Sometimes, due to specific reasons, the lining inside the stomach gets eroded or abraded. This condition is known as ulcer and is one of the most painful conditions experienced by people of all age groups. Various factors like eating extremely spicy foods, smoking, consuming alcohol, etc., can cause ulcer. Peptic or stomach ulcers in children are due to a bacterial infection caused by H. pylori or due to use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Ulcers can be of different types like stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer, esophageal ulcer, etc. Treatment of ulcers includes use of medications like antacids, acid blockers, and PP inhibitors. At the same time, it is also essential to follow a diet to reduce the acid production in the body and prevent further damage. Ulcer Diet There are certain foods which tend to aggravate the acid production in the body and cause discomfort. These foods must be excluded from the diet. Following a proper diet helps in quick treatment of ulcer. Following is a list of foods to be avoided and those that can be safely consumed.

Type of Foods	Foods to Avoid	Foods Safe to Consume
Vegetables	Tomatoes, cabbage, sprouts, turnips, peppers, cucumber, broccoli, onions, cauliflower, rutabaga, sauerkraut	Green leafy vegetables, legumes, all fresh vegetables
Fruits	Citrus fruits, lemons, oranges, berries, nuts and seeds	All the rest of fruits
Dairy	Whole milk, butter, cream, cheese, margarine	Low fat milk, butter, soy, tofu
Meat/Poultry	Fried and seasoned meat, chicken and fish, corned beef, frankfurter sausages	Lean meat, fish, skinless poultry, eggs
Grains	Breads, pastries, cakes, biscuits, refined flour products	Whole wheat bread and pasta, rice cakes, waffles
Beverages	Coffee, tea, soda, fruit juice	Herbal tea, clear homemade soup
Others	Animal fat, vegetable oil, mayonnaise, ketchup, peanut butter, vinegar, mustard oil, chili sauce, pepper, garlic, chili powder, pickles	Olive oil, low-fat dressing, honey

The aforementioned food chart should be used only as a guideline. For a detailed and personalized diet chart, you should consult a doctor. Ulcer Diet Recommendations If you are looking for an easy diet for ulcers, then note that all fried, processed, and canned foods should be completely avoided in the peptic ulcer diet. Most of the canned and processed foods contain higher amounts of salts, preservatives, and vinegar that can aggravate ulcer. Similarly, chocolates, candies, and mint also worsen stomach ulcers. When suffering from ulcers, it is advisable to go for home cooked and light food that are recommended in the above mentioned list. The following are some recommendations that one need to follow along with the diet.

• It is essential to have freshly cooked food, preferably cooked at home.
• You should have smaller meals and eat food slowly. Having 4-5 small meals after a gap of 2-3 hours helps in proper digestion.
• You should have dinner 2-3 hours prior to bedtime. It is not advisable to lie down immediately after having meals.
• Spicy, acidic, and fried foods should be avoided for getting rid of ulcers quickly. Spices, oil, dressing, salts, and sugar should also be used in moderation in the peptic ulcer disease diet.

If you follow the ulcer diet regularly for the prescribed period, you can surely recover from the disease completely. Lastly, you should note that even after recovering from the disease, you should not go back to your original diet, but, rather follow this diet to prevent ulcer from recurring. Take care! Disclaimer: This article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, seek to replace the advice of an expert.