Question: Is it true that people with ulcers and other stomach problems should avoid spicy foods?

Contrary to the outdated but still well-loved belief of many, spicy foods do not cause peptic ulcers. That distinction goes to a bacteria known as H. pylori. Overuse of NSAID pain relievers, like aspirin and ibuprofen, is also a common cause.

But that wasn't your question, was it? The issue here is whether or not people who already have ulcers should avoid spicy foods. That one is a controversial topic with large heaps of evidence on both sides of the argument.

On one side you have an innumerable amount of anecdotes from peptic ulcer sufferers who report increased pain when they ingest spicy food. To be fair, this only makes sense. Spicy food bares all the markings of a stomach irritant and it's only logical to assume that it would increase the acid content of the stomach and thereby cause additional pain to people with ulcers.

On the other side, we find our old friend Science who doesn't care what other people think "makes sense." A 2006 article published in "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition" reviewed the findings of many other studies of capsaicin, the spicy in spicy foods, on the stomach. They did not report that it worsens ulcers but the findings were such that they were actually able to call capsaicin a "benefactor." Here's a quote from that article that I feel explains everything wonderfully: "Capsaicin does not stimulate but inhibits acid secretion, stimulates alkali, mucus secretions and particularly gastric mucosal blood flow which help in prevention and healing of ulcers." So spicy foods have the potential to reduce acidity in the stomach and thicken the mucous lining the stomach which can sooth and possibly even heal ulcers. The article also revealed the results of a survey which showed that gastric ulcers are three times more likely in cultures that do not habitually eat spicy food.

Of course this is not to say that ulcer sufferers should start munching on habaneros like they were apples and pouring heaps of cayenne over every meal. Many stomachs have not gotten the memo and are still irritated by large amounts of spicy food. Start slow and back off if you start getting heartburn and always, always, always talk this over with your doctor first.

Spicy foods have the potential to help in the prevention and treatment of peptic ulcers but, just like everything else, have to be used in moderation.