-Ulcer is tissue damage in the first part of the stomach or small intestine caused by fluids and stomach acid secreted during digestion. If the necessary treatment is not applied, this damage can turn into serious wounds. Acute, that is, stress ulcers that occur suddenly heal faster. The symptoms of chronic ulcer begin slowly and have a chronic course, and the healing process is more time-consuming. The biggest factor that causes ulcers is a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori. Apart from this, genetic factors, bile passing into the stomach, unconscious drug use, aspirin, caffeine consumption, alcohol and cigarette use, physical stress (trauma, burns, major surgeries), drugs containing cortisone also increase gastric acid secretion and damage the barriers that protect the stomach. It can weaken the barrier, cause tissue damage and cause ulcers.
-Ulcers are more common in men and people with blood type 0. The cause is unknown.
-If not treated in time, it may cause more serious problems such as stomach bleeding, stomach perforation, or blockages in the digestive tract.
ULCER SYMPTOMS
The clearest symptom of an ulcer is pain. Severe, gnawing-like pains in the upper abdomen generally occur between meals and become severe at night, to the point of waking the patient from sleep.
When the pain occurs when fasting, it is usually caused by a duodenal ulcer (seen in the duodenum) and if the pain gets worse at night, it is gastric (seen in the stomach). ) ulcer is suspected.
Even if the pain is relieved when drugs to suppress stomach acid are used, severe pain is felt again within a few hours.
The frequency of pain increases during seasonal transitions.
Pains occur after meals. or it gets worse in long-term fasting.
It usually recurs in spring and autumn.
HOW IS ULCER TREATMENT?
Ulcer diagnosis is made by endoscopy. Once confirmed by the method, medication is of indispensable importance in the treatment. However, in addition to medication use, nutrition regulation is essential. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to observe recovery and the disease may recur at any time and become more severe.
WHAT SHOULD WE PAY ATTENTION TO IN NUTRITION FOR ULCER?
-
Vitamins A, B, C and E It is essential to include it in the diet.
Vitamin A and B deficiencies cause ulcers. Vitamin C functions in connective tissue synthesis in the body and in increasing collagen production, which ensures vitality when present in the structure of the tissue. Since vitamin C will play an active role in healing the damaged part of the stomach, regular intake should be ensured. Vitamin E reduces the formation of ulcers by preventing the deterioration of cell membranes with its antioxidant effect.
-
Pay attention to your carbohydrate type choices.
Adequate dietary carbohydrates. However, since sugary foods may cause inflammation in some patients, it is important not to choose foods containing simple sugar, such as pastries and floury foods, which can be mixed into the blood faster.
-
We should not forget the role of proteins in healing.
It is important to take the required daily amount of proteins, which have an effect on tissue construction and repair, in terms of accelerating the healing process.
-
It is important to limit fats that are difficult to digest.
Since fats are difficult to digest, stomach acid secretion increases, especially when unhealthy fats such as saturated fat are consumed. It is also a fact that fats need to be taken in certain amounts due to their effect on hormonal balance. At this point, it is important not to aggravate ulcer pain while getting the fat we need in our body by choosing healthier oils. It would be a better choice to consume olive oil instead of other oils, thanks to the role of omega-9 in preventing inflammatory reactions and regulating tissue damage.
-
Our Savior: Mediterranean diet.
Regular meal times and small and frequent meals are very important for ulcer patients. Therefore, it is preferred that the patient follow a Mediterranean diet consisting of 3 snacks and 3 main meals. In addition, the fact that olive oil is used in the Mediterranean diet, which uses olive oil as the main fat component, supports that following a Mediterranean diet is both healing and protective against ulcers.
-
What is the place of fiber consumption in this treatment?
-
Some foods aggravate ulcer pain by increasing stomach acid secretion.
-
Milk
-
Spices
-
Coffee
-
Alcohol
-
Acidic fruit juices
Since the drugs used in ulcer treatment can cause constipation, we should not forget the 25 grams of fiber we need daily.
These are:
In Brief
To briefly summarize Ulcer is a disease that can become dangerous if left untreated, and nutrition has a great place in ulcer treatment. Nutritional treatments need to be carried out consciously, with a diet list in which ulcer patients will eat little and often, receive the necessary vitamins and minerals that will be effective in healing, especially zinc, and adjust the protein and fat intake to the required levels. If you have an ulcer, I recommend that you get support from a specialist and do not abandon your treatment in order to prevent the severity of your disease from increasing.
Read: 0
