Do spicy foods cause stomach ulcers? The surprising truth

Do spicy foods cause stomach ulcers?

The short answer: no

If you’ve ever had a stomach ulcer, you’ll know just how painful and uncomfortable it can be. According to Lisa Griffiths, a homeopath at The Round Clinic on Hong Kong Island, anyone suffering from a stomach ulcer will slowly experience progressively worsening symptoms of heartburn, acid reflux and burping, abdominal pain that is often burning, and changes in appetite and weight.

These symptoms may vary in intensity, and some may be worse than others, but almost all will be linked to the consumption of certain foods and liquids. It’s therefore common to find people with stomach ulcers avoiding certain foods – in particular, spicy foods – so as to not exacerbate the problem.

But spicy foods don’t cause stomach ulcers to develop, says Griffiths. In fact, they actually help the stomach lining because capsaicin – the active component of chilli peppers – has been proven to reduce stomach acid.

Spicy foods can, however, be quite rich. This can make an ulcer flare up because rich foods require more stomach acid to digest. “This increase in stomach acid attacks the already inflamed site of the ulceration, causing intense irritation of the stomach lining,” Griffiths explains. “It’s a bit like pouring vinegar on a cut – instant agony.”