Think you can substitute decaffeinated coffee for the regular kind and avoid irritation of your stomach ulcer? According to studies done at the Center for Ulcer Research and Education in California, the answer is an emphatic No! If you have an ulcer and youre trying to limit your intake of caffeine, decaffeinated coffee could be your worst enemy.
In the California study, certain foods and beverages were compared as to their effect on the output of harmful gastric acids. The effect of decaffeinated coffee was compared to those of peptone, a product of protein digestion until then considered the strongest stimulant of acidsecretion in the stomach. The subsequent analysis of stomach contents disclosed that drinking decaffeinated coffee produced more gastric acids than peptone did.
Earlier studies had already shown that the stomach acids produced by drinking decaffeinated coffee arent much lower than those produced by regular coffee.
Ulcer suffers are advised to avoid caffeinated beverages whenever possible. If youre one and cant get started in the morning without a cup of coffee, theres an alternative. Eat something first, then drink a cup of weak tea instead; it has less caffeine than coffee.
Ifyoure trying to cut down on caffeine, its better to taper off gradually than to go cold turkey. Rapid or sudden withdrawal from caffeine can result in symptoms that include anxiety, muscle tension, irritability, headache, and lethargy.
DIETARY GUIDELINES FOR ULCER SUFFERERS
Eat three small meals and three snacks evenly spaced throughout the day.
Try to avoid either feelings of hunger or overeating.
Eat slowly and chew foods well and relax during meals.
Sit up while eating
Remain seated for at least one hour after eating. Do not recline and resist the urge to nap.
Stop eating at least three hours before bed.
Do not eat in bed. This can cause gastric acid secretion while you sleep.
Of course, cut down or eliminatecaffeine-containing foods and beverages
Other common irritants for ulcer sufferers are citrus and tomato products and chocolate. If youve found that these foods cause you discomfort, limit or eliminate them from your diet.
Also, try to always includeproteinat every meal and snack.
Only take antacids in their prescribe dose.
Speak with your doctor regularly about your condition. He will let you know about the latest treatments that might work for you.
Robin Westen is ThirdAges medical reporter. Check for her daily updates. She is the author of Ten Days to Detox: Look and Feel a Decade Younger.
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