What is H. pylori bacteria?

What is H. pylori bacteria, affecting more than half of the world's population? What are its symptoms and how to identify it?

• Helicobacter Pylori (H. pylori) is a type of bacteria that "lives" in the digestive tract and causes inflammation of the stomach and duodenum.

• H. pylori infection is one of the most common in the world – about 50% of the global population is infected. In Lithuania, among the age group over 50, the infection rate reaches 60–70%, and among students – about 20–25% (LSMU).

• It can also be a cause of reflux. Often, for most people, it causes no complaints, ulcers, or other significant health problems. People live without even knowing they are H. pylori carriers.

• The bacteria is usually transmitted through saliva (oral-oral route) or through contaminated food and water (fecal-oral route).

What are the signs and symptoms of H. pylori bacteria?

• Bloating
• Belching, reflux
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea, vomiting
• Bad breath
• Unexplained weight loss

Why is it important to remove this bacteria from our system?

ULCERS. Most cases of stomach and duodenal ulcers are caused by active H. pylori-induced inflammation. Ulcers develop in about 10% of H. pylori-infected patients.

INFLAMMATION OF THE GASTRIC MUCOSA. Many scientific studies have shown that almost all people infected with H. pylori have chronic, more or less active, inflammation of the gastric mucosa – gastritis.

STOMACH CANCER. Research has proven, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed, that H. pylori is a type I human carcinogen, in other words, an undeniable factor contributing to the development of stomach cancer.

How to overcome H. pylori bacteria?

1. Diet

Include as many probiotic foods as possible in your diet: probiotics, meaning good bacteria, will help fight against any type of bad bacteria. Ferment vegetables.

Recipe

Ingredients:

1 celery root
2 beets
1 parsnip
1 cup of sauerkraut
1 parsley root (optional)

Preparation:

Grate the celery root, beets, parsnip (and parsley root if desired). Mix with sauerkraut. That's it!
Store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

2. Natural treatments

Consume Probiotics, green tea, Mastic gum, Garlic, Broccoli, Turmeric; they have antibacterial and healing properties that will naturally help fight the bacteria.

3. Stress reduction

Emotional stress can increase acid production in the stomach, worsening gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This allows acid to flow from the stomach into the esophagus.

Allow yourself to be, take care not only of your physical but also your emotional health. Embrace a slower pace, incorporate activities that relax you into your routine.

4. Antibiotics

H. pylori can be treated with combinations of antibiotics and acid-reducing medications. 

However, we recommend starting with natural treatment methods.

Routine for a healthy stomach and digestion:

DIETARY CHANGES. Avoid spicy, processed, fried, and acidic foods.
LIFESTYLE CHANGES. Stress and smoking can worsen H. pylori symptoms.
PROBIOTICS. Some studies suggest that probiotics can help restore bacterial balance in the gut.

Conclusion

H. pylori infection is widespread and can cause serious health problems. Although traditional antibiotic treatment is effective, increasing resistance encourages the search for alternative or complementary treatment methods. Certain plants and their extracts, based on scientific research, can help fight H. pylori infection. However, before starting any natural treatment methods, we recommend consulting a healthcare professional.

Stay healthy!

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This article is not the author's personal opinion and is not intended to promote food supplements. It provides general information that is not related to the purchase or consumption of specific products. If you have health problems, are taking medications or other supplements, consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking new supplements. Health decisions should be made based on your individual condition and, if necessary, after consulting a healthcare professional. If you have any comments or questions about the content provided on this page, please contact us by email at studija@grasole.com.

Sources

Helicobacter pylori: A Review of Current Diagnostic and Management Strategies, SpringerNature

Helicobacter pylori: A concise review of the latest treatments against an old foe . Wafa A. Aldhaleei, MBBCh, MSc, MPH, Michael B. Wallace, MD, MPH, Dana M. Harris, MD and Yan Bi, MD, PhD