Ulcers, sores on the lining of the stomach, esophagus and intestines, can be caused by a bacterial infection or anti-inflammatory medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen. Stomach acids and other stomach juices can burn the lining of the digestive tract, further irritating the ulcers. Emotional and physical stress can also irritate ulcers. Foods that can irritate the lining of the stomach should be avoided because they may make an ulcer worse.
Hot Peppers
Hot peppers such as jalapenos, ghost peppers, serrano peppers, habanero peppers and ancho peppers may aggravate digestive system ulcers, also called peptic ulcers, by triggering heartburn. This heartburn may irritate the stomach lining and worsen symptoms of ulcers, according to Drugs.com. Symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting and loss of appetite. The belief that hot peppers may cause ulcers persists, although "Real Simple" magazine indicates that peppers have no causal effect. The World's Healthiest Foods website reports that eating hot peppers can prevent some ulcers by killing bacteria responsible for ulcer formation.
Chocolate
Eating chocolate may aggravate ulcers by contributing toward heartburn, so cutting chocolate from the diet may help. The College of Family Physicians of Canada indicates that avoiding both caffeine and milk both may help heal an ulcer, and chocolate contains both. A 2-oz serving of semi-sweet chocolate provides 44 mg of caffeine, and 2 oz of bittersweet chocolate contains 68 mg, according to Amano Artisan Chocolate. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse reveals that some people think drinking milk or eating milk products such as chocolate may help ulcers heal. Although this may temporarily make the stomach feel better, it can ultimately worsen symptoms because it can trigger heartburn.
Tomatoes
Avoiding tomatoes may be beneficial for those with ulcers. Tomatoes have below pH of 4.6, making them a high-acid food, according to an August 2010 article in the Inter-Mountain newspaper. High-acid foods such as tomatoes may trigger heartburn in some people and irritate ulcers. One home remedy for ulcers involves eating sliced tomatoes with pickled lemon and honey to shrink the sores in the digestive system. The MamaHerb website indicates that this should heal ulcers in approximately three weeks. The Mayo Clinic reveals that 10 percent of Americans will develop an ulcer during their lifetime.
References
- Family Doctor: Ulcers: What You Can Do to Heal Your Ulcer
- Mayo Clinic: Peptic Ulcer: Definition
- The George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods: Cayenne Pepper
- Amano Artisan Chocolate: How Much Caffeine is in Chocolate?
- Intermountain.com: Tomato Flavor Depends on Amount of Sugar and Acid
- MamaHerb: Peptic Ulcer Home Remedy Using Honey Lemon And Tomato
Member Comments