Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that can survive within the human stomach, leading to various stomach diseases, including gastritis, peptic ulcers, and even gastric cancer. Globally, over half of the population is infected with this bacterium. Recognizing the risk of H. pylori infection and following scientific lifestyle and dietary principles is crucial for preventing infection, treating diseases, and preventing recurrence.
What Harm Does H. pylori Cause?
Chronic Gastritis: H. pylori’s presence can cause inflammation of the stomach lining, leading to chronic gastritis. This is a long-term inflammatory state that may not produce noticeable symptoms but can lead to impaired gastric function.
Peptic Ulcers: H. pylori can damage the stomach or duodenum’s mucosal defense mechanisms, making it more susceptible to acid erosion, ultimately leading to ulcers. This can manifest as severe stomach pain, recurrent digestive discomfort, and stomach discomfort.
Gastric Cancer: Long-term H. pylori infection is a known risk factor for gastric cancer, particularly noncardia gastric cancer. Bacteria-induced chronic inflammation is believed to be a major mechanism in promoting cancer development.
Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma: H. pylori is also associated with a rare type of gastric cancer called MALT lymphoma. Although this is a rare occurrence, it is strongly linked to H. pylori infection.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Infection individuals may experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, belching, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, etc.
Digestive Absorption Issues: Due to H. pylori’s ability to damage the stomach lining and affect acid secretion, it may interfere with food’s normal digestion and nutrient absorption.
Iron Deficiency Anemia: H. pylori has also been linked to iron deficiency anemia due to chronic gastritis-induced microbleeding or the bacteria’s consumption of iron from the body.
Other Systemic Effects: There are still controversies regarding whether H. pylori is associated with other systemic health issues such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.
Treatment for H. pylori Infection
The standard treatment for H. pylori infection typically involves a combination of antibiotics and medications aimed at suppressing stomach acid and helping clear the infection while alleviating symptoms. Untreated H. pylori infection can lead to the above-mentioned issues and thus should be diagnosed and treated promptly.
Daily Care Tips for H. pylori Infection
Personal Hygiene: Practice good hand hygiene by frequently washing your hands, especially before meals and after using the restroom. Avoid sharing utensils and cups with others, especially those known to be infected with H. pylori.
Family Hygiene: Ensure that all family members have good hygiene habits. Disinfect household utensils and utensils used by family members regularly.
Safe Food Choices: Cook food thoroughly to eliminate any potential pathogens present in raw food items, avoid eating undercooked food, and use filtered or boiled water for drinking purposes.
Medical Check-ups: If you experience chronic stomach discomfort, seek medical attention promptly and undergo H. pylori testing if diagnosed with the infection.
Manage Stress: Learning stress management techniques can help reduce the risk of H. pylori infection since long-term stress can increase the risk of infection.
Diet Recommendations for H. pylori Infection
Low Salt Diet: Limiting salt intake can help reduce the risk of gastric cancer associated with H. pylori infection. Choose natural seasonings instead of salt to enhance flavors in your food intakes.
High Vitamin-C Diet: Vitamin C can reduce the harmful effects of H. pylori on the body by increasing the body’s resistance against free radicals, so include more fresh fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits (lemons, oranges), strawberries, tomatoes, green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale), etc. in your diet intakes regularly.
Antioxidant-Rich Diet: Incorporate antioxidant-rich foods into your diet like dark leafy vegetables (kale), berries (strawberries), and nuts (almonds) to help protect your body from free radical damage caused by H. pylori infection effectively.
Avoid Stimulant Foods: Spicy foods, high-fat foods, fried foods, etc. can worsen stomach discomfort caused by H. pylori infection; thus, avoid consuming these types of foods regularly or minimize their intakes as much as possible.
Prevent Cross-Contamination: Handle raw ingredients separately from cooked ingredients when preparing meals to prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food items on the same cutting board or utensils used for both purposes; use separate cutting boards for fruits and vegetables as well as meats and dairy products when preparing meals at home; and wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw food items before handling cooked food items or eating them together with other family members or guests who may be infected with H. pylori or have unknown H. pylori statuses in their bodies as well as avoid sharing cups or eating utensils with others during mealtimes or social gatherings to prevent cross-contamination between different individuals present at the same time or place (source: CDC).
Adequate Hydration: Drink enough water every day to maintain proper hydration levels in your body which can help improve digestion and nutrient absorption processes in your body effectively by reducing inflammation caused by H. pylori infection (source: Mayo Clinic).
Regular Eating Habits: Stick to a regular eating schedule by eating three balanced meals per day at set times throughout the day to avoid overeating or fasting excessively which can lead to negative impacts on your digestive system due to reduced stomach acid production (source: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy).
Follow Medical Advice: Follow your healthcare provider’s recommendations regarding medication usage for treating H. pylori infection strictly as prescribed without skipping doses or taking medications on their own without consulting healthcare providers due to potential side effects caused by certain medications used during treatment protocols (source: Mayo Clinic).
Misconception About H. pylori Infection
Transmission Routes Misconception: Some people believe that only unhygienic food and water can transmit H. pylori infection; however, it can also be transmitted through saliva, vomitus, feces or close contact like kissing or sharing cutlery with infected individuals (source: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). 2) Symptomaticity Misconception: Some people believe that all individuals infected with H. pylori will experience symptoms; however, many infected individuals may never develop any symptoms even though they are infected with the bacteria (source: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). 3) Treatment Necessity Misconception: Some people believe that all individuals infected with H. pylori must undergo treatment; however, not all infected individuals require treatment as only those experiencing symptoms or having ulcers or gastric cancer are recommended for treatment (source: Mayo Clinic). 4) Relationship With Gastric Cancer Misconception: Although H pylori infection is a clear risk factor for gastric cancer; however not all infected individuals will develop into gastric cancer; there are other variables like genetic factors, diet and environment that play a role in developing gastric cancer besides H pylori infection (source: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). 5) Self-Healing Misconception: Some people believe that H pylori infection can spontaneously heal on its own; however in some cases it may heal on its own but untreated infections will persist and lead to long-term health problems (source: Mayo Clinic). 6) Treatment Misconception: Some people believe that H pylori is easy to treat; however it requires a multidrug regimen including antibiotics and acid suppressants which may need adjustments due to drug resistance; therefore proper medical supervision is required for successful treatment (source: Mayo Clinic). 7) Immune System Misconception: Some people believe that a strong immune system prevents them from getting infected with H pylori; however even immune-competent individuals can get infected due to the bacteria’s ability to evade immune response mechanisms (source: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). 8) Mucosal Healing Misconception: Some people believe that untreated infections will heal on their own without treatment; however untreated infections will persist causing long-term health problems (source: Mayo Clinic). Understanding the true facts about H pylori infections helps better prevent, identify and treat these conditions effectively; thus it is important to consult healthcare professionals for proper medical examination and guidance on appropriate treatment protocols if you suspect you or anyone in your family has been infected with H pylori infection recently or has any symptoms related to it (source: American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy).