3 other foods to avoid if you have H pylori
pylori infection is relatively common. Some people get bad symptoms, while others don’t. The majority of people who present with symptoms have upper GI problems, such as heartburn, bloating, and stomach pain, although some may also develop lower GI symptoms such as diarrhoea.
What many people don’t realize is that a number of commonly eaten foods can cause exactly the same – or similar – symptoms as those of H pylori. This can lead to confusion. First, H pylori can be successfully eradicated only for symptoms to remain if these trouble foods are not avoided. Second, all symptoms can go away when people avoid these foods, even when H. pylori is still present.
Thus, eradicating H. pylori and overcoming symptoms are not necessarily the same thing! Unfortunately, the medical system does not address foods and diet when treating patients infected with H. pylori. But think about it: the foods you put in your mouth day in and day out are sure to affect the health of your gut.
Fortunately, these problem foods are relatively easy to avoid, as long as you know what replacement foods are available.
In a previous article on the subject, I explained how foods containing gluten, coffee, and soy can irritate the stomach and intestinal lining in the same way that Helicobacter pylori infection does. Gluten and soy, in particular, are foods that cause major problems. The author is allergic to soy, develops flatulence and loose stools when eating it and can attest firsthand to the problems this so-called healthy food can cause.
Three other foods that can act as major gut irritants are cow’s milk, especially when processed with spicy foods and polyunsaturated oils from seeds and nuts.
Cow’s milk:
Cow’s milk is actually the number one food allergy causing food on the planet. It presents a dilemma because some people consume cow’s milk products very well. However, some people have severe sensitivity to the sugar (lactose) and protein (casein) in milk, which leads to gastrointestinal symptoms, skin problems, and other symptoms when consuming milk.
I recommend my clients to avoid cow’s milk for 60 days, then reintroduce it, noting how they feel. In the meantime, I recommend consuming goat and sheep milk products, which tend to be more compatible with the human gut.
spicy food:
Because H pylori damages the delicate lining of the digestive tract — especially the stomach and upper intestine — spicy foods can exacerbate irritation in those areas.
There is a caveat here, however, and that is that some spices, including cayenne pepper of all things, can have anti-helix properties.
Again, i recommend my clients avoid spicy foods if they are causing problems, but if they feel good about eating spices, i tend to encourage their use from a therapeutic perspective.
Polyunsaturated oils:
This is perhaps the most controversial topic because seed and nut oils are highly promoted as healthy options and should replace butter.
This is wrong and ideological information. Seed oils such as sunflower, safflower, corn, soybean, and nut oils are harmful to the body, especially when consumed at levels seen in today’s society. They interfere with the body’s ability to produce energy, disrupt thyroid function, and oxidize easily in the body, setting the scene for cancer and heart disease.
Specifically, these oils affect the gut by regulating the activity of certain enzymes that help break down food. When food is not broken down properly, it can break down in the gut, causing wind, bloating, loose stools, or constipation.
I recommend coconut oil, olive oil (which has a different texture than other vegetable and seed oils), and organic goat butter as ideal sources of dietary fat.
Olive oil has been shown to have anti-H pylori properties and coconut oil contains lauric acid, which also has anti-H pylori activity. Thus, not only are these oils non-disruptive to the intestines, they may also help kill H. pylori.
In short, if you are infected with H. pylori, avoiding cow’s milk for 60 days and eliminating spicy foods may help reduce gastrointestinal symptoms quickly. Avoiding seed oils such as sunflower, safflower, corn and soybean oils has the potential to improve all aspects of your health.
