If you’ve been around for quite some time, you’ve probably heard the common claim that spicy food is the main culprit of stomach ulcer, and thus should be avoided.
For decades, doctors believed this to be true, and their advice to patients especially those who are suffering from stomach ulcers is to avoid any food that “burned” the lining of the esophagus or stomach.
It certainly made sense, as patients often complain of burning stomach pains after eating spicy food.
But this popular claim is nothing but far from the truth. As a matter of fact, it turns out to be quite the opposite: A study on capsaicin (the “hot” element in peppers) showed it can actually stimulate secretions in the stomach that help prevent and even help heal ulcers.
“ Capsaicin actually stimulated the stomach to produce protective mechanisms against ulcers,” - Matthew Bechtold, MD, a gastroenterologist
So What Actually Caused Stomach Ulcer?
According to researchers, the real culprit and the one to blame for the majority of ulcers was the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and the excessive use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
H. pylori spreads through contaminated food and water or unsanitary conditions.
It can cause ulcer by burrowing into the stomach’s mucosal lining and excreting protective enzymes that shield it from the stomach’s corrosive digestive acids. Ulcer then develops as the bacteria colonize the stomach.
This will further cause inflammation, making the stomach and intestinal lining to be more easily damaged by stomach acid.
Aside from H. pylori, overconsumption of the popular over-the-counter NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen are also known to cause ulcers by interfering with chemicals that help regulate stomach’s protective lining.
Ulcers caused by NSAIDs can be prevented by reducing or eliminating the use of the drugs.
“So while spicy foods doesn’t cause stomach ulcers per se, they can certainly aggravate an existing condition if consumed in excess” - Lisa Griffiths, a homeopath
What Else Should You Be Aware Of
In addition to reducing your stress level and achieving a balanced lifestyle (so as to not exacerbate the problem), it is highly recommended to avoid all foods and drinks that are likely to trigger uncomfortable reactions, especially cheese, coffee, alcohol, or carbonated sodas.
If you suffer from this problem, you should get it checked as soon as possible, rather than treating it with antacids. They are fine for the occasional bouts of heartburn, but if you’re experiencing symptoms such as severe stomach pain, fever, bloody stools, nausea, and vomiting, you should see your health practitioner to get your digestive health assessed.
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References:
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Live Science. (2012). Does Spicy Food Really Cause Ulcers?. [online] Available at: https://www.livescience.com/22450-does-spicy-food-really-cause-ulcers.html.
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South China Morning Post. (2017). Do spicy foods cause stomach ulcers? The surprising truth. [online] Available at: https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/2079806/do-spicy-foods-cause-stomach-ulcers-surprising-truth.
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Muhealth.org. (2019). What Causes Stomach Ulcers? Don’t Assume it's Spicy Foods. [online] Available at: https://www.muhealth.org/our-stories/what-causes-stomach-ulcers-dont-assume-spicy-foods-are-blame.
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Berkeleywellness. (2017). Do Spicy Foods Cause Ulcers?. [online] Available at: http://www.berkeleywellness.com/self-care/preventive-care/article/do-spicy-foods-cause-ulcers.
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