| H pylori can cause severe and debilitating | | | | biscuits, cereals, pizza). Many people are |
| symptoms, or very mild symptoms, depending on | | | | gluten-intolerant and in my experience gluten is |
| the person who has the bacteria and the strain of | | | | the number one problem food. Gluten causes |
| bacteria involved. Not everyone is affected | | | | inflammation in the small intestine, much like H |
| equally. Typical symptoms include general malaise, | | | | pylori. In many cases, simply eliminating the gluten |
| fatigue, mood problems as well as widely | | | | can dramatically reduce symptoms. Sometimes |
| recognised digestive symptoms like heartburn, | | | | people cannot eradicate H pylori until they have |
| reflux (GERD), bloating, nausea, vomiting and bad | | | | been on a gluten-free diet for at least 60-days. |
| breath. | | | | Food #2 - Coffee |
| Doctors often prescribe antacid medications or | | | | I love coffee, but unfortunately in any form |
| laxatives for these symptoms; sometimes they | | | | coffee is an irritant to the digestive system. Many |
| will have the foresight to run testing for H pylori | | | | people report having heartburn, reflux and other |
| and other digestive infections. If H pylori is found | | | | digestive symptoms when they drink coffee. It is |
| triple therapy antibiotics are typically prescribed to | | | | best to reduce coffee consumption if H pylori |
| kill the H pylori. This form of therapy has recently | | | | bacteria are present. |
| been shown to be only 50-70% effective, | | | | Food #3 - Soy |
| however. | | | | Soy foods have in recent times been touted as |
| Even when H pylori has been confirmed as having | | | | being healthy and, in some cases, miracle foods. |
| been eradicated, a patient's symptoms often | | | | However this information is far from the truth. In |
| remain. This confuses doctor and patient alike. | | | | fact, soy is not a healthy food for most people. |
| Diet is rarely considered in these situations, but in | | | | Even in Japan it is the number one allergy causing |
| actual fact, common foods that are consumed on | | | | food. It can have a direct impact on the digestive |
| a daily basis by many people can cause exactly | | | | system and cause similar symptoms to H pylori (it |
| the same symptoms as the Helicobacter itself. | | | | causes me to have wind, bloating and loose |
| Food #1 - Gluten | | | | stools). Many people experience significant |
| Gluten (more accurately, gliadin) is a protein | | | | improvements when they eliminate soy in all |
| molecule that is found in the grains wheat, barley, | | | | forms. Several other foods, including cow's milk |
| rye and spelt. All foods that contain these grains | | | | and vegetable oils, should also be avoided if H |
| have gluten in them (e.g. bread, pasta, cakes, | | | | pylori is diagnosed. |