We all love to eat food right? Most of us self-respecting veggie lovers not only want to find out ways to eat spectacularly healthy food with spectacular taste, but to also learn some of the ways that Mother Nature has got our back, front, and everything in between. That said, we often take for granted the delicate yet immaculately efficient process which is our digestive system. It’s a long journey from mouth to (ahem) “organic output” and every step of the way is just as important as the next to make sure everything flows perfectly.
The stomach is a very important site of digestion where strong acids and digestive juices such as pepsin and hydrochloric acid continue to break food down into more digestible forms. A stomach (peptic) ulcer is literally a burning of the mucous lining of the stomach which protects the rest of the body from exposure to the powerful acids in the stomach. This causes actual lesions to form in the stomach which can range from ½ inches to ¾ of an inch or in some severe cases even up to 1 to 2 inches. Yea pretty scary. According to John Hopkins Medicine there will be 500,000 new cases of Stomach ulcers each year. At any time over 5 milllion new cases may develop. Symptoms include but are not limited to: burning in the abdomen right underneath the ribs, vomiting, nausea, weight loss, bloating, black tarry stools, irritation to the stomach after consuming spicy foods.
How do these ulcers develop? Well the most common cause of peptic ulcers is a bacteria called helicobacter pylori which is a spiral shaped bacteria that due to its shape is able to penetrate the stomach lining, leaving your body exposed to the powerful acids the stomach secretes. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 20% of people under 40 years old and half of adults over 60 years old in the U.S. are infected, with higher rates in developing countries.
The good news is stomach ulcers can be treated by eating foods that strengthen the stomach and with a few dietary changes (like excluding spicy foods for a while) can alleviate symptoms and give the stomach time to heal itself aided with mother nature’s most powerful medicine. Below are some helpful natural remedies and tips to alleviate symptoms of stomach ulcers and increase your overall health. Look into these natural remedies and don’t forget to move that body! In order to preserve your stomach health and support your body in its natural healthy function. -XoXo Nicola, Signing in for Raw Girl
Cabbage Juice is great for treating stomach ulcer. The amino acid arginine helps boost blood flow to the stomach lining. This strengthens the stomach lining and aids in healing ulcers. You can also mix the cabbage juice with carrot juice for a sweeter taste. Researchers have found that ulcer patients who drink 1 quart of raw cabbage juice a day often heal their ulcers in five days.
Honey isn’t an option for a lot of vegans, but in it’s raw form helps reduce any inflammation in your stomach and also attacks bacteria which keeps complications at bay.
Bananas neutralize the hyperacidity in the stomach that is caused by the gastric juices. Reduces inflammation and strengthens the stomach lining.
Bilberry is used frequently in Russia to treat ulcers by reducing inflammation in the stomach and intestines and protecting mucous membranes.
Produce rich in flavonoids like red bell peppers, strawberries, and citrus fruits can improve your condition. Studies report that they can assist in inhibiting growth of H. pylori.
Palm Tree Yoga Pose is a yoga posture that is great for increasing blood flow to the stomach and increasing overall feelings of wellness. Regular practice of Yoga in general will also be beneficial because of numerous poses that support healthy digestion and overall wellness.
I wonder where you got your memo from!
You may want to revise your blog on treating ulcer naturally as i feel you are misinformed.
I’ve dealt with H. pylori and ulcers and in fact cabbage juice may help for people that don’t have thyroid or other things going on. (I do)
Honey may be antibacterial but in fact feeds the bacteria due to the high sugar content therefor allows it to multiply.
Bananas are highly inflammatory if you have an autoimmune disease. (I do)
As for the produce, if there is an ulcer most likely there is IBS present and the produce you mentioned causes flares. (I do)
Yoga, eh, may or may not work, it didn’t work for me.
This puts everyone in the same bucket without any conclusive database.
Hi Anoushka: Thanks so much for your comment, all of those concerns are duly noted and great issues to raise. Will pass along to Nicola, who wrote this post. Blessings,E
Thank you for posting this information. I will pass this along to my son.
Hi MaryAnn: No problem, I am actually going to do some research and may make amendments to the article based on some relevant comments. I hate for anyone to receive misinformation. So stay tuned! XoXo Raw Girl
I’ve heard honey really does well with wounds because of its antimicrobial matters plus some other healing capabilities. Thanks for mentioning that amazing natural product here. I would love to recommend this post to my friends.