Stomach ulcer diet is done to help prevent uncomfortable side effects such as heartburn and to decrease gastric irritation and excessive gastric acid secretion. Certain foods seem to aggravate the symptoms for some people. They need a diet that is designed to prevent irritation in the digestive system, reduce excessive production, and prevent unpleasant side effects. Here is a guideline to follow:
- manage your eating habits by eating 3 small meals and 3 snacks evenly spaced throughout the day. Overeating or starving yourself should be avoided.
- eat and chew your foods slowly
- you should be relaxed when before, during, and after your meals
- sit up when you are eating and 1 hour after your meal
- do not eat 3 hours before sleeping. Eating during bedtime can cause gastric acid secretion during the night.
- lessen or avoid foods containing caffeine, citrus, tomato, and chocolate. Caffeine causes increased gastric acid production. Eat foods rich in fiber for better digestion.
- make it a habit to add protein (milk, eggs, meat, etc.) in each meal and snack. Only a moderate amount of milk should be used as antacid therapy. Milk protein has an initial neutralizing effect but is also a very potent stimulator.
Some people have no difficulties in choosing what food they want to eat. Unfortunately for some eating certain foods can cause complications. These people need to know first which foods are safe and what to avoid. They need to know how to prepare meals which will not flare-up their symptoms. Stomach ulcer diet is pretty easy because there are lists on what you can eat, ulcer-friendly recipes and links to menu suggestions on the internet.
A diet for ulcer sufferers may help reduce symptoms but it can not cure the disease or prevent it. Medical professionals today point the presence of h. pylori bacteria as the main cause. The recommendations for the stomach ulcer diet are fairly broad. Some foods cause flare-ups of symptoms while others don’t always make your stomach happy. Patients who suffer from ulcer claim that the diet does not cure the ulcer but is helpful in relieving some symptoms. Stomach ulcer diet alone can not adequately address the problem because some ulcers are bacterial in nature.