Foods To Stay Away From With An Ulcer

A peptic ulcer is an open sore that occurs in the lining of your stomach or in the upper portion of your small intestine. Doctors often refer to stomach ulcersas gastric ulcers and those in the small intestines as duodenal ulcers. Although medical professionals previously thought that diet and stress caused ulcers, they now understand that ulcers most commonly occur owing to the presence of the bacteria Helicobacter pylori. Some foods can exacerbate the pain and burning sensation caused by an ulcer, and you should avoid these foods until your ulcer heals.

Acidic Foods

Ulcers occur when the lining of the digestive tract becomes damaged owing to bacteria or to the use of medications. The damaged area allows stomach acid to seep through to the sensitive stomach underlining, causing irritation that leads to the formation of the ulcer. Eating acidic foods---foods with enough acid to have a pH, a measure of acidity and alkalinity, of 4.6 or less---can further irritate an ulcer and worsen symptoms. Acidic foods include citrus fruits such as oranges, citrus juices, tomatoes and tomato juice.

Spicy Foods

Although spicy foods do not cause ulcers, eating spicy foods can increase stomach acid production and irritate an existing ulcer. Not everyone with an ulcer will experience increased symptoms owing to spices, but if you notice that certain spices affect you, refrain from eating them until your ulcer heals. Spices that commonly exacerbate ulcers include black pepper, chili powder, mustard seed and nutmeg, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Caffeine

Caffeine, a bitter chemical substance, is present in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate and even certain medications. Caffeine stimulates the nervous system and provides a boost of energy. Caffeine also stimulates the production of stomach acid, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, which can aggravate the pain of an ulcer.

Alcohol

To treat an ulcer, doctors prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria and a proton pump inhibitor to reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Once you begin the medications, the damaged lining begins to heal, but complete resolution of an ulcer takes time. During this process, avoid drinking alcohol, as it slows the healing of ulcers and can make them worse, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Milk

In the past many people thought that drinking milk would help to cure an ulcer. Although milk can coat the lining of the stomach and temporarily reduce the symptoms of pain and burning that often accompany an ulcer, it actually stimulates the secretion of stomach acid. Drinking milk can therefore worsen ulcer symptoms. Consult your doctor about whether you should avoid milk while your ulcer is healing.