Diet & Stomach Polyps

The stomach has many conditions that can affect it. In fact, it is one of the most commonly ill organs in the body. This is because it is the dumping ground of so much food. Stomach polyps are one of the conditions that affect the stomach. These small growths are often a direct result of improper diet. Knowing what causes these growths can help you avoid them.

Stomach polyps are growths in the lining of the stomach. They are caused by many different things. Usually, they are not serious and go away given enough treatment and time. However, they are sometimes cancerous. There are three kinds of stomach polyps you should know about. Hyperplastic polyps are probably the most common polyps. They are usually benign, but they can become cancerous if left untreated. They occur when the bacteria Helicobacter pylori is in your stomach. It causes the lining of your stomach to inflame and the polyps to grow. Inflammatory polyps are enlarged cystic glands and are also usually benign. Then there are adenomatous polyps, which grow in the glandular tissue of your stomach. These are the kinds that most commonly become cancerous.

The growth of stomach polyps can be difficult to pinpoint. However, Cancer.org has noted that there is an increased risk with diets that are high in smoked foods, salted fish, salted meats and pickled vegetables. They say that this is because, “Nitrates and nitrites are substances commonly found in cured meats. They can be converted by certain bacteria, such as H. pylori, into compounds that have been found to cause stomach cancer in animals.” Another common cause of these polyps may be related to being obese. Cancer.org states that this link is not yet completely proven, however. It is important to note, however, that obesity does cause many problems in the body, so it could be possible that it causes stomach polyps. Smoking is a huge risk. Cancer.org reports that “The rate of stomach cancer is about doubled in smokers.” It is important to know that although not all polyps are cancerous, all of these dietary issues create benign polyps.

The best way to prevent the growth of stomach polyps is to either avoid or severely limit your intake of the foods that cause polyps. These foods are not the healthiest, so limiting your intake of them will help your overall health. However, there are some foods that seem to help prevent the growth of stomach polyps. Fresh fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants are reported by Cancer.org as appearing to lower the risk of stomach polyps and stomach cancer. Foods rich in vitamin A and C have high amounts of these antioxidants. It is important to avoid obesity as well. Exercising regularly will help keep your weight down to a healthy level and should help you avoid stomach polyps.