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Diet plan for ulcer

I am searching for a diet plan for ulcer patients.
(August 5, 2011)

Ulcers can be painful and cause a lot of discomfort unless certain dietary modifications for ulcers are followed. Ulcers are erosions in the in the lining of the digestive tract which is the stomach, duodenum and intestines. Ulcers are either duodenal ulcers or peptic ulcers. Ulcers are caused by certain bacterial infections which live in the stomach lining. These infections can be suppressed with antacid medications and antibiotic drugs.


Though ulcers can occur at any age they are generally more common in the aged. Other causes of ulcers are smoking, consumption of alcohol and pain killers like ibuprofen, stress, too much of spicy food or coffee. Often ulcers are hereditary and people who suffer with them have a family history of ulcers too.

Food For Ulcer Patients


Food for ulcer patients should be well cooked and bland. They should avoid oily, spicy food and ensure that the diet is rich in fiber content. The food should be chewed well so that it gets digested properly and eaten slowly. It is better to eat several small meals in the day instead of piling up large meals less frequently. Fiber rich foods help to combat the painful symptoms of ulcers and also heal the lining of the stomach faster. Foods which have grains are better for ulcer patients as these are rich in fiber and starch and reduce the symptoms of ulcers. Fresh fruits and certain vegetable which are high in antioxidants are good for ulcers.

Foods To Avoid With Ulcers


Foods to avoid with ulcers are citrus fruits, cabbage, tomatoes and too much of sugar and salt. Dairy products should be with less fat and lean meats are preferred. A person with ulcers will learn to recognize the foods which cause more discomfort and automatically avoid them.

Gastric Ulcer Diet


A gastric ulcer diet should contain foods which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like fish. Poultry and lean meat are also a good source of proteins. Symptoms of gastric ulcers like loss of appetite, vomiting, discomfort in the abdomen, heart burn and belching can be avoided with the right diet. A diet which is rich in vitamin A helps to heal the damaged gastrointestinal lining as it is a vitamin which is fat soluble.

Maize For Stomach Ulcer

Maize for stomach ulcer provides linoleic acid which has healing properties and should be included in the diet. For those who have this painful problem what to eat with an ulcer becomes a major concern because eating the wrong foods will increase the symptoms and cause more discomfort. Sticking to the diet which has been recommended by your doctor along with the prescribed medications should cure the condition in about two weeks if followed properly. Timely meals are another important factor and it is not advisable to have long gaps between meals. If you are in the middle of a meeting or traveling, ensure that you carry some fiber rich biscuits with you.
Submitted by N on August 5, 2011 at 01:29

 

Ulcers Treatment with Diet 

Some people with ulcers might not have a major issue with many foods they consume, while for others even a small piece of an offending item when consumed can cause severe heart burn, excessive acid production and irritation. So it becomes very important to follow certain dietary modifications till the ulcer symptoms subside completely.

  • Have small meals at regular intervals when you feel hungry. Don't make any meals heavy as this would ultimately increase the acid production and make matter worse.
  • Avoid the consumption of alcohol, caffeine and fatty foods totally as all three of them would tend to produce excessive acid in the stomach which the lining may not be able to withstand.
  • Include unprocessed grains like maize in the diet as they contain linoleic acid which has healing and preventive properties against ulcers.
  • Milk would have a soothing effect (just like calcium carbonate containing antacids) when consumed and may help suppress the symptoms for a while but when you tend to rely totally on it then it would bring along some bad news, as it would stimulate the production of excessive stomach acid which can cause trouble.
  • Try and gradually increase the soluble fiber in your diet in cooked form, avoid roughage and raw vegetables.
  • A mild exercise along with the dietary modifications would help to recover from the condition faster. 
Submitted by S M on April 2, 2008 at 06:50

 

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