Meal Plan for Ulcer Patients

Ulcers, commonly called peptic ulcers, are sores that occur along your digestive tract from your esophagus to small intestine. Helicobacter pylori, a pathological bacterium, and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDS, are the primary causes of ulcers. Dietary treatment of ulcers includes certain nutritious foods that provide relief and avoidance of certain foods that can exacerbate symptoms, such as burning pain and bloating. Consult your doctor about a meal plan for treating your ulcer.

Breakfast

Start your day with a bowl of whole-grain steel-cut oatmeal with fruit and soy milk. Whole grains, tolerated by people with ulcers, contain carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and insoluble fiber, an indigestible substance that speeds the transit of waste through your intestines and enhances regular bowel movements. Steal-cut oatmeal is good for people who have sensitivities to gluten, a protein found in rye, barley and wheat that can cause inflammation. A gluten-free diet can enhance healing from ulcers, according to research by scientists at the department of oral sciences at the University Hospital of Palermo, Italy, and published in "Digestive and Liver Disease" in 2008. Bananas, apples and peaches are fruits that are tolerable for people with ulcers. Cow's milk can exacerbate symptoms in some people, so you may prefer soy milk with your cereal.

Lunch

For lunch, enjoy a vegetable omelet with a green leaf lettuce salad and mashed potatoes. Eating soft foods, such as eggs and mashed potatoes, provides relief for people with ulcers. Vegetables contain micronutrients, such as vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and soluble fiber. Soluble fiber is an indigestible substance that appears to protect against duodenal ulcers, according to research by scientists at De Bellis Hospital for Digestive Diseases in Castellana Bari, Italy, and published in "Digestive and Liver Disease" in 2000.

Dinner

A healthy dinner for people with ulcers includes an appetizer of chopped herring salad with lettuce, cucumber and carrot followed by an entrée of baked salmon with brown rice and cranberries and steamed squash. Fatty fish, such as herring and salmon, contain omega-3 fatty acids, healthy fats that may relieve your ulcer symptoms. Patients who eat foods high in omega-3 fatty acids may lower the rate of new ulcers, according to research by scientists at Rabin Medical Center in Petah Tiqva, Israel, and published in "Clinical Nutrition" in 2007.

Beverage

Black or green teas are healthy beverages that you can include in your meal plan. Black or green teas are rich in catechins, antioxidants that can help you heal from ulcers. Research by scientists at Meijo University in Nagoya, Japan, and published in "Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin" in November 2006 found that catechins from tea promote the healing of stomach ulcers in rats and may protect the stomach from ulcer injury.