4 Foods to Eat (and 6 to Avoid) for Stomach Ulcers

3. Yogurt with live active cultures and other foods with probiotics

Probiotics, the living organisms found in yogurt and other fermented foods, are good for your gut.

Early studies indicate that probiotics can help counteract the H. pylori bacteria that cause ulcers. A small, double-blind, randomized trial in 2015 found that pairing probiotics with the standard antibiotic treatment for ulcers improves effectiveness.

More research is needed, Kapuria says, but if you want to try probiotics, get them from food if possible, since there is no FDA regulation of probiotic supplements.

Top choices: In addition to yogurt, try kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, miso or tempeh.

4. Cranberries and other colorful fruits and vegetables

There is some evidence that berries rich in flavonoids, or polyphenols, can help combat peptic ulcer disease. Flavonoids are known as “gastroprotective” because they increase mucus to protect the lining of the stomach. 

Flavonoids, particularly those in cranberry juice, have been shown to slow or suppress H. pylori growth in research studies. In one double-blind, randomized trial published in 2021 in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, people who drank cranberry juice twice a day for eight weeks had a 20 percent drop in their H. pylori infection rates compared with those who consumed lower amounts of juice or a placebo. Even those who drank the juice once a day saw improvement.

Top choices: In addition to cranberries, try blueberries, blackberries, cherries, red grapes, red cabbage and leafy greens.

6 substances you may want to avoid if you have a stomach ulcer

1. Alcohol

Alcohol is “a toxin that damages the lining of your stomach and causes inflammation,” Kapuria says. Research indicates that alcohol consumption may increase your risk of getting an ulcer, and one study found that heavy drinking increases the risk of a bleeding ulcer fourfold.

If you have an ulcer, alcohol will make it more painful and can interfere with healing. “If you drink enough, you can worsen preexisting ulcers,” Kapuria says.

2. Coffee and soda

Coffee, in both its caffeinated and decaffeinated forms, stimulates the production of stomach acid, Kapuria said. The same goes for soft drinks, which irritate the stomach because of their carbonation.

Some ulcer patients report that the increased acid causes irritation, pain or heartburn. If coffee bothers you, you might want to try a darker roast, which produces less acid, or skip your java fix altogether.

A few studies have shown people who drink three or more cups of coffee a day may have an increased risk of ulcers. However, a large study published in PLoS ONE found no link between coffee consumption and ulcer formation.

Fried foods take longer to digest and can aggravate stomach ulcers.

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3. Tomatoes and tomato products

When you have an ulcer, your doctor prescribes acid-reducing medications to create an environment in your stomach for healing, Ness says.  If you then eat acidic foods with tomato sauce, “it somewhat negates what we’re trying to do with the medication,” he says. 

Some patients who have ulcers find that acidic foods cause a burning sensation.

4. Lemons and other citrus fruits (but only if they cause pain)

Like tomatoes, citrus fruits such as lemons, oranges and grapefruits are acidic, and they can cause pain if you have an ulcer.

However, citrus fruits are high in vitamin C and flavonoids, and some studies show they reduce inflammation and inhibit the spread of H. pylori, so they can be beneficial. Keep them in your diet if they don’t cause discomfort, Kapuria says.

5. Fried and fatty foods

These foods take longer to digest and can cause abdominal discomfort and bloating, aggravating stomach ulcers. “People who already have peptic ulcers may feel worse when they eat those foods,” Kapuria says.

6. Hot peppers and other spicy foods

Scientists used to think spicy foods caused ulcers, but the latest research finds that’s not the case. They can cause discomfort for those who already have an ulcer. Capsaicin — the compound in hot peppers and hot sauce — is a “direct chemical irritant,” Ness says. Exposing what is essentially an open sore in your stomach (an ulcer) to capsaicin can cause pain and burning.