How to Take Care of Your Stomach and Stop Ulcers

How to Take Care of Your Stomach and Stop Ulcers

Your stomach is like a cooking pot inside your body. It helps turn food into energy so you can run, play, and grow. But sometimes, sores (small wounds) can appear inside the stomach. These sores are called ulcers.

Ulcers can hurt a lot. They can make you feel sick, tired, or even stop you from eating your favorite food. The good news is: if you take care of your stomach every day, you can stop ulcers before they even start.

Let’s learn how to do that in a very simple way.

What is an Ulcer?

Imagine you fall and scrape your knee. A wound appears, and it hurts until it heals. An ulcer is like that, but the wound is inside your tummy. Because it’s inside, you cannot see it — but you can feel the pain.

People with ulcers may:

• Feel a burning pain in the stomach.
• Get sick after eating.
• Feel full quickly.
• Sometimes vomit or see blood in their stool.

Why Do Ulcers Happen?

1. Bad bacteria – A tiny germ called H. pylori can hurt the stomach lining.
2. Too many painkillers – Medicine like ibuprofen and aspirin can damage the tummy if you take too much.
3. Too much stomach acid – When acid is very strong, it burns the stomach lining.
4. Unhealthy lifestyle – Smoking, alcohol, too much stress, or skipping meals can make ulcers worse.

How to Prevent Ulcers

1. Eat Healthy Food Every Day

Food is the best friend of your stomach. But not all foods are safe friends.

Good foods for your tummy:

• Fruits like bananas, apples, papayas.
• Vegetables like carrots, spinach, and pumpkin.
• Whole grains like oats, brown rice, and beans.
• Yogurt (it has good bacteria that fight the bad ones).

Foods to eat less of:

• Spicy food with too much pepper.
• Fried food like chips and doughnuts.
• Fizzy drinks like soda.

2. Don’t Skip Meals

When you don’t eat for a long time, your stomach still makes acid. With no food to digest, the acid starts hurting your stomach wall.

• Eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner on time.
• If you are hungry between meals, eat small snacks like fruit, nuts, or bread.

Story: Think of your stomach like a school classroom. If the teacher (stomach acid) comes but no students (food) are there, the teacher gets angry. But if students are there on time, the class is happy.

3. Be Careful with Medicines

Some painkillers hurt the stomach when you take them too often.

• Only take medicine when a doctor tells you.
• Always eat food before taking painkillers.
• Don’t take extra tablets without asking an adult.

4. Control Stress

Stress makes your stomach unhappy. When you worry too much, your stomach produces more acid.

Ways to relax:

• Play with friends.
• Draw or color.
• Take deep breaths slowly.
• Sleep early and get enough rest.

5. Don’t Smoke or Drink Alcohol

Cigarettes and alcohol are very bad for the tummy.

• Smoking makes the stomach heal slowly.
• Alcohol burns the stomach lining and makes more acid.

6. Drink Water Often

Water washes your tummy and helps it stay cool.

• Drink 7–8 glasses every day.
• Carry a water bottle to school.
• Drink water after playing to replace sweat.

Tip: Replace soda with water or fresh juice. Your body will feel better.

7. Eat Foods with Good Germs (Probiotics)

Not all bacteria are bad. Some are good and help your stomach fight ulcers.

• Yogurt is the easiest probiotic food.
• Fermented foods like kefir or pickles (but not too salty) are also helpful.

8. Tell Someone If You Feel Pain

Never ignore your body. If you feel pain in your stomach often, tell your parents or teacher. If you vomit blood or see black stool, go to the doctor immediately.

Some foods can help your tummy stay healthy:

• Honey – Sweet and fights germs.
• Garlic – Strong but fights bacteria.
• Green tea – Gentle drink that calms the stomach.

(But always check with a doctor before using them as medicine.)

Final Thoughts

Your stomach is your “food factory.” If you take care of it, you will grow strong, healthy, and full of energy. If you don’t, you may get ulcers, which are painful sores.

To prevent ulcers, remember these golden rules:

1. Eat healthy food.
2. Don’t skip meals.
3. Be careful with medicine.
4. Relax and manage stress.
5. Don’t smoke or drink alcohol.
6. Drink water daily.
7. Eat foods with good bacteria.
8. Tell a doctor when you feel sick.