Recommended foods for stomach pain
The most recommended foods for Helicobacter pylori
The naturals food of preference for gastritis are the following:
- Rice: It provides energy to the diet and has a gelatinous texture that protects the stomach. You can eat well-cooked white or brown rice; both are suitable. A highly recommended preparation is boiled rice in its own juice (rice water), a clove of garlic, and a bay leaf.
- Potatoes: These contain starches with demulcent properties, which protect the gastric mucosa. Sweet potatoes have the same properties as potatoes, with the added benefit of vitamin A, which improves skin health. If available at your local market, it’s advisable to consume more sweet potatoes.
- Carrots, pumpkins, zucchini, chayotes: These are hydrating, refreshing, and very well-tolerated foods. They can be cooked boiled, in vegetable creams, served with rice, etc.
- Pumpkins and carrots, due to their high beta-carotene content, help protect the skin and regenerate the gastric mucosa.
- Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, eggplant or well-cooked green beans are also suitable.
- All of these dishes can be seasoned with a generous splash of virgin olive oil, which has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. If you don’t have olive oil, use another unrefined virgin olive oil.
Demulcent fruits to care for the digestive mucosa damaged by Helicobacter
- Apples, pears, quince, baked apples, and fruit compotes: These are very rich in pectin, which has demulcent properties for the stomach lining, and are also generally the best-tolerated fruits. Ripe bananas and loquats are also recommended.
- Virgin olive oil: It contains vitamin E and healthy fats, with protective and anti-inflammatory effects on the gastric mucosa. It is recommended to season dishes with oil, as raw olive oil preserves its properties better. If olive oil is unavailable, use another virgin, unrefined oil. Foods with excessive oil are not suitable because they are slow to digest (fried foods, excessive dressings, etc.).
Summary sheet with the most recommended foods in a stomach-friendly diet, easy to digest and with components that help improve the condition of the gastric mucosa. This diet should not only contain adequate food and avoid those that may harm us, but must take into account a range of eating habits and the frequency of meals, eating conditions…
Demulcent foods for Helicobacter gastritis
Demulcent foods are rich in starch and soluble fiber, which help reduce inflammation and soothe mucous membranes. They are also able to capture stomach acids, helping to reduce heartburn.
Those already mentioned above are especially recommended: rice, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes (they are also called yams), baked apple or pear (sauce or baked fruit), quince (it is a fruit similar to the apple), pumpkin, and ripe bananas.
Therefore, dishes such as mashed potatoes, cream of vegetable soup with carrots and potatoes, potato salad, rice (cooked gently, preferably with vegetables), fruit compotes, baked apples, or recipes with bananas are suitable options.
Baked apple ready to make compote. Compote is a very suitable recipe for gastritis and Helicobacter pylori infection because it’s easy to digest and demulcent. Remove the skin and blend the pulp. Click on the image to go to the recipe
Do not take dairy products along with antibiotics for Helicobacter
Conventional treatment for Helicobacter pylori includes antibiotics. Some people may undergo different antibiotic treatments, as this bacteria can be resistant to many of these medications or reappear over time.
Diet can be an appropriate way to support this antibiotic treatment. It’s worth mentioning that some antibiotics dramatically decrease their effectiveness when combined with dairy products.
For this reason, to improve the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments, it is recommended to avoid consuming any dairy products up two hours after taking the medication.
Why are dairy products not recommended?
It has been widely studied that dairy products can inhibit the absorption (and therefore block the effect) of some medications, including various antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin and quinolones such as ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, and doxycycline). They also reduce the effect or inhibit the absorption of other medications used to treat gastritis symptoms, such as Pylera.
Therefore, it is not recommended to consume any type of dairy product after taking medication for Helicobacter pylori, at least until two hours have passed after taking it.
This problem has not been reported for omeprazole or other gastric protectors, which can be consumed with dairy products. It is recommended that you consult your pharmacist or doctor, or read the instructions in the medication leaflet, to see if this interaction exists.
More information on remedies for gastritis
