Ulcer Diet Food List (PDF)
Stomach ulcers are a health concern to millions of people worldwide. They do not choose race, gender, or age. Anyone is susceptible to the illness.
Also referred to as gastric or peptic ulcers, they are most common in people over 60 years old, though they can affect anyone.
Moreover, ulcers are excruciating and, at the very least, a source of irritation.
Ulcers mostly occur in the duodenum, but they can also develop in the food pipe, stomach, or jejunum.
In the stomach, ulcers appear as open lesions on the lining that builds up over time. Men are also more prone than women to suffer from stomach ulcers.
There are methods for alleviating or preventing some of the effects. Medication is one method.
However, using just medication to end the situation does not always work long-term. You have to eat a diet that will help you manage stomach ulcers in the short and long term.
In this article, we look at the healthiest nutritious diet to aid in healing a stomach ulcer.
What Factors Contribute to the Development of a Stomach Ulcer?
Ulcers can potentially upset a normal lifestyle significantly. Many people believe that spicy food and stress induce stomach ulcers.
However, even though the two might aggravate the illness, most stomach ulcers result from H.pylori (bacterium Helicobacter pylori).
Other known causes of stomach ulcers include long-term OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs): smoking and alcohol.
When you have stomach ulcers, you develop certain symptoms that vary depending on the severity of the illness.
The most common symptom is pain or a burning sensation in your midsection that can last a few minutes or several hours.
The discomfort gets worse when you have an empty stomach. Other notable symptoms are:
- Bloating
- Weight loss
- Difficult eating because of pain
- Vomiting
- Feeling full
- Acid reflux followed by burping
- Heartburn
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Pale skin
Why Should You Change Your Diet?
It would be unwise not to alter your diet if you suffer from stomach ulcers. Whenever you consume a diet that promotes healthy stomach and gut health, you will experience the following benefits:
- Provide your body with the protein and nutrients your body requires for restoration
- Assist you in eliminating all foods that irritate the small intestine and stomach walls
- It may aid in the reduction or elimination of symptoms associated with illnesses that increase symptoms of ulcers, such as celiac disease, bacterial infections, and Crohn’s disease.
- Contribute to the correction of any nutritional deficits
Eating the correct diet restores the gastrointestinal lining eroded by long-term anti-inflammatory medication use or bacterial infection.
With that said, below is the list of the foods you should include in your stomach ulcer die and those you should leave out or limit.
Ulcer Diet Food List
The best acid reducing foods are:
- Lean meats
- Low acid fruits
- Low-fat foods
- Most vegetables
- Whole grains make a great base for any acid reducing diet
Here is a list of the best-recommended foods
Proteins (Meat and Beans)
Foods rich in proteins are good for ulcer management because they contain amino acids that help repair tissue. They also help in faster healing.
The ideal proteins of lean meats and beans to include in your list are:
- Extra-lean ground beef
- Broiled steak
- Skinless chicken
- Fish with no added fats
- Egg whites
- Red beans
- White beans
- Soybeans
- Pinto beans
- Lima beans
- Navy beans
- Tofu
Vegetables
Veggies contain fiber, flavonoids, and other minerals that help in the healing process for ulcer patients. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, flavonoids may help inhibit the growth of H. pylori.
You can choose to eat some veggies raw or slightly cooked. Here is a list of the ideal vegetables to add to your list.
- Artichokes
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Baked potatoes
- Green peas
- Zucchini
- Celery
- Kale
- Spinach
- Bell peppers
- cauliflower
Fruits
Like veggies, fruits are rich in flavonoids and vitamins that help heal ulcers. They also contain anti-bacterial properties that prevent further infections and speed up recovery.
Besides fruits, you can also get the same benefits from natural fruit juices. The fruits to include on your list are:
- Bananas
- Apples
- Melon
- Mango
- Pears
- Papaya
- Avocado
- Prunes
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Raspberries
- blueberries
- Raisins
Grains
Grains are rich in fiber and help with digestion, and gastric ulcers can easily tolerate them.
Half of the grains you take should be whole because they are also good sources of essential micronutrients such as iron, magnesium, selenium, and vitamin B, good for overall health.
The grains to have on your list are:
- Brown rice
- Whole wheat bread
- Oatmeal
- Millet
- Bran
- Pretzels
- Rice cakes
- Graham crackers
- White rice
Dairy
When the pain is too intense, many ulcer patients reach out for a cup of milk because it provides temporary relief.
However, milk is not good for ulcers because it stimulates the stomach to produce hydrochloric acid, worsening it. However, you can replace whole milk with other dairy substitutes such as:
- Fat-free sour cream
- Goat cheese
- Feta cheese
- Low-fat soy cheese
- Fat-free cream cheese
- Kefir
- Sauerkraut
- Kombucha
- Fat-free yogurt
Nuts, Seeds, and Oils
Nuts and seeds contain potent antioxidants and micronutrients such as magnesium, folic acid, selenium, phytosterols, and tocopherols that help heal ulcers.
They are also rich in vitamins and fiber. However, you should ensure that you chew your nuts thoroughly before swallowing them to prevent indigestion.
The nuts and seeds on your list should be:
- Almonds
- Chestnuts
- Brazil nuts
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sesame seeds
- Flaxseeds
- Olive oil
Herbs, Spices, and Condiments
Even if you want to flavor your food, you should avoid strong and spicy herbs and spices. The best ones to use are:
- Garlic
- Turmeric
- Ginger
- Licorice
- Low-fat salad dressing
Snacks
If you feel like a snack between meals, choose low sugar and low fat. Some of the good sweets and desserts suitable for ulcer patients are:
- Fat-free cookies
- Baked potato chips
- red licorice
- Jellybeans
Drinks
What you drink will influence the healing process of the ulcers. If you take any acidic drinks, you might aggravate the situation. Stick to the following simple, healthy, and safe drinks.
- Plain water
- Fruit juice made from recommended fresh fruits
- Cranberry juice
- Green tea
List Of Ulcer Diet Foods To Avoid Or Limit
You should limit or avoid the following foods because they might aggravate your ulcer.
- Oranges
- Passion fruits
- Pineapple
- Acerola
- Lemon
- Coffee
- Anything with caffeine
- Spicy foods
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Tomatoes
You should avoid eating your meals two to three hours before going to bed to prevent reflux associated with ulcers.
Final Words
Severe ulcers caused by pylori will most likely need medication and a treatment plan that you will need to adhere to strictly.
However, you also need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and avoid foods that aggravate the infection.
The above foods contain all the nutrients your body needs for fast healing and better management of ulcers.
Printable Ulcer Diet Food List (PDF)
PROTEINS | GRAINS |
---|---|
Extra-lean ground beef | Brown rice |
Broiled steak | Whole wheat bread |
Skinless chicken | Oatmeal |
Fish with no added fats | Millet |
Egg whites | Bran |
Red beans | Pretzels |
White beans | Rice cakes |
Soybeans | Graham crackers |
Pinto beans | White rice |
Lima beans | DAIRY |
Navy beans | Fat-free sour cream |
Tofu | Goat cheese |
VEGETABLES | Feta cheese |
Artichokes | Low-fat soy cheese |
Broccoli | Fat-free cream cheese |
Cabbage | Kefir |
Carrots | Sauerkraut |
Baked potatoes | Kombucha |
Green peas | Fat-free yogurt |
Zucchini | Nuts, Seeds, & Oils |
Celery | Almonds |
Kale | Chestnuts |
Spinach | Brazil nuts |
Bell peppers | Sunflower seeds |
cauliflower | Pumpkin seeds |
FRUITS | Sesame seeds |
Bananas | Flaxseeds |
Apples | Olive oil |
Melon | Herbs, Spices, & Condiments |
Mango | Garlic |
Pears | Turmeric |
Papaya | Ginger |
Avocado | Licorice |
Prunes | Low-fat salad dressing |
Strawberries | DRINKS |
Blackberries | Plain water |
Cherries | Fruit juice made from recommended fresh fruits |
Raspberries | Cranberry juice |
blueberries | Green tea |
Raisins | |
SNACKS | |
Fat-free cookies | |
Baked potato chips | |
red licorice | |
Jellybeans |
Printable Food List to Stay Away During Ulcer Diet (PDF)
Oranges |
Passion fruits |
Pineapple |
Acerola |
Lemon |
Coffee |
Anything with caffeine |
Spicy foods |
Chocolate |
Alcohol |
Tomatoes |
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