Foods to Avoid With Bleeding Ulcer

Foods to Avoid With Bleeding Ulcer
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An ulcer, usually caused by the bacteria helicobacter pylori, is characterized as an open sore in your stomach lining, intestine or esophagus. Bleeding ulcers usually require medical intervention to prevent serious health complications. Adjusting your diet to include ulcer-friendly foods and excluding harmful ones can help reduce symptoms and promote recovery.

Spicy Foods

In some people with bleeding ulcers, consuming spicy foods worsens their symptoms. You may want to avoid foods that contain nutmeg, black pepper, chili, jalapeno peppers or hot sauces, notes the American Academy of Family Physicians. As a preventative health measure, keep a food diary of spicy foods that tend to worsen your symptoms and exclude the unhealthy ones.

Beverages

All types of coffee can worsen ulcer symptoms by producing excessive stomach acid. Limit or restrict your intake of coffee until your condition is resolved. You should also reduce your consumption of carbonated drinks and tea, as they can have the same effect as coffee. If you drink a lot of alcohol, your stomach and intestinal linings can erode and become irritated, reports MayoClinic.com. This can cause subsequent bleeding and inflammation, which can worsen symptoms. Reduce or completely eliminate alcoholic beverages while you have a bleeding ulcer.

Fatty Foods, Chocolate, Meat Extracts

Foods that bother other patients may not affect you. Avoid fatty foods, chocolate and meat extracts if you find that they worsen your symptoms. Additional factors such as smoking and taking anti-inflammatory drugs can also exacerbate your symptoms, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

References

Article reviewed by Leah Ann Crussell Last updated on: Dec 13, 2010

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