fat foods rather than fatty foods
- Finish eating at least two hours before you go to bed.
- Drink Water – lots of it! A glass of water can relieve abdominal pains within ten minutes.
- Eat three small meals plus three snacks per day.
This is a short list of foods that have commonly been found to be well tolerated by ulcer patients.
- Vegetables – Fresh, frozen, or canned. Vegetables, Okra, sweet potatoes, squash, yams, broccoli, brussel sprouts, bean sprouts, carrots and carrot juice, potatoes, cabbage juice.
- Fruit – Papaya, avocados, bananas, Blue grapes, almonds and almond milk and any other fresh, frozen, and canned fruits.
- High-fiber foods – Brown rice, barley, oats, are helpful as they can naturally coat and soothe your stomach lining.
- Eggs – 3-4 egg yolks per week maximum
- Smooth peanut butter # Fresh, frozen, and canned fruits
- Meat in small 6oz portions at most – lean beef, pork, lamb, veal, crispy bacon, lean ham, and skinless poultry.
- Fish – All fresh, frozen, or canned fish packed in water
