Helicobacter pylori is an infection by a bacterium that sometimes does not cause symptoms, but it is estimated that more than half of the world’s population lives with this disease. To avoid the consequences, a special diet is necessary. We are going to see how Helicobacter pylori affects so that we know what we have to eliminate from our daily diet.
From the beginning, helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that causes gastritis, which later can lead to ulcers and, in the worst cases, stomach cancer. Its name is due to the fact that the bacteria have a helix shape and when they lodge in our stomach, it can begin to produce abnormalities in the gastric mucosa or it does not affect us at all.
It is an exclusive bacterium of the human stomach, so there are no risks with animals, especially with pets such as dogs and cats. More than 70% of those who have this bacterium are asymptomatic and it is believed that 60% of the world’s population currently has it.
The question is to protect the stomach that is why the helicobacter pylori diet was created, which is nothing more than a soft diet so as not to alter gastric juices and avoid irritation and inflammation of the stomach lining.
When we think of bland diet, we only fall for foods like white rice, toast, apple, boiled potato, boiled carrot, steamed chicken, etc. The soft diet basically eliminates everything that makes digestion an overexertion, that is, foods with a lot of fat, raw vegetables, spicy foods, meats, foods high in fiber, etc.
No coffee, no fruit, no hot soups
In the helicobacter pylori diet you have to be a little more restrictive, since there are healthy foods that we cannot eat. Normally, soft diets are incorporated for a few days because of gastroenteritis, for example. A soft diet cannot be very extended in time because it could cause a lack of nutrients .
However, the helicobacter pylori diet is a strict diet imposed by a professional and should last for the weeks that the treatment lasts. This bacteria is eliminated by drugs and antibiotics, and during this time we cannot eat:
- Very toasted bread.
- Soups, creams or hot drinks.
- Very spicy meals.
- Ultra-processed (foods high in salt and sugars).
- Alcohol and spirits.
- Carbonated and sugary drinks.
- Chocolate.
- Tea and coffee
- Sausages and cured cheeses.
Besides, we cannot eat healthy foods that, a priori, do not cause problems, but in this case they do. For example, nuts, raw fruits and vegetables; legumes and whole grains (due to their high fiber content) and oily fish given the high levels of fatty acids.
If the disease improves, you can gradually introduce foods from this prohibited list, but you will start with healthy ones and in very small quantities and sporadically to see how the body reacts.
Remember that it must be a doctor who diagnoses the ailment and imposes the diet or regimen that best sees. There are those who agree with the disease and have hardly any restrictions like blue fish. There are other foods that do like sugars, fats, carbonated or spicy drinks.
