PESKY ULCERS? TRY FOOD!

Hullo readers! As a child i remember being wary of sores of any kind. It was common place for me to hide an offensive body part, be it finger or knee to avoid the inevitable sting of antiseptic that would follow once the injury is discovered by an adult. I know I still blow the affected part and I've been told a kiss goes far in calming a child's painful yelps.
The problem comes in when that sore is inaccessible, as is the case with Peptic Ulcers. No amount of hiding, blowing or kissing offers release from painful stomach ulcers. But what exactly are these ulcers, what causes them and how can one protect themselves?
A peptic ulcer is a sore in the lining of your stomach or upper small intestine. Ulcers form when the protective layer in the lining has broken down, often because of erosion from stomach acids. Now let me first mention that what we know about ulcers is not entirely true. They are not a direct result of stress and No, a glass of milk might not help with the pain.

Ulcers can be a result of a bacterial infection (a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori) that causes stomach inflammation; or the frequent use of aspirin, ibuprofen, and other anti-inflammatory drugs. A lifestyle including a lot of alcohol, drug use and smoking can make ulcers worse.
The main symptom of peptic ulcers is burning abdominal pain that extends from the navel to the chest, which can range from mild to severe. Ulcers can also bleed.
 Peptic ulcers are a fairly common health problem, and it is estimated that more than 20 million Americans will experience a peptic ulcer in their lifetime.
The good news is we can use diet to alleviate peptic ulcers. Let's start with eliminating offending foods that increase symptoms.
The major goal of the diet is to avoid extreme elevations of gastric acid secretion; milk that was previously encouraged should be avoided because it instead has a gastric acid secretion effect. Red chillis and other spices should be controlled if they make the pain worse and so should coffee. Citric acid juices (That is Orange, lemon) may also induce reflux and cause discomfort.
Now what to eat.

• Yogurt: can cool the fires of gastritis and ulcers by directly inhibiting Helicobacter pylori (the bacteria which increases the stomach's sensitivity to acid-mediated injury) growth in your gut.
• Honey:  Because honey fights bacteria and so may help thwart H. pylori and help heal a an ulcer.
• Broccoli: consider eating a cup a day of broccoli, raw or cooked, or broccoli sprouts. Not only will the broccoli begin to battle your ulcer, but it will also provide more than a day's worth of vitamin C and a generous amount of fibre; two more allies in the fight against ulcers.
•  Cabbage: it is amino acid glutamine that gives cabbage its anti-ulcer punch. Glutamine helps to fortify the mucosal lining of the gut and to improve blood flow to the stomach, meaning it not only helps prevent ulcers but can also speed healing of existing sores.
• Plantain (Yes, Matooke!):  It helps to soothe inflamed and irritated mucous membranes and has some antibacterial properties to boot. 
  
• Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains, and Other Foods High in Fibre: Fibre has a role in keeping ulcers at bay

And the diet?
Less frequent meals. Doctors used to recommend that people with gastritis or ulcers eat smaller, more frequent meals, but then research showed that this tactic promotes high stomach acid levels. Instead, you should eat a few regular, larger meals to keep stomach acid in check and reduce irritation.
A bland diet. The old, standard advice of eating a bland diet still holds to an extent. Less spice, less acid.

Now that you're dressed for battle, it is time to fight those pesky ulcers!