Question:
Can spicy foods cause ulcers?

If I can eat spicy/hot foods, is there a chance that those types of foods can cause ulcers?    — usfour (posted on July 5, 2008)

July 5, 2008
I was told yes. I am a spicy food lover I can put hot sauce on everything and now my Dr. says I have 3 ulcers and I have to give it up. But I has do that with a combination of high caffeine intake. Which I was also told can cause ulcers.
   — bridgadean

July 5, 2008
I don't think the hot spicy foods cause ulcers, but if you have an ulcer, those foods probably irritate it and should be put aside till the ulcer is gone. Lyn
   — SkinnyLynni2B

July 5, 2008
I don't have any ulcers at this time, I had a RNY on April 21st and just want to avoid an ulcer. I like spicy food and if that would cause ulcers I will cut those foods out.
   — usfour

July 5, 2008
I had Lap RNY on 2/21/08 and I asked my nutritionist about spicy foods at my last visit. The thought of eating lightly seasoned or bland foods was not a good thing for me. I also enjoy spicy foods and was sad at the thought of not being able to have them. She told me that while spicy foods bother some folks, if I could tolerate them then I could have them. It would be trial and error (so to speak) just like trying any other food. She told me that they wouldn't harm my pouch. I eat a small salad just about everyday as a part of my lunch or dinner and I always add hot banana peppers to my salad. I haven't had any stomach issues. I also add hot sauce to certain foods. Everyone is different though. Good luck to you!
   — dsmuffin

July 5, 2008
Yes. I have heard several people got ulcers from spicy food.
   — bariatricdivalatina

July 6, 2008
Medical research has shown that most ulcers are caused by a bateria, not by the food we eat. Use of pepto bismol and tetracycliine will often resolve this. Talk to your Dr. about this option.
   — Donna O.

July 7, 2008
Hey, Barb, I don't think that spicy, hot foods are necessarily the culprit...although acid reflux can create certain types of ulcers...and spicy, hot foods do sometimes cause this problem. They have determined that most ulcers actually are bacteria related...but not necessarily all. My doctor told me that there are a certain percentage of people who have the GB that do get an ulcer...but usually within the first year. I got an ulcer a little past a year after my RNY...and I found that certain foods irritated it worse than others (like black pepper and garlic)...but anyway, I don't think spicy, hot foods necessarily are the real "culprit"... Good luck! Let me know if you have any other questions pertaining to this and I'll try to help...
   — BrendaMS

July 14, 2008
I don't know about ulcers but I have found since the surgery I can no longer eat things such as jalapenos so far the two things I have eaten with them in it has caused me to dump. So you will have to find out after the surgery if you can even tolerate the foods you loved after.
   — Melanie C.