Stomach Ulcer Diet in the UK and Europe: Porridge, Fish and Gentle Swaps
Whether you live in London, Dublin, Berlin or Madrid, everyday European foods can easily be adapted for a healing stomach.
Gentle staples
- Porridge oats with milk and banana
- Wholemeal toast with eggs
- Jacket potatoes with cottage cheese or tuna
- Pasta with mild tomato-free sauces such as olive oil and vegetables, or a light cheese sauce
- Poached or baked fish with steamed vegetables
- Roast chicken without heavy gravy
- Soups: leek and potato, carrot, chicken and vegetable
- Natural yoghurt with fruit
- Bananas, pears, apples and melon
The Mediterranean approach
A Mediterranean-style diet, rich in vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish and legumes, fits ulcer recovery well when kept mild.
What to cut back on
- Fried breakfasts and fish and chips
- Strong coffee, especially first thing
- Alcohol, including wine and beer
- Spicy takeaways while healing
- Fizzy drinks
- Tomato and citrus if they cause heartburn
Over-the-counter painkillers
Ibuprofen and aspirin are widely available in supermarkets and pharmacies. If you have stomach symptoms, ask a pharmacist about alternatives such as paracetamol, and tell your GP about all painkillers you use.
A sample gentle day
- Breakfast: porridge with banana
- Lunch: jacket potato with cottage cheese and a side salad
- Snack: yoghurt with pear
- Dinner: baked salmon with boiled potatoes and steamed carrots, a few hours before bed
Key takeaway
Simple European home cooking suits ulcer recovery well. Keep it gentle, cut the fried food and alcohol, check your painkillers, and ask your GP about H. pylori testing.
Medical disclaimer. This article is general health information, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. The HealAlright team are not doctors. Always talk to a qualified health professional about your symptoms and before starting, changing or stopping any medicine. If you vomit blood, pass black stools, feel faint or have sudden severe stomach pain, seek emergency care immediately.
