Top 15 Foods to Avoid With Ulcers | Prevent Ulcerative Colitis

There are some foods to avoid with an ulcer the moment you notice that you have ulcers. These foods can worsen discomfort and pain.

In fact, ulcers can be prevented by avoiding food substances that weaken the lining wall of the digestive tract by reducing stomach acid secretion.

Generally, ulcers are sores that occur along the lining of the small intestine or stomach and throat. A poor sedentary lifestyle and dietary choices can worsen peptic ulcer disease.

Types of ulcers

 There are three common types of ulcers. They include;

Symptoms of ulcers

Here are common symptoms of ulcers that you need to be aware of

  • Feeling uncomfortable while eating

It can cause pain and discomfort while you are eating.

The acidic reactions can lead to pain as you swallow your meals. In any case, if you feel the discomfort, then you need to see a doctor or stop eating the foods that make you feel discomfort.

  • Discomfort at night after meals

ulcers can also lead to discomfort after your meals, especially, when you are sleeping.

This is very common when you eat at late night and sleep immediately. It is always important to eat early before you get to bed for the gravitational actions to take place after eating.

  • Feeling uncomfortable between meals

It can also cause discomfort between meals. Maybe you may feel pain during a period between breakfast and lunch or between lunch and supper.

Anytime after your meals, you might feel pain due to the reactions of acids and bases during the absorption of food.

  • Feels satisfied quickly

Another sign of ulcers is that they can suppress your appetite and make you feel full and satisfied the moment you start eating your delicious meals.

  • Stomach pain after meals

You can feel severe pain after eating. Stomachache is a common sign of ulcers that you need to be aware of.

  • Stomach disorders such as dull pain
  • Bloating
  • Unpredictable pain that comes and goes at a time, it can last for minutes or hours
  • Vomiting blood if ulcer become perforated.
  • Blood in your stool
  • You can at a time feels back pain
  • Nausea

Causes of ulcers

Ulcers are mainly caused by a bacterial infection called Helicobacter pylori.

Some poor dietary and sedentary lifestyles can worsen it. Furthermore, some medications such as anti-inflammatory medicines can as well cause ulcers.

prevent ulcers

Psychological problems such as stress, depression, and anxiety can also worsen the ulcer.

Top foods to avoid with ulcers 

Here are the common foods to avoid with ulcers.

  1. Limit anti-inflammatory medicines

 The use of aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs can increase your chances of developing ulcers. Therefore, to prevent ulcers, you need to limit the use of these medicines.

Furthermore, these anti-inflammatory medicines provide great encouragement to the worn-out lining walls of the digestive system.

This gives the H. pylori bacteria a greater chance to spread, causing severe pain.

However, if you take aspirin or ibuprofen for chronic pain, then it is important to consult with your doctor.

  1. Avoid spicy and  fatty foods to prevent ulcers

I know you like spicy and fatty foods, however, these are the types of foods to avoid with ulcers.

In fact, excess spicy and fatty foods can be irritating and increase your chances of developing ulcers.

Studies show that these foods can worsen your pain and cause irritation if you have an ulcer.

For that matter, limit eating excess fatty food to prevent ulcers.

  1. Avoid foods that are acidic

Foods rich in acids increase stomach acidity, which may cause soreness in the lining of the stomach.

Therefore, these are some of the types of foods to avoid with ulcers.

If you must eat them, then, you should limit taking them. A good example of foods that are rich in acid is orange juice, citrus, and tomatoes.

Study shows that these acidic foods increase your chances of developing ulcers and can make the virus spread faster to nearby tissues. They are also linked to heartburn.

 It is the right time to be mindful of the type of foods you eat if you have ulcers.

  1. Limit consumption of caffeine

Coffee or caffeine increases the production of stomach acids.

The substance present in caffeine act as a catalyst. Therefore, it boosts the release of acid content in the stomach.

 This acid may cause ulcers and can make you discomfort.

Therefore, coffee is some of the types of foods to avoid with ulcers.

Furthermore, It irritates the stomach walls and leaves you with a lot of pain. If you must drink coffee, then it is important to limit it as it can also lead to heartburn.

  1. Quit drinking alcohol

Generally, alcohol is not healthy for consumption. It causes several chronic illnesses including cancer, diabetes, hypertension as well as ulcers. 

According to PubMed, alcohol increases the corrosion of the digestive tract, which can increase the spread of the Helicobacter pylori virus to neighboring tissues.

In fact, alcohol contains harmful chemicals or substances that weaken the lining wall of the digestive tract by increasing stomach acid secretion.

It can also increase your chances of developing different types of ulcers and heartburn.

Therefore, alcohol is some of the foods to avoid with ulcers to stay safe and reduce its discomfort.

  1. Avoid smoking

Smoking is another serious cause of ulcers. The toxic substances present in tobacco cause severe damage to the lining of the digestive tract.

foods to avoid with ulcers

The damage to the throat causes pain resulting in esophageal ulcers. 

 In addition, smoking can cause other chronic conditions such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.

Therefore, you need to avoid smoking to prevent ulcers or to reduce the discomfort caused by ulcers.

  1. Limit eating too much chocolate

Chocolate is one of the types of foods to avoid with ulcers. It may increase your chances of developing ulcers or worsen your ulcer condition.

Actually, eating chocolate boosts the secretion of stomach acids which weakens the lining wall of the digestive tract, increasing discomfort. It can also lead to heartburn.

For that reason, it is good to always limit the consumption of chocolate if you have ulcers.

          8. strongly flavored cheeses

Flavored cheese is rich in acidic and can increase your stomach acids.

This can weaken the lining walls of the digestive tract and can lead to severe pain caused by ulcers. Therefore, jalapeno or black pepper cheese are the types of foods to avoid with ulcers. 

Furthermore, they can cause irritation and discomfort after meals.

      9. Peppermint and spearmint tea

Other types of foods to avoid if you have an ulcer are peppermint and spearmint tea.

They are rich in acids and can also increase the secretion of stomach acids.

This can speed up the corrosion of the digestive wall and may worsen ulcer pain. For that matter, just avoid this kind of tea for your safety if you have ulcers and heartburn.

          10. Tomato products

Tomatoes contain acids that can weaken your digestive lining in case you have ulcers.

According to PubMed, studies show that eating tomatoes can speed up the spread of the ulcer virus.

It also boosts increases stomach acids which causes further severe pain.

Therefore, you need to void tomato products such as tomato paste, tomato sauce, or tomato juice.

      12. Avoid hot chiles and peppers

Hot chiles, chili powder, and peppers are not good to eat if you have ulcers.

They contain high acids that can further weaken the lining walls of the digestive tract. This can worsen and cause severe pain along the stomach and small intestine walls.

For that matter, you need to avoid them if possible. I hope you know how hot chiles are very bitter, so just avoid them to stay safe and reduce discomfort.

         13. Highly seasoned, and  high-fat meats

Many people high-fat meat and seasoned foods such as sausage, salami, bacon, ham, and cold cuts, however, these foods can increase the risk of developing ulcers.

They contain certain substances that weaken the lining of the digestive walls.

This exposes you to Helicobacter pylori, an ulcer virus. It is good to know it now, so in any case, if you have ulcers, then these are the types of foods to avoid.

        14. Mustard seed and nutmeg

For you to reduce the discomfort caused by ulcers you need to avoid mustard seed and nutmeg.

They contain acids that can increase the corrosion of the stomach and small intestine walls.

I know, they may be sweet for you, but for ulcers, you need to limit them or avoid them if possible.

        15. Orange and grapefruit juices

The main foods to avoid with ulcers are orange and grapefruit juices. They are very high in acid and can cause discomfort and the spread of the ulcer virus.

The orange and grapefruit juices are well-known for their powerful acidic nature.

They can increase the acidic content in your stomach and lead to severe pain after eating them.

You won’t like it if you have an ulcer and eats the juice from oranges or grapefruits.

Summary of foods to avoid with an ulcers

  • Coffee and caffeine products
  • Peppermint and spearmint tea
  • Orange and grapefruit juices
  • Alcohol and smoking
  • Black and red pepper, chili powder
  • Mustard seed and nutmeg
  • Chocolate
  • Spicy
  • Highly seasoned, high-fat meats, such as sausage, salami, bacon, ham, and cold cuts
  • Hot chiles and peppers
  • Tomato products, such as tomato paste, tomato sauce, or tomato juice

When to see a doctor

If you experience continuous severe pain after trying the above tips then you need to see your doctor for further medical assistance. Do not wait until it’s too late.

Remember, ulcers can develop other dangerous chronic illnesses such as gastric cancer, cancer of the small intestine, and many other diseases.

Bottom line

It is important to follow the tips above to curb ulcers. Amazingly, ulcers can be treated. Therefore, you can visit a doctor to get checked for H. pylori infections. 

If you are positive for H. pylori, your doctor will provide you with antibiotic medicines to treat an H. pylori infection.

Triple therapy is also effective for the reduction of stomach acids and the treatment of ulcers.