Whether you get intestinal or stomach ulcers as a result of a bacterial infection, because of overuse of aspirin or ibuprofen or for some other reason entirely, you’ll want to be familiar with the best ways of reducing or removing these ulcers from your system so that you can ideally remove it completely from your body.

Stomach ulcers are small infected openings that develop in the stomach lining or, more often, in the area where the intestines close up to the stomach. These injuries are not very common, and it was thought for some time that the cause of stomach ulcers was stress or diets rich in spicy foods. However, research has shown that a good deal more of the cause of a stomach ulcer has to do with the bacteria that are inside of your stomach and reactions to those bacteria that are largely genetically based. Nonetheless, there are certain ways to help with stomach ulcers with foods that you eat or, rather, that you avoid.

1. Vegetables

Vegetables that are rich in dietary fiber and other non-acidic properties are oftentimes the best for treating heartburn issues. Potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower and other mild vegetables tend to be the best. Avoid fried vegetables in any form, such as French fries, and avoid raw onions as well. Both of these vegetables and vegetable forms tend to cause more heartburn than they help to alleviate.

2. Mild Fruits

Non citrus fruits are a good choice of food for those suffering from heartburn as well. These fruits provide the essential vitamins and nutrients that your body needs but which you cannot typically get as a result of your heartburn. Be sure to avoid any fruit that is acidic, like grapefruit, lemon, pineapple, and tomato. Instead, opt for milder fruits like apples or bananas.

3. Certain Dairy

Although many people think that milk is a good way to soothe heartburn, it has actually been linked with increases in heartburn cases. Generally speaking, dairy is not a good thing to eat or consume too much of if you suffer from heartburn. Still, in order to get adequate calcium and the other nutrients from dairy products, it will be important to keep many of these foods in your diet. Choose low fat versions of cream cheese, cottage cheese and sour cream to get all of the nutrients that your body requires while avoiding heartburn and helping to reduce the heartburn that you do have.

4. Whole Grains

Whole grain foods are excellent ways to fight heartburn. Complex carbohydrates in the form of rice, pasta, graham crackers, cereal, corn and more will all help to fill you up, provide vital nutrients to your system and, best of all in this case, to fight the natural tendency for heartburn that you may experience.

For more information about how to deal with your heartburn with medicines as well as dietary changes, consult with your doctor.