Sometimes known as executive disease, stomach ulcers can be a crippling burden to both the sufferer and their family (although ulcers are much more common in men than women). The cause of ulcers is not really known and there is no real cure. Surgery is sometimes, but not always, effective and it is more common for the patient to be asked to follow a special diet.
An ulcer is a sore in the lining of the stomach or duodenum, the lining has been partially destroyed. When the hydrochloric acid produced by the stomach for digestion touches the sore, the patient feels pain. To make matters worse, ulcer patients seem to produce more acid than others, making the healing process more difficult.
One of the important things about treating ulcers is that there must always be some food in the stomach to absorb the acid. Small, easily digestible meals are best, and anything that scratches or stings the sore spot should be avoided.
Here are the foods that people with ulcers should avoid:
- lemon juice
- Vinegar
- Vinaigrette
- Pickles
- spices
- chutneys
- cereals
- very hot food
- very cold food
- Very hot or cold drinks
- strong alcohol
- curry
- rich cakes
- Wholemeal bread
- donuts or dumplings
- Cookies or cakes made with wholemeal flour or oatmeal, rolled oats, nuts, dried fruit, or spices
- Cooked foods (hot fat contains an acid that irritates the stomach)
- Baked or grilled cheese
- Sautéed or seasonal fish, also fried
- Jam containing seeds (unless sifted)
- thick vegetables
- potato chips
- Whole vegetables or thick greens like cabbage or celery. Vegetables should be pureed first.
Adapt to family meals
Special cuisine can be avoided if the diet becomes the basis of family meals. The family can eat whole vegetables while the patient has the same pureed vegetables. For this reason, it is extremely useful to have a blender or food grinder.
Since ulcer patients cannot consume highly spiced or spicy foods, these can be added to other portions after the patient’s portion has been removed from the plate.
The way food is cooked is also very important. Frying is prohibited because it makes food indigestible and hot fat contains a substance called acrolein that irritates the lining of the intestine. Some ulcer sufferers can get sick from the smell of frying, so it’s best to eliminate this altogether.
Grilling and baking are healthy substitutes for frying and will also improve the health of the family. Poaching, boiling, baking, stewing, and roasting (but not in fat, as in baked potatoes) are all good methods. Sauces should be strained and fat trimmed. Try to stay away from onions and herbs as they can cause pain.
emergency food
For times when the ulcer is causing particular suffering (usually if the patient is worried or under stress), sifted baby food and rosehip syrup are excellent substitutes.
a typical day
As already stated, one of the most important things about this diet is that the food must be eaten frequently. Here is a typical meal pattern:
On waking: weak tea
Breakfast: soft-boiled egg, well-grilled bacon, grilled fish, scrambled or poached egg. Tea.
Mid-morning: milk drink and sponge cake or natural sponge cake.
Lunch: meat or fish or poultry with vegetables or sweets allowed.
Tea: light tea, plain cake, sandwiches, or bread and butter with preserves.
Dinner: plate of meat, fish, egg or cheese with vegetables allowed. An alternative is soup with sandwiches. Also a milk pudding.
Bedtime: drink milk.
If work commitments make this type of regimen difficult, pack plain crackers or malted milk tablets.
