If you have an ulcer, you may wonder if oatmeal is one of those foods you should eat. This article provides answers to your question and much more.
Before now, it was thought that foods cause ulcers. But recent research and studies proved that food doesn’t cause ulcers. However, certain foods can aggravate the pain while others can help soothe the pain and help the sore heal faster.
Food that contains soluble fiber such as oatmeal keeps your digestive tract healthy, which is a good step for treating ulcers.
Read further to know why oatmeal is good for ulcers. This article also includes a list of foods that can help you heal faster and those you should avoid eating.
What is a stomach ulcer?
Stomach or peptic ulcers, the most common ulcers, are painful, open sores that develop over time in the lining of the digestive tract. They are often caused by Helicobacter pylori popularly known as H. pylori infection.
Another cause is the long-term use of anti-inflammatory pain reliever drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen. Ulcers are slow to heal and can cause bleeding inside your body, infection, and digestive problems.
While food cannot cause ulcers, some acidic or fatty foods can worsen them, cause more pain, and slow the healing process.
Other ulcer-related illnesses like gastritis, which is the irritation or inflammation of the stomach wall lining, can graduate into ulcers if not well managed and taken care of.
Why is oatmeal good for ulcers?
Oats and oatmeal are fiber-rich, nutritious, and non-acidic food options that help to prevent stomach flares in people with ulcers. Moderate fiber intake can help lower the amount of acid in your stomach and reduce bloating.
A cup of oatmeal contains 7 to 10 grams of dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals for a healthy diet. To sweeten your oatmeal, you can top it with fresh fruits like bananas, apples, and pears.
These fruits are also rich in fiber, and the fructose in them is less likely to trigger acid reflux compared to sugar.
However, be careful with instant oatmeal and avoid adding fruits with citric acid to your oatmeal because they can inflame the sores.
Foods that help ulcers
If you’re dealing with an ulcer, what you eat is important because it can determine how better or worse the ulcer becomes.
Here are the foods you should include in your diet for fast healing:
1. Probiotics foods
Foods that contain probiotics improve gut health and prevent bad bacteria from food and drinks from entering your blood.
This speeds up the healing of stomach ulcers by preventing H.pylori from reaching the stomach lining. They are also rich in essential vitamins and can help you digest food easily.
Fermented dairy products like yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables like sauerkraut are excellent examples of these types of food.
2. Whole grains
Whole grains such as barley, rice, wheat, and oatmeal are excellent sources of dietary fiber which is helpful for healing ulcers.
Both soluble and insoluble fiber are known to absorb stomach acid and reduce the symptoms of GERD. This can significantly improve your digestive health.
Eating a lot of fiber also keeps you full for long periods, thereby reducing hunger pain. For breakfast, you can go with oatmeal or other whole-wheat cereal.
Prepare your oatmeal with almond milk, oat milk, or any non-fat milk instead of whole milk. Whole milk can cause inflammation of ulcers.
3. Vegetables
Food with high sugar or fat can spike acid production. But vegetables are rich in vitamin A and low in fat and sugar. They help to reduce the development of all kinds of stomach conditions, including heartburn.
Cucumbers, green beans, potatoes, broccoli, carrots, and beets are perfect examples of vegetables that help with ulcers.
You can eat baked potatoes with steamed broccoli, make a veggie quesadilla, or eat a mixed green salad with fresh-cut vegetables and a light oil and vinegar dressing.
4. Lean proteins
Lean proteins such as beans, legumes, fish, and seafood have low-fat content, therefore eating them wouldn’t spike acid production. Instead of frying, grilling, roasting, or baking lean proteins will help reduce fat content.
You may also include turkey or chicken in your meals in proportion. You can eat them with rice or vegetables to spice up your diet.
5. Healthy fats
Foods with fats take time to digest and they have high acid content. So, indulging in them will only make your ulcer sorer. However, not all fats are unhealthy. Nuts, seeds, avocados, and olive oil have healthy fat content.
Moreso, nuts, seeds, and avocado are high in fiber which is highly beneficial for your digestive tract if you’re managing ulcers.
6. Flavonoid-rich foods
Flavonoids are phytonutrients that have anti-inflammatory effects and protect your cells from radicals that cause oxidative stress.
In other words, they are powerful antioxidants that help the body function optimally and protect it against toxins and stressors. Examples include berries, cranberries, kale, and broccoli.
Foods to avoid with ulcers
To avoid further stomach pain and aggravating stomach ulcers, some of the foods you should avoid include:
1. Dairy dessert and coffee
Dairy desserts like a milkshake, ice cream, and custards are one of the common culprits of increased stomach acid production during the process of digestion.
Also, caffeine increases acid production; therefore, you should stay off caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee.
2. Fatty food
Fatty foods like red meat, fried chicken, and French fries are bad for you in several ways. They are harder to digest and require more digestive acids to break them down.
Saturated fats also provide H. pylori with an ideal environment to thrive, unlike polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fats that inhibit the growth of H. pylori.
3. Spicy food
Spicy foods particularly increase the release of stomach acid. And this is hurtful because of the sore opening in the stomach should avoid taking spicy Mexican food or chili.
Other foods to avoid include:
- Salad dressing
- Chocolate
- Cheese
- Baked goods like cupcakes
- Tomatoes
- Pineapple
Healthy eating tips
- Eat five or six smaller meals every day instead of three hearty ones
- Sit upright on a chair when eating to avoid comprising your stomach
- Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly
- After eating, relax for a few minutes to allow your food to settle
- Eat your food at least two to three hours before bedtime
FAQs
How long does it take for an ulcer to heal?
Stomach ulcers take 8 weeks and above to heal, depending on the severity of the ulcer.
What is a good diet for a stomach ulcer?
A good diet for stomach ulcers includes fiber-rich foods like oatmeal, vegetables, and probiotic foods like yogurt.
What should you drink with an ulcer?
The safest drink for ulcers is water. But taking water all of the time can be tiring. Other safe options include cranberry juice, kefir, yogurt, and caffeine-free herbal tea.
What should you not drink with an ulcer?
Avoid alcoholic drinks, coffee, citrus drinks, tomato juice, and all carbonated drinks.
Summary
One of the most important things to do if you have an ulcer is to adjust your diet. Eat foods like oatmeal that are rich in fiber and antioxidants to help ease the pain and fight off bacteria that may want to worsen the ulcer.
Vegetables like broccoli also have vitamin A which helps to relieve ulcer pain and promotes healing. Stay off foods that can aggravate the pain or impede the healing process.
Most importantly, talk to a nutritionist or doctor for professional recommendations and medications to help you recover faster.
I hope this article helped. Thanks for reading.
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