Foods to Eat (and Avoid) With a Stomach Ulcer Diet

An ulcer diet includes foods like berries, eggs, lean meats, and whole grains, which may help limit your symptoms. It also helps to exclude certain foods like fried foods, citrus fruits, and alcohol, which can irritate ulcer sores in the lining of the stomach, esophagus, or small intestine.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a common cause of stomach ulcers that requires treatment with antibiotics. Peptic ulcers can also be caused by long-term use of certain medications, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Foods to Eat

An ulcer diet is an eating plan designed to relieve peptic ulcer symptoms, prevent flares, and prevent more ulcers from developing. Bland, easily digestible foods should make up the majority of what you eat on an ulcer diet.

An ulcer diet is designed to:

• Correct nutritional deficiencies that contribute to your symptoms
• Provide the protein and other nutrients your body needs to heal
• Help you avoid foods that irritate the ulcer
• Help with related conditions like Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or bacterial infections

Dietary changes alone may not be enough to heal your ulcer, and you may require additional treatment from a healthcare provider. Seek guidance from your healthcare provider about your diet choices and any other recommended treatments.

1. Fruits

Both fresh and frozen fruits contain helpful fiber and antioxidants. Polyphenols, found in many fruits, may be beneficial. Berries, apples, grapes, and pomegranates are among the best choices for healing polyphenols. Avoid citrus fruits or juices like orange or grapefruit if they trigger acid reflux.

2. Vegetables

Leafy greens, bright red and orange vegetables, and cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, and kale) are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that are especially good for your overall health and healing. Cabbage has been studied for its benefits in treating digestive diseases.

Avoid spicy peppers and tomatoes, or products made with them if they give you reflux.

3. Lean Proteins

Skinless poultry, lean beef like sirloin or tenderloin, fish, eggs, tofu, tempeh, dry beans, and peas are excellent sources of low-fat protein. Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, and sardines provide omega-3 fatty acids, which can reduce inflammation and may be helpful in preventing another ulcer.

There's some research to suggest H. pylori infection and inflammation may lead to the development of other diseases, too, including heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids may offer benefits as well.

4. Probiotic Foods

Products like kefir, sauerkraut, and Greek yogurt provide probiotics (helpful bacteria) along with protein, so they're good choices. Ongoing research suggests probiotics may offer benefits in treating peptic ulcers.

5. Whole Grains

Whole grain breads, and whole or cracked grains like oats, quinoa, farro, millet, or sorghum are good sources of fiber to include in your diet. They are a part of a healthy lifestyle and support digestive wellness, although some studies suggest that fiber itself does not prevent ulcers.

6. Herbs and Spices

Hot, spicy foods are usually avoided on an ulcer diet, but a review of studies on food and H. pylori found that some spices added for flavor such as cloves, coriander (cilantro), and fennel also help inhibit the bacteria.

Mild herbs and spices are often a source of antioxidants. Other good choices include turmeric, cinnamon, ginger, and garlic, which have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Foods to Avoid

Foods to avoid when you have a stomach ulcer include:

1. Alcohol

All alcohol is a stomach irritant and will delay healing. Avoid wine, beer, and spirits.

2. Caffeine

Cut back or stop drinking coffee, tea, and caffeinated sodas. They can increase stomach acid production.

3. Milk

There was a time when milk was used in treating ulcers. More recent research, however, has found that it increases stomach acid. It's best to avoid it.

4. Certain Meats

Skip any highly seasoned meats, lunch meats, and other processed meats. Avoid eating large amounts of red meat, which can cause inflammation in the gut. If you do eat red meat, choose lean cuts or trim the fat before cooking.

5. High-Fat Foods

Try to exclude large amounts of added fats from your diet. Fat can increase stomach acid and trigger reflux. There is also evidence that a high-fat diet can inhibit the gastric ulcer healing process.

Avoid fried foods and fatty foods like bacon or sausage. You may also need to avoid gravy, cream soups, and salad dressings. Healthy fats like those found in nuts and avocados are okay to eat.

6. Spicy Foods

Spicy foods don't cause ulcers. However, they may irritate your ulcer, so limiting spicy foods can help reduce your symptoms.

Consider skipping anything spicy, such as chili peppers, horseradish, black pepper, and sauces and condiments that contain them.

7. Salty Foods

Researchers have found that salty foods may promote the growth of H. pylori. Pickles, olives, and other brined or fermented vegetables are high in salt and linked to a higher risk of H. pylori ulcers.

8. Chocolate

Chocolate can increase stomach acid production and trigger reflux symptoms. Avoiding chocolate may help reduce stomach irritation.

9. Raw Vegetables

Raw vegetables are harder to digest. Even leafy green vegetables commonly used in salads may create problems for some people.

How the Ulcer Diet Works

An ulcer diet adds foods with antibacterial effects and compounds that boost healing. It also limits excess acid production, which can aggravate an ulcer. These foods can include polyphenols that help to heal stomach lining ulcers faster, while others have antibacterial effects and help kill H. pylori.

While there are no strict rules about which foods to eat, try to add as many foods as you can from the list above. Avoid foods that make you feel worse or that trigger acid production and reflux.

With the ulcer diet:

• Protein: Eating enough protein is important. While your ulcer is healing, aim for about 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of your body weight. That means about 3 ounces of lean poultry or meat per day for a 140-pound person assigned female at birth, and 4 ounces per day for a 200-pound person assigned male at birth.
• Fiber: The rest of your calories should come from a balanced diet that includes whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. More fiber may lower the risk of ulcers, but results are mixed. Ask your healthcare provider about fiber intake.

An ulcer diet should be followed along with any other treatment recommendations from your healthcare provider. You also should continue the diet according to these recommendations, although you may find the diet is a lifestyle change you want to continue.

Other Factors to Consider With an Ulcer Diet

When following an ulcer diet, you may want to consider other factors such as food preparation or special diets. You can:

• Stick to lower-fat cooking methods like roasting, braising, and grilling instead of frying. Also, limit your use of butter and oils when you cook, as these can be harder to digest.
• Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day helps improve digestion.
• Avoid grains with gluten, such as wheat, rye, and barley if you are diagnosed with celiac disease. Be sure to read product labels when choosing foods.
• Avoid the milk sugars in lactose-based foods if you are managing inflammatory bowel disease. Stay away from carbonated beverages, and choose lower-fiber foods.
• Following a low FODMAPS diet may be helpful.
  

As long as you maintain good variety in your diet, you can still get the nutrients you need from other foods when you stop eating the ones that irritate your ulcer.

If you're trying to add more polyphenol-rich foods and fiber to your diet, and you cut back on fatty foods, an ulcer diet may be even more nutritious than your regular diet. You may lose weight, feel healthier, and boost energy with improved diet choices.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Call your healthcare provider if you have symptoms that suggest a complication with an ulcer, such as significant internal bleeding. These symptoms may include:

• Black stool (poop), sometimes described as tarry stool, or red or maroon blood mixed with your stool
• Red blood in your vomit or stool
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Stomach pain that doesn't resolve, or becomes severe
• Dizziness or fainting
• Rapid heart rate or falling blood pressure
• A change in or worsening of your peptic ulcer symptoms

Your healthcare provider can diagnose your symptoms and begin any needed treatment. A healthcare provider can perform an endoscopy to visualize the tissue and collect a sample, to test for H. pylori or cancer.

An ulcer is treated with medicines to reduce stomach acid. Further treatment depends on the cause of the ulcer, such as antibiotics to treat H. pylori infection. Your healthcare provider may also recommend proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to help reduce stomach acid and promote healing.

Summary

Foods by themselves don't cause stomach ulcers, and there is more than one possible reason why you may have them. The foods you choose, though, can make a big difference in how you feel and how quickly they heal.

Medical treatment with antibiotics may be necessary if you have H pylori, the bacterium responsible for some ulcers, but an ulcer diet offers options to improve your overall health and nutrition while reducing your ulcer risk.