Many people believe that spicy, hot foods cause ulcers. Doctors have since learned that what you eat does not cause ulcers -- even bleeding ulcers. Instead, a bacterium known as Helicobacter pylori is the cause. H. pylori eat away at the lining that protects your gastrointestinal tract, allowing gastric juices to enter causing painful sores. A special diet, rich in nutrients helps to relieve the pain of bleeding ulcers.
What is a Bleeding Ulcer?
Ulcers are lesions that develop in the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal ulcers may appear in the stomach, esophagus or duodenum resulting in heartburn or gas symptoms. As ulcers grow, they may attack the blood vessels within the walls of the gastrointestinal tract resulting in bleeding. According to North Carolina State University, a bleeding ulcer may cause you to vomit fresh blood. You may also vomit digested blood, which is dark brown in appearance like coffee grounds. Blood may also be in your stool, giving it a shiny, tar-like appearance. Aside from bleeding, a bleeding ulcer may cause weakness, lightheadedness and fainting.
Vitamin B-12
Eating foods high in vitamin B -- specifically vitamin B-12 -- is important if you have a bleeding ulcer. According to Oregon State University, Linus Pauling Institute, the existence of a bleeding ulcer interferes with your body's absorption of vitamin B-12. Increasing the amounts of fish, poultry, eggs, meats and dairy and other vitamin B-12 rich foods that you consume each day improves your body's chances of recovering this essential vitamin. It is important to add that soy products as well as, rice milk, are excellent sources of vitamin B-12. In some cases, your physician may recommend that you take a vitamin B-12 supplement.
Antioxidants and Flavonoids
Suppressing H.pylori can keep your bleeding ulcer from becoming worse. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that flavonoids can help inhibit the growth of H. pylori. Foods rich in flavonoids include apples, cranberries, garlic and celery. Drinking a cup or two of tea each day can also provide your body with a dose of flavonoids. Adding foods to your diet that contain antioxidants are also helpful if you have a bleeding ulcer. Squash, bell peppers, cherries, tomatoes and blueberries contain a wealth of antioxidants.
What to Avoid
Certain foods such as red meat, bread, sugar and pasta, aggravate a bleeding ulcer, making the symptoms worse. Fatty, fried foods, processed foods, baked foods and margarine are also foods that you should stay away from if you have an ulcer. Smoking, caffeine and carbonate beverages irritate the lining of your gastrointestinal tract, intensifying pain associated with bleeding ulcers. The same goes for alcoholic beverages, which is also taboo if you have a bleeding ulcer. If you do choose to drink, limit your alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day, according to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
