Inflammation in the stomach can cause a host of uncomfortable symptoms, from severe pain to nausea and vomiting. And while it’s important to treat any inflammation—which is the root cause of most diseases— it’s also important to understand the root cause of the inflammation in the first place, so you can take the proper healing approach, and plan out a proper diet.
Common Causes of Stomach Inflammation
One possible cause of stomach inflammation is gastritis, which is a result of the mucosa, or stomach lining, becoming inflamed.
Another cause is peptic ulcers, which are open sores located either on the inside lining of the stomach (called gastric ulcers) or on the upper portion of the small intestine (called duodenal ulcers). Peptic ulcers are believed to be more common than gastritis, although there’s also some overlap between the two conditions.
If you’re experiencing a burning sensation in your stomach, you may have an ulcer, or you may be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Symptoms of acid reflux, like heartburn or regurgitation, can be caused by GERD, gastritis, or hypochlorhydria. GERD is the more severe, chronic form of acid reflux while hypochlorhydria is the scientific term for having low stomach acid.
While we tend to think that too much acid causes acid reflux and similar conditions, it’s actually low stomach acid levels in most cases that can lead to trouble for those with digestive disorders. Your stomach needs to have sufficient acidity to break down the food you’re consuming and properly absorb nutrients, and if you have acid reflux symptoms of any kind, this is typically a warning sign that you have low stomach acid.
Diagnosing Ulcers and Gastritis
Gastritis and ulcers are usually diagnosed based on a person’s medical history, physical exam, and an upper GI endoscopy. Some common causes of both ulcers and gastritis include long-term use of nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin; an H. pylori infection; chronic stress; smoking cigarettes; or excessive alcohol consumption.
GERD, meanwhile, can result from a lot of different factors including low stomach acid, poor gut health, food allergies, hiatal hernia, obesity, chronic stress, and taking certain medications like birth control pills.
H. Pylori and Stomach Inflammation
Ulcers and gastritis are very commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori, a type of bacteria that inflames the stomach lining and suppresses healthy stomach acid production. According to the CDC, about 66 percent of the world’s human population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, which is believed to be transmitted from person to person through close contact with saliva, vomit, or fecal matter.
Additionally, H. pylori is said to be responsible for over 90 percent of duodenal ulcers and up to 80 percent of stomach ulcers. This is because H. pylori bacteria can cause an internal infection that weakens and irritates the protective lining of the stomach and small intestine, ultimately causing an ulcer to form. It can also cause a general inflammation of the entire stomach lining (gastritis).
If you have symptoms of gastritis an ulcer, it is important to get yourself tested for H. pylori to establish whether this is a root cause.
Ulcer and Gastritis Diet
If you want to follow an effective ulcer or gastritis diet treatment plan to improve current symptoms—or you want to make sure those unwanted symptoms don’t return—it’s important to know what to eat and what to avoid.
The following are some foods known for making both ulcers and gastritis worse:
Common Causes of Stomach Inflammation
One possible cause of stomach inflammation is gastritis, which is a result of the mucosa, or stomach lining, becoming inflamed.
Another cause is peptic ulcers, which are open sores located either on the inside lining of the stomach (called gastric ulcers) or on the upper portion of the small intestine (called duodenal ulcers). Peptic ulcers are believed to be more common than gastritis, although there’s also some overlap between the two conditions.
If you’re experiencing a burning sensation in your stomach, you may have an ulcer, or you may be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Symptoms of acid reflux, like heartburn or regurgitation, can be caused by GERD, gastritis, or hypochlorhydria. GERD is the more severe, chronic form of acid reflux while hypochlorhydria is the scientific term for having low stomach acid.
While we tend to think that too much acid causes acid reflux and similar conditions, it’s actually low stomach acid levels in most cases that can lead to trouble for those with digestive disorders. Your stomach needs to have sufficient acidity to break down the food you’re consuming and properly absorb nutrients, and if you have acid reflux symptoms of any kind, this is typically a warning sign that you have low stomach acid.
Diagnosing Ulcers and Gastritis
Gastritis and ulcers are usually diagnosed based on a person’s medical history, physical exam, and an upper GI endoscopy. Some common causes of both ulcers and gastritis include long-term use of nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and aspirin; an H. pylori infection; chronic stress; smoking cigarettes; or excessive alcohol consumption.
GERD, meanwhile, can result from a lot of different factors including low stomach acid, poor gut health, food allergies, hiatal hernia, obesity, chronic stress, and taking certain medications like birth control pills.
H. Pylori and Stomach Inflammation
Ulcers and gastritis are very commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori or H. pylori, a type of bacteria that inflames the stomach lining and suppresses healthy stomach acid production. According to the CDC, about 66 percent of the world’s human population is infected with Helicobacter pylori, which is believed to be transmitted from person to person through close contact with saliva, vomit, or fecal matter.
Additionally, H. pylori is said to be responsible for over 90 percent of duodenal ulcers and up to 80 percent of stomach ulcers. This is because H. pylori bacteria can cause an internal infection that weakens and irritates the protective lining of the stomach and small intestine, ultimately causing an ulcer to form. It can also cause a general inflammation of the entire stomach lining (gastritis).
If you have symptoms of gastritis an ulcer, it is important to get yourself tested for H. pylori to establish whether this is a root cause.
Ulcer and Gastritis Diet
If you want to follow an effective ulcer or gastritis diet treatment plan to improve current symptoms—or you want to make sure those unwanted symptoms don’t return—it’s important to know what to eat and what to avoid.
The following are some foods known for making both ulcers and gastritis worse:
- Regular, as well as decaffeinated, coffee or tea
- Cocoa, chocolate, cola beverages, and other caffeine sources
- Alcohol
- Spicy foods like hot peppers, cayenne, red pepper, black pepper, and hot sauce
- Citrus fruits and juices
- Fatty and fried foods
- Tomato products
- Milk and other dairy products
- Peppermint
- Refined foods like white bread, pasta, and sugar
- Any known or possible food allergens
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