Can patients with gastric ulcers eat spicy food?

Generally, patients with gastric ulcers should avoid eating spicy food. The detailed explanation is as follows:

The irritants in chili peppers, such as capsaicin, can directly stimulate the gastric mucosa. In patients with gastric ulcers, the gastric mucosa is already damaged and ulcerated. After consuming chili peppers, capsaicin can cause blood vessels beneath the gastric mucosa to dilate and become congested, intensifying irritation at the ulcer site and potentially worsening pain. This pain may manifest as a burning or stabbing sensation in the upper abdomen, significantly affecting the patient's quality of life. Spicy food also promotes increased secretion of gastric acid. Since the protective barrier of the gastric mucosa in ulcer patients is already compromised, excessive gastric acid further erodes the ulcerated areas, aggravating the severity of the ulcer and delaying the healing process.

In addition, spicy foods may disrupt normal gastrointestinal motility. They could trigger gastrointestinal spasms, leading to discomforts such as nausea, vomiting, and bloating in patients with gastric ulcers. This interferes with the normal digestion and absorption functions of the gastrointestinal tract, which is detrimental to disease stability and recovery. Therefore, patients with gastric ulcers should avoid spicy foods like chili peppers and maintain a bland diet, which helps improve their condition.