Foods That Kill Helicobacter Pylori

Helicobacter pylori as an infection. Symptoms indicating an infection

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterium that can infect various parts of the stomach and duodenum. The circumstances of its discovery are interesting, because for a long time scientists believed that not a single bacterium was able to survive, much less multiply in the acidic environment of the stomach. Due to the spiral shape, the bacterium penetrates the stomach and easily moves along its mucous membrane. Helicobacter pylori was discovered back in 1875, but experiments on growing it in nutrient media known at that time did not work, so its discovery went unnoticed in research circles. After 10 years, as a result of studying the sediment of human stomach washings, a Polish professor discovered a bacterium in the form of a spiral and even wrote a work on its effect on the development of many stomach diseases, such as peptic ulcer. Nevertheless, this theory did not become popular because it was not translated into foreign languages. In 1974, the Moscow scientist I. A. Morozov, having examined the contents of the cells of the stomach in patients with an ulcer, came to the conclusion that this bacterium is capable of causing serious lesions of the gastric mucosa. At that time, methods for growing this bacterial culture were also not known, and this discovery was again forgotten.

The big breakthrough in the study of Helicobacter pylori was made by Robin Warren and Barry Marshall. The researchers were able not only to isolate the bacterium from samples of stomach media, but also to synthesize it in an artificial nutrient medium. These scientists proposed a role for the bacterium in the development of gastritis and ulcers. Only 25 years after the discovery of the bacterium in the course of fruitful research, the efforts of Warren and Marshall were highly recognized in scientific circles: for the discovery of Helicobacter pylori and its significance, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.

Despite the availability of various types of diagnostic procedures that help detect Helicobacter pylori infection, they are not always informative and reliable. Therefore, the condition is assessed comprehensively by a gastroenterologist. Often a person is an asymptomatic carrier of the bacterium. But if you have any of the following symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

Most of the symptoms are associated with the work of the gastrointestinal tract:

1. pain. Their localization is extensive - from the stomach to the duodenum. Pain can be of a different nature and intensity - sharp, aching, dull. The patient may feel fullness both on an empty stomach and after eating;
2. heartburn is a frequent companion of Helicobacter pylori infection. A person feels a burning sensation in the esophagus or larynx and discomfort, as well as a sour taste in the mouth;
3. belching occurs frequently along with heartburn. May increase after eating;
4. nausea. Most often occurs in the intervals between meals, decreases with food intake.

There are a number of other symptoms that are not typical, but they can also bother an infected person:

• loss of appetite or its absence;
• a sharp decrease in body weight;
• feeling of dryness in the mouth and taste of metal;
• bad breath.

Nutrition for Helicobacter pylori. Approved Products

The role of nutrition at all stages of drug treatment should not be underestimated. The use of certain foods and the exclusion of others from the diet contributes to the cessation of reproduction and activation of Helicobacter pylori infection.

To draw up a menu, you first need to know the type of disease and the degree of inflammation. At the same time, there are general principles of nutrition in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori:

1. all dishes should be consumed warm, it is not allowed to use cold and especially hot dishes that can irritate the gastric mucosa;
2. portions should be small (up to 150–200 g), while they should saturate well, contain vitamins and minerals;
3. the number of industrial products (pickled, smoked, canned, semi-finished products, flour products, carbonated drinks, juices, sauces, etc.), as well as salty products, is minimized;
4. dishes should be thermally processed, including vegetables and fruits. The main cooking methods are boiling and steaming. In the acute stage of the disease, it is recommended to chop and puree food;
5. it is strictly not allowed to skip meals, especially to starve;
6. during the day, it is necessary to observe the drinking regime based on the calculation of 30–35 ml of water per 1 kg of body weight.

The main principle when choosing a nutrition protocol is individual characteristics (age, weight, disease characteristics).

Products and dishes that are allowed on the treatment protocol include:

1. soups. They may contain various vegetables, preferably in chopped form, at the stage of exacerbation of the infection. The broths on which soups are prepared should not be fatty and rich. Cooking in bone broth is acceptable;
2. porridge. You can use various cereals in moderation, while boiling them well - to a soft consistency;
3. eggs. They contain a large amount of amino acids, so it is not advisable to exclude them from the diet. However, frying eggs during the diet is not recommended; it is better to give preference to boiled ones. It is strictly forbidden to eat raw eggs, since a person with a Helicobacter pylori infection during an exacerbation is vulnerable to other bacteria that may be found in raw foods;
4. vegetables. The main rule is heat treatment. At the initial stage, it is better to puree or chop cooked vegetables;
5. low-fat varieties of fish and meat. The preferred way to prepare protein dishes is by steaming. For the period of the diet, you should refrain from frying as a cooking method;
6. from drinks you should choose compotes and kissels. However, it is not recommended to prepare these drinks from ready-made mixtures that contain many additional ingredients in the form of dyes and flavors. It is better to prepare compotes and jelly on your own from fresh or frozen berries and fruits, depending on the time of year, with minimal addition of sugar or other sweeteners;
7. dried bread is recommended for those who find it difficult to immediately refuse bread, even for the duration of the treatment protocol. Baking and bread are contraindicated with such a diet, however, dried bread in small quantities is not prohibited. Give preference to gluten-free bread;
8. fermented milk products of low fat content with normal tolerance are allowed. Hard cheeses should be avoided, as they often have a high percentage of fat content;
9. water. It is necessary to use pure non-carbonated water. Carbonated and drinks with dyes and sugar are prohibited.

Top 10 Foods That Kill Helicobacter pylori

In addition to the allowed products, the menu for Helicobacter pylori infection should include the following products that negatively affect the activity of bacteria.

Prohibited foods for Helicobacter pylori

Strictly prohibited in the treatment protocol:

1. fatty foods (may overload the stomach, which should be protected from heavy foods during therapeutic nutrition);
2. canned foods (contain acetic acid, which can adversely affect the gastric mucosa);
3. smoked products (the composition and method of preparation of such products has an inflammatory effect on the gastrointestinal tract);
4. sour berries and fruits (capable of irritating the mucous membranes of the stomach, weakened by Helicobacter pylori infection);
5. carbonated and alcoholic drinks;
6. bakery products and sweets;
7. spicy spices that can irritate the stomach lining.

Recipes for Helicobacter pylori

Pumpkin cream soup with cod

Cut into medium-sized pieces of pumpkin (frozen or fresh - depending on the season) put in a pot of water, cook for 10-15 minutes. Add coarsely chopped cod and cook until tender (until the fish begins to boil). After removing from heat, you can add low-fat cream and salt with pink Himalayan salt.

Egg salad with herbs

Cool the boiled couscous and beans and put on a plate. Add chopped egg (boiled) and avocado, as well as lettuce leaves. Fill with olive oil.

The vinaigrette

We cut boiled beets, carrots, potatoes into cubes. Boil green peas and add to salad. You can use some sauerkraut, preferably homemade. Salt a little and season with olive oil.

Nutraceuticals for Helicobacter pylori infection

Treatment usually involves antibiotic therapy prescribed by a doctor. Additionally, you can use nutraceuticals, which are able to support the body and restore it faster. The most common and effective options include:

1. zinc carnosine. Able to heal the mucous membrane and neutralize Helicobacter pylori infection;
2. licorice deglycyrrhizinate. Significantly increases the rate of destruction of bacteria. Contraindicated in pregnant women and people with autoimmune diseases;
3. rusty elm. The plant contains a gel-like substance - polyuronides, protects the mucous membrane, enveloping it;
4. aloe vera juice or gel. Heals the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines;
5. probiotics. Lacto- and bifidobacteria, Saccharomyces Boulardii help to restore the intestinal microflora, thereby creating an unfavorable environment for Helicobacter pylori infection.

The selection of nutraceuticals, as well as treatment, is not prescribed independently, but is discussed with a specialist. No nutraceutical can solve the problem if the principles of therapeutic nutrition are not followed.

Conclusion

The main principle of the diet for Helicobacter pylori remains the compilation of a complete and varied diet that can saturate the body and replenish the required level of vitamins and minerals. Exacerbation of symptoms can most often be caused by foods such as fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, fatty and fried foods, and highly processed industrial foods. Therefore, building a full-fledged diet will allow not only to give up unhealthy foods for a while, but also develop the habit of eating a balanced diet.

Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, while remembering that the best remedy for Helicobacter pylori is prevention, namely the establishment of bile flow, maintaining normal acidity of gastric juice and healing of mucous membranes. All these problems will be solved by a nutritionist.