Conference turris::cooks

I should've added that he cannot have any fats, salt, or acids. I spent last
evening going through book stores, but couldn't find any one book dealing
with the art of cooking tasty meals for a person with ulcers. He has somehow
managed to lose his food lists.:-) I talked to a dietician who has promised to
mail me all the information she has regarding 'can haves' and 'can't haves',
but I don't think it will include recipes. Waiting to hear from you all....

-sunny-

What do you mean when you say ACIDS?  

We have found that if you like veggies the following is great.

1 C       Brown Rice
1 1/2 c.  Water
Spices    Basil, Mint, Parsley, Dill
Lots of   Veggies, including anything steamable.  We use summer Squash,
	  Zuchinni, Carrots, Onions, Cabbage, Green Peppers, Celery, etc

Cook the Rice for about 45-50 minutes.  Steam the veggies with the spices
Pour the veggies over the Rice and serve.  

I usually pour a Raisin/Cider sause over it but it uses an oil (Safflower
oil). Here it is if it is ok.

Raison/Cider Sause

1 c   Raisons
3 tbl Safflower oil
3 Tbl Whole Wheat Flour
1 c   Cider (Diluted) or Apple juice

Heat the oil.  Add the flower and Cider.  Stir over low heat until it thickens.
 Add the Raisons and heat for approximately 4 minutes.

Note:  Check out some Vegetarian or Holistic/Macrobiotic cookbooks.  They
have a tendancy to cook with the more Alkaline foods which generally include
most Veggies and grains.

When I first got home with my ulcer, life was a stone drag.  There's not
a lot you can do for food in the first couple of weeks.  Stay away from
anything with a tastable acid content (tomatos, anything made with apples,
sugar, syrups or chocolate (sigh)) which rules out just about everything.
You can scramble eggs in a teflon pan without any shortening (bland) and
have all  the bread and milk you want.  (When I'm having an ulcer attack,
a loaf of french bread and a quart of milk are the day's eating.)  Again,
using a teflon pan, you can cook french toast -- which will taste ok, after
you husband resigns himself to the taste with no sugar, syrup or butter.
Chicken, fish and beef are ok if you trim carefully and broil them.  Some
veggies are ok, but stay away from the spuds, cukes and such.

The important part to mention is that your husband will have to learn to
relax.  After that happens, he can eat anything he wants until he gets into
a stress situation, then the french bread and milk come out. 

I've never really seen a cookbook geared toward ulcers, and I don't have
any special recipies.   The key is creamy food, like cassaroles and macaroni
and cheese, but even these might have to wait until his ulcer cools down
a bit. 
						>>>==>PStJTT

Also note to be careful with dairy products.  Some folks can eat all the
dairy they want and be fine.  Some find it to be the worst possible
irritant.  It's genetic, and gets worse as you get older.  I can't
have cow milk or cheese (or ice cream) tho yoghurt is fine (but acid).

Some things which are "spicy" to the tongue are rather neutral in
the stomach.  I find chili cures an upset stomach!  (Greasy foods
are the worst!)  So don't fret and let him get resigned to just bland.

     fred

re.2 I think my poor husband is going to starve to death. He's always
     been a fussy eater anyhow, he won't eat anything that has any kind
     of rice or chicken in it. He's never been fond of vegetables either.
     Strictly a meat and potatoes man. Acidic foods were pretty well
     covered in re. 4. The only kind of fish I could ever get him to
     eat before was "deep fried cat fish". Thanks for your help though,
     I think once I get the hang of cooking this special way, I will
     incorporate the recipes and send them off to a publisher. In todays
     society, a cookbook dealing with ulcers would probably go over real
     big.

re.4 My heart goes out to you. The first night Larry sat down to supper
     was very sad. He looked down at the two charred pieces of meat, the
     mashed potatoes made with water only, and the unsalted gree beans
     with the saddest look I had ever seen on him. "Is this what I have
     to look forward to from now on?" he queried. Gently I explained that
     for the time being food would not be a pleasurable experience and
     that meals were no more than fuel for his body at this space in time.
     He ate, but he didn't enjoy. Larry is allowed to have dairy products
     as long as they are low-fat. i.e. skim milk, low-fat cottage cheese.
     But he has been advised to avoid any excessive use because of the
     fat. At this point I'm going crazy trying to make food look even
     partly appetizing, and include variety. He doesn't complain though.
     At home Larry is the most relaxed, and pleasent person I know. He's
     always laughing and teasing, and any minor problems that errupt
     at home never cause him any noteable stress. However, he is in an
     extremely stressful profession that he would rather die before he
     would leave, but he has promised to do the best he can in dealing
     with it. Thankyou for your help.

-sunny-

I was never great on Veggies either.  I still would rather have other things
but 6 weeks of a Cleansing program where all I could eat was Veggies, grains,
and fruits partially changed that.  You might try the New England Family
Health Center in Boston if you are anywhere within 30 miles.  It is a
Naturopathic Center which deals with the whole person.  ie.  They will not
only treat your husbands physical symptoms but also work on the other reasons
that the ulser may have developed.  

I have had serious bronchitis since I was a child and since going there and
attending 2 of their classes which changed my eating habits I haven't had
an attack in almost 6 months.  They work very well with people in that they
try as hard as they can to cater to the individual.  Let me know if you would
like the number or more information.

Pam

re: 6

Hi Pam.

You are always such a wealth of information and I thank you. Unfortunately,
I am just a tad over 30 miles away...Albuquerque, NM. :-) I did receive a
little information from a local dietician, but it was indeed very little.

I quote:

The latest research and current resources state that the traditional
bland diet as a mode of therapy for a chronic peptic ulcer does not
decrease gastric acid secretion or increase the rate of healing of
the ulcer. Suggested guidelines are as follows:

1. Three regular meals a day are preferable to six small feedings. 
   There is little difference in gastric acid secretion between the
   two patterns. Three regular meals may be combined with antacid
   therapy to provide the most favorable level of gastric acid
   neutralization.

2. Antacids should be given in the prescribed dose, 1 hour and 3
   hours after meals and prior to bedtime. This regime is most likely
   to keep the acidity of the stomach at the most stable and lowest
   level.

3. Bedtime snakes should be avoided, as they will cause nocturnal
   gastric acid secretion.

4. Milk and cream feedings should not be used as antacid therapy.
   Although milk protein has an initial neutralizing affect on
   gastric acid, it is also a very potent stimulator. Hourly feedings
   of mik have shown to produce a lower PH than 3 regular meals. In
   addition, excessive amounts of milk and cream may promote weight
   gain, milk-alkali syndrome, and atherogenesis.

5. There is little rationale for completely eliminating any foods from
   the diet unless a particular food causes an individual repeated
   discomfort. Caffeine-containing beverages (coffee, tea, and cola
   drinks) and decaffeinated coffee cause gastric acid production
   but may be taken in moderation at or near mealtime, if tolerated.

6. Excessive alcohol intake should be avoided because of the damaging
   effect it has on the gastric muscosal lining. Contrary to past
   belief, alcohol has not been shown to increase gastric acid
   secretion in humans. Until further research shows that alcohol
   has damaging, neutral, or even beneficial effects in peptic ulcers,
   it should be eliminated from the diet or taken in moderation at
   or near mealtimes, if tolerated.

7. Black pepper, chili powder, and nicotine may cause distress and may
   have to be avoided.

  

Related Physiology:

Peptic ulcers are chronic erosions in the stomach or duodenum due to
injury from digestive secretions containing proteolytic enzymes and
hydrochloric acid. They occur most frequently in the upper duodenum,
where the stomach empties its highly acid contents into the susceptible
intestinal mucosa. Gastric ulcers are most frequently observed in the
antrum of the stomach. Predisposing factors include heredity, physical
and emotional stress, faulty dietary habits, excessive smoking, aspirin
ingestion, and caffeine consumption. Pain, which occurs in the
epigastrium, is the most common symptom of peptic ulcer. It is related
to gastric acidity and muscel spasm. The most effective treatment for 
ulcer pain is the administration of alkali at appropriate intervals.
Frequent complications are hemorrage, perforation, obstruction, and
failure to heal. The presence of complications may be an indication
for surgery.

From the manual of Clinical Dietetics

I was right...no recipes, and as I stated before, Larry already has the
complications of hemmorage. He sees the doctor again next week, he's
already suggested surgery and Larry is dreading it. I am looking for
groups in my area that can be of some help, but so far no luck. I'll
keep on trying though.

Regards,

-sunny-

    I HOPE YOUR HUBBY IS DOING BETTER.  YOU MAY WANT TO READ THE BOOK
    THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BEST SELLER LIST FOR WEEKS CALLED "FIT FOR
    LIFE".  IT HAS LOTS OF IDEAS AND RECIPES FOR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES.
    IT IS HELPING PEOPLE LOSE WEIGHT AND FEEL GREAT!  GOOD LUCK!