Hi everyone,
I am quite well read in most medical matters and am amazed by the different
opinions on ulcer type diets. I have read many inconsistencies in ulcer
diets over the years, including those published by doctors, nutritionists,
etc., so forget asking my gastroenterologist what he thinks (it would just
be his opinion which is probably outdated and based on where and when he
went to medical school and where he did his residency).
There is a book called "Doctor, what should I eat?" (1995 - written by a
renown internist named Isador Rosenfeld). He has written several other
medical books, and has many other doctors helping with the editing, and he
had at least one nutritionist help with the diet book. He has a few pages
on peptic ulcers and basically addresses the Helicobacter pylori issue and
says the old rules about bland diets and small meals/snacks are passé and
its okay to eat/drink just about anything (except milk) and drink alcohol in
moderation (only in between flare-ups). He does indicate that the bad
players for an acute attack are milk, cigarettes, alcohol, and coffee, and
that salt and refined sugars are also detrimental. He also says that bland
diets do not help ulcers at any stage (and may even have a negative effect),
and that spicy foods will neither cause nor aggravate an ulcer. He mentions
that citric acid has no effect on an ulcer one way or another (I don't agree
with that), and recommends bananas, lots of fiber and yogurt (which has live
cultures that can kill H pylori bacteria - but naturally if you have H
pylori you need antibiotics and probably one of the prescription acid
blockers). He caveats everything by saying to avoid any food or liquid if
you know it causes you distress.
Now having said that (basically for background information), I would like to
ask a question about carbonated beverages that do not have caffeine, or
citric acid, or alcohol (or very little alcohol in the case of non-alcoholic
beer). I have read in many places (Dr. Rosenfeld doesn't address this
specifically) that carbonated beverages are bad for ulcer type diseases, but
there is usually not an explanation why, and they don't address the
beverages that are caffeine/citric/alcohol free.
I understand that caffeine and alcohol are supposed to stimulate acid
production and alcohol may also be an irritant. So I would like to know if
current thinking considers it okay to drink a carbonated beverage with out
caffeine, or citric acid, or alcohol (like some kind of sparkling water, or
non-alcoholic beer) if you have an ongoing ulcer, erosion, etc.
I understand that a bubbly type drink may make you burp/belch once in a
while, but I don't consider that very detrimental to your erosion, or ulcer
(unless of course it is a serious flare-up that may require surgery, etc.).
So, in summary I would like to know if it is considered okay or not okay to
drink a few non-alcoholic beers, and why is it bad if not okay (i.e. please
be specific as to what the damaging "vehicle" may be, other than burping
once in a while). Thanks for your time in reading this.
Sincerely.Pete