Foods to Avoid
There are mixed opinions on which foods are worst for stomach ulcers, but most agree on the following foods that tend to make current ulcers worse. These include;
- Hot peppers
- Black pepper
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Caffeine
- Tea
- Carbonated beverages
- Refined sugar and most sweeteners
- Chocolate and cocoa
- Citrus fruit and juice
- Fried foods
- Omega-6 fats (nuts, seeds, etc.)
- Milk and dairy products
- Tomatoes
- Peppermint
It is important to follow good practices to improve digestion, such as eating smaller meals and thoroughly chewing food, beyond just avoiding such foods. It involves chewing the food twice as long as you normally do in most situations. This alone will improve digestive function and reduce inflammation of the stomach. Slow and stress-free feeding is another way to increase digestive efficiency.
Eating slowly and without discomfort is another way to increase digestive function. Too many people are rushing through meals, not properly chewing their food, and not taking the time to breathe away the day’s tension. While these things appear to be unrelated to ulcers, it is well known that stress can exacerbate ulcers even if it can not trigger them alone.
Avoiding aggravating foods and beverages is a vital part of healing, but changes in lifestyle – such as eating smaller meals and reducing stress – can also have a strong positive impact on digestive health and prevention of ulcers.