Which vegetables and foods are effective in treating stomach ulcers?

Eating the right foods can help treat stomach pain and ulcers - Illustration photo

Eating properly helps ulcers progress slowly.

Physician Nguyen Huu Toan, Hai Phong Oriental Medicine Association, said that a reasonable diet for people with gastric and duodenal ulcers can reduce acid secretion and reduce the effects of secreted gastric acid on the stomach lining;

Protects the stomach lining; eases the function of the stomach and intestines, prevents malnutrition. Thereby, helping gastric and duodenal ulcers progress more slowly and recover more quickly.

In case of acute gastritis, the stomach needs time to heal. Therefore, you can fast for 24 - 48 hours because food in the stomach will stimulate increased acid secretion, making the wound more ulcerated. You should only drink mineral water in moderation to avoid thirst and dehydration and dilute gastric juice.

After fasting, you should eat soup cooked with vegetables, minced meat; drink milk or eat ice cream with energy from 1,200 - 1,300kcal. Eat small amounts at a time and eat many times, one hour apart. Then gradually increase the amount until there are no more symptoms of stomach pain, bloating, belching, heartburn, then eat and drink almost normally.

For chronic gastric ulcers, patients often suffer from malnutrition due to poor digestion and absorption, unable to absorb necessary vitamins, especially vitamin B12, iron, and protein, leading to anemia.

The diet needs to provide adequate energy and protein, especially vitamins and minerals such as folic acid, vitamins A, D, K, calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium.

Eat slowly, chew thoroughly, eat on time, do not eat too late at night, at least 4 hours before bedtime. Do not starve, do not eat too much at once, but divide into many meals (4-5 meals/day).

Eating too much will stretch the stomach, stimulating the secretion of more acid. Eating many meals will help the stomach always have food to neutralize the acid.

Besides, if food is too solid or dry, digestive enzymes will not penetrate the food to digest it completely. On the contrary, if food is too liquid, digestive enzymes will be diluted and digestion will be poor.

Therefore, food will be digested best when you only drink 100-200ml of water (soup or other liquids) during a meal. On the other hand, eating too much soup during a meal will dilute digestive enzymes and make digestion worse.

You should eat soup separately after finishing your bowl of rice because if you mix soup with rice, you will not be able to chew it thoroughly, increasing the burden on your stomach.

Patients should eat food immediately after cooking, preferably at 40-50 degrees Celsius, this suitable temperature makes food easy to digest, absorb and does not cause irritation. Food that is too cold or too hot will cause the stomach to contract more strongly.

Foods that have the same effect as medicine to help treat stomach pain - Photo: BSCC

Choose the type of healing food

Physician Hoang Duy Tan, former vice president of Dong Nai Oriental Medicine Association, said that gastric ulcers are caused by weakened and ulcerated gastric mucosa. The cause is due to excessive hormone secretion, so it is necessary to limit stomach function and reduce hormone secretion with foods that have effects such as:

- Dark green leafy vegetables: Patients with gastritis and peptic ulcers should consume plenty of dark green leafy vegetables. Dark green vegetables are a source of vitamins A, C, K, folic acid, iron, and calcium, which are important for treating gastritis and peptic ulcers.

Dark green vegetables like broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, asparagus, kale, spinach, green beans...

Foods containing flavonoids: According to research results from the University of Maryland Medical Center, flavonoids help inhibit Helicobacter bacteria, a type of bacteria that causes inflammation and stomach ulcers. Eating foods rich in flavonoids helps prevent and heal ulcers and gastritis.

Foods rich in flavonoids that may benefit gastritis patients include celery, cranberries, apples, green tea, blueberries, cherries, and bell peppers...

- Cabbage juice: proven to be effective in helping heal ulcers and scars, especially stomach, duodenal, and intestinal ulcers.

Foods that work like medicine to treat stomach problems

Master Ha Hai Nam - Deputy Head of Abdominal Surgery Department 1, K Hospital - said that studies have shown that there are 6 food groups that have effects no different from "medicine" in treating stomach pain:

- Foods that have the property of covering the stomach lining: Milk, eggs, honey, turmeric... Honey and turmeric are very good for people with stomach problems. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant effects, balances the acidity of gastric juice and heals stomach ulcers. Honey has many antibacterial properties, regulates stomach acid and reduces stomach irritation.

- Foods that help absorb stomach acid: Cakes, cookies, bread...

- Foods that reduce acid secretion in the stomach: Foods rich in starch (porridge, rice, sticky rice, bread, sweet potatoes, boiled potatoes...) are very good at reducing acid secretion in the stomach, reducing stomach pain.

- Foods that support the treatment of stomach pain : Young leafy vegetables (cabbage, bean sprouts, etc.) provide abundant amounts of vitamins K and U, effectively supporting the treatment of stomach pain;

Cabbage is a vegetable rich in fiber, rich in vitamins U and K1, which helps increase blood circulation to the stomach, protect the stomach lining and stimulate the digestive system, very good for people with stomach pain.

- Foods that help ulcers heal quickly : Foods rich in protein, calcium, zinc (lean meat, fish, shrimp, crab, etc.). Especially people with stomach ulcers should use a lot of these food groups because they help ulcers heal quickly.

- Foods that improve vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to poor digestion and absorption when suffering from stomach pain: Red fruits, dark green vegetables, cereals... are foods rich in vitamins A, B, D, magnesium, iron, zinc.

Supplementing these nutrients is essential for people with chronic stomach pain, to improve vitamin deficiencies due to poor absorption and digestion.

People with peptic ulcers should avoid acidic and irritating foods and drinks. These include spicy foods such as paprika, black pepper, curry powder, tomato products, fruits, coffee, alcohol, cocoa, chocolate, and tea.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rau-va-thuc-pham-nao-co-tac-dung-tri-dau-loet-da-day-20240612073939911.htm