If you’re struggling with H. Pylori in your gut, there are effective ways you can naturally overcome it, including making dietary modifications, such as following this 7-Day H. Pylori Diet Menu!

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If you’re seeking an H. Pylori diet menu, chances are you’ve been told to remove Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) so you can improve your gut and overall health. An H. Pylori infection can wreak havoc on the gut and body, and I see it cause many imbalances within the body in the clients I work with. 

However, the good news is H. Pylori is treatable with the right approach! If you’re struggling with H. Pylori in your gut, there are effective ways you can naturally overcome it, including making dietary modifications, such as following this 7-Day H. Pylori Diet Menu!

WHAT IS H. PYLORI + COMMON H. PYLORI SYMPTOMS

Helicobacter Pylori, or H. Pylori is a very common gut infection. In fact, according to the GI Map (my most commonly used stool test), it is the number one infection I see to show up in the gut. Additionally, studies show that half of the worldwide population has H. Pylori. The infection is most commonly contracted through contaminated water and food, but it can also be transmitted through saliva and feces. 

While some may not present with symptoms, the most common symptoms of an H. Pylori infection include:

• Digestive pain
• Bloating
• Chronic gastritis
• Nausea
• Frequent burping
• Fatigue
• Stoamch pain
• Heartburn or acid reflux
• Weight fluctuations 
• Loose stools or constipation
• Appetite changes
• Mood imbalances 
• Inflammation

Labs often correlating with other risk factors of H. Pylori include high C-reactive protein, TSH, and lipids, such as LDL and total cholesterol. 

You can be diagnosed with H. Pylori by working with a trusted practitioner and testing with a stool test. For a deep dive on what H. pylori is, how we get it, and how to detect the infection accurately, check out my blog post about what H. Pylori test is best and why it is so important. 

WHY DOES H. PYLORI AFFECT DIGESTION?

H. Pylori significantly impacts the function of your gut. It inhibits your body’s ability to digest, and consequently, can cause a domino effect by:

• Weakening the stomach lining
• Reducing stomach acid production
• Disrupting gut bacteria balance
• Triggering chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract
• Interfering with nutrient absorption

H. Pylori can clearly affect the gut and a person’s overall health, so it’s critical to understand how to address an H. Pylori infection effectively! 

HOW FOOD CAN BE USED TO ADDRESS H. PYLORI: 4 MAIN GOALS

As we know in functional medicine, food can be an effective way to support the body. The case of H. Pylori is no different. Food is a powerful tool when used in the right way. 

So, how can the food we eat help address H. Pylori?

Creates a Hostile Environment

Eating an anti-H. Pylori diet, including food and herbs, creates a hostile environment in the gut. This helps kill off H. Pylori bacteria while keeping the beneficial gut bugs. 

Supports Gut Mucosa Repair 

Certain foods help protect and rebuild the gut mucosa, which is essential to a strong, healthy gut. The gut mucosa is the inner lining of the gut wall and is responsible for digesting nutrients, protecting against pathogens, assisting the immune system, and lubricating the gut lining. 

Enhances the Immune System 

The gut houses the majority of the immune system. When you feed your body with the right foods, the immune system grows stronger and more resilient. In turn, a strong immune system supports a healthy gut microbiome. 

Prevents Reinfection Through Dietary Modifications

Choosing your foods wisely can naturally support a healthy balance of gut bacteria. Nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory foods help the good gut bugs flourish while destroying the pathogenic ones, like H. Pylori. This can help prevent re-infection with H. Pylori. 

4 PHASES OF AN H. PYLORI DIET 

The main problem with H. Pylori treatment protocols is that they just focus on killing the pathogen. This is also why H. Pylori tends to come back again, and protocols aren’t successful. 

When we create a strong host (your body) and support the immune system, inflammation, stress, and overall nutrition status of the individual, it is much easier to remove H. Pylori and keep it from coming back. For this reason, lifestyle and dietary modifications are imperative to increase the success rate of H. Pylori removal! 

There are four major phases included in the H. Pylori diet that I walk my clients through in combination with lifestyle modifications and custom herbal supplement protocols. The dietary modifications and steps are essential and include:

Anti-inflammatory Diet (1-2 months)

The first dietary phase to support H. Pylori removal involves consuming a diet with anti-inflammatory foods for 30-60 days. An anti-inflammatory diet excludes foods that fuel inflammation and includes therapeutic foods that reduce inflammation. We will discuss this phase in more detail below.

Rejuvenation/Reset Diet (30 days)

The second phase is most effective with liver support to help prepare your body to eliminate the H. pylori bacteria. This is where I walk clients through a customized roadmap to open drainage and detox pathways to safely and effectively remove toxins and regenerate the liver (a key pre-requisite for gut healing that makes protocols successful). 

Removal Diet (3-4 months) 

The removal phase lasts the longest and is when H. Pylori is killed off and removed from the body in combination with conventional treatments, such as antibiotics, or natural remedies such as an herbal protocol. 

The H. Pylori removal diet is less about what to remove and more about specific servings of foods clinically proven to inhibit or eradicate the H. Pylori infection. This is when the nitty-gritty work occurs, and symptoms start improving!

Prevention Diet (6+ months)

The final phase supports your body and gut to prevent re-infection. The prevention diet focuses on creating and maintaining a resilient gut that can keep foreign invaders from entering through the gut lining. 

The prevention H. Pylori diet still focuses on including some H. Pylori-mitigating foods, but it also emphasizes a strong, robust microbiome and immune system, which is key to preventing new pathogens from penetrating the gut and making their way to the bloodstream. 

All of these dietary phases serve an essential purpose, so it is essential to allow enough time for each phase to effectively remove H. pylori and decrease the likelihood of reinfection after treatment.

WHY START WITH THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DIET FOR H. PYLORI? 

The first phase, implementing an anti-inflammatory diet, is the most critical. Here’s what following an anti-inflammatory H. pylori diet does as a starting point: 

• Sets the stage for successful H. pylori removal
• Begins to reduce gut inflammation
• Supports and strengthens the immune system
• Removes personal gut irritants and triggers you usually wouldn’t avoid to calm your digestion (more on this to come).
• Strengthens your “host” (AKA cellular health)
• Replenishes key nutrients and minerals needed for ATP production (cellular energy) that supports pathogen removal

An anti-inflammatory diet prepares the body to eradicate H. Pylori from the gut. When we skip this step and jump to treatment options, whether conventional or alternative, we reduce the effectiveness and likelihood of the infection’s elimination because we have a weak host. 

H. PYLORI DIET MENU: WHAT TO EAT 

As we now know, an H. Pylori diet is the 3rd dietary phase after supporting liver detox and clearance. An H. pylori-specific diet supports pathogen removal and involves consuming anti-inflammatory foods while combining specific foods that inhibit or eradicate H. Pylori. 

It’s important to note here that foods proven to remove H. Pylori can inhibit H. pylori, but do not always eradicate it. Before we dive into the diet, let’s break down the difference! The two words inhibit and eradicate have entirely different meanings. Inhibiting the growth of the bacteria is not the same as killing it. 

Inhibit = limit, block, or decrease the action or function of. 

Eradicate = to eliminate or remove completely.

So that leaves us with the question of what to do with the evidence regarding foods that inhibit or eradicate H. Pylori. There’s a short list of foods shown to either inhibit or eradicate H. pylori; therefore, it is beneficial to include these in both the H. Pylori removal phase and the prevention diet phase. 

Even if the food may not eradicate H. Pylori, incorporating this list into your diet may help to control your symptoms since it can at least inhibit it.

Main Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat for H. Pylori

• Vegetables (Broccoli, cabbage, leafy greens, beets, carrots, sweet potatoes)
• Colorful fruits and superfood powders
• Healthy fats such as animal fats, olive oil, and avocados)
• Animal proteins (such as grass-fed beef, wild-caught fish, and pasture-raised chicken and eggs)
• Antioxidants (Turmeric, beetroot powder, acerola cherry powder, ginger, green tea, dark chocolate)
• Gluten-free grains 

Specific Foods Known to Inhibit or eradicate H. Pylori:

Berries

Berries contain proanthocyanidins that prevent H. Pylori from sticking to the gut wall. They also include plenty of antioxidants that support healthy cellular nutrition, mineral status, immune function, and inflammation.

Specifically, berries contain anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and quercetin, which have antimicrobial properties that may inhibit the growth of H. Pylori. A 2020 meta-analysis suggested combining natural polyphenols with conventional treatments (like antibiotics or functional medicine protocols) improved eradication rates.

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: Consume 1-2 cups of fresh berries per day during H. Pylori removal 

• Eat on their own as a side 
• Pair with raw nuts/seeds
• Add to smoothies 
• Mix with buckwheat for breakfast

Cranberry

Like berries, cranberries contain proanthocyanidins (PACs), which block H. Pylori from adhering to the gut wall. Some studies show that cranberries can also make antibiotic treatment more effective. PACs in cranberries disrupt the biofilm formation of H. Pylori, making it easier to remove.

Children who consumed cranberry juice showed an eradication rate of 16.9% compared to only 1.5% in the control group. Studies support positive effects of cranberry juice when combined with H. Pylori treatment options. 

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: A randomized controlled trial found that drinking 500 mL (about 2 cups) of cranberry juice daily for 90 days significantly reduced H. Pylori colonization rates compared to a placebo group. Based on this information, I notice great results when individuals include 1-2 cups daily of 100% pure cranberry juice (no added sugar) for 3 months or during an H. Pylori removal period. 

Cabbage Juice

The high vitamin C content and isothiocyanates in cabbage are found to have antibacterial effects against H. Pylori, reducing bacterial load and inflammation. Cabbage juice is rich in Vitamin U (S-Methylmethionine), a compound known to protect against ulcers and repair the stomach lining. 

A 1949 study showed that cabbage juice significantly accelerated ulcer healing after only 7-10 days, compared to the typical 37-day healing period with conventional treatment. Additionally, cabbage can help heal ulcers that may occur as a consequence of an H. Pylori infection. 

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: Patients with peptic ulcers who drank 1 liter of fresh cabbage juice daily saw their ulcers heal 3-6 times faster than those on conventional treatment. I recommend starting with ¼ to ½ cup per day and gradually increasing to 1 cup, twice daily.

NOTE: If you have SIBO, this can make symptoms worse initially. Always make sure to work with your functional medicine dietitian to support you with the diet that is best for you when removing H. Pylori. 

Curcucmin

Curcumin, the active compound found in turmeric, has been shown to reduce gastric inflammation associated with an H. Pylori infection. 

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: Add 1-2 tsp of fresh turmeric grated in smoothies, teas, or dishes each day. 

Ginger

Ginger contains phenols and antioxidant compounds with strong antibacterial properties against H. Pylori. A study found that ginger extract significantly reduced H. Pylori growth in vitro. Gingerol in ginger directly disrupts H. Pylori’s ability to colonize the stomach lining.

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: Add 1 tbsp of fresh ginger in smoothies, teas, or dishes each day. Ginger supplements may be a good alternative (standardized 500 mg – 1,000 mg daily) for those who don’t like the taste of fresh ginger. 

Here’s how you can use ginger specifically to support the gut. 

Olive Oil

Olive oil is rich in essential fatty acids. The polyphenols (tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol) in olive oil exhibited antibacterial activity against eight strains of H. pylori. Three of those H. pylori strains were antibiotic-resistant.

Additionally, combining olive oil with other antimicrobial foods (such as broccoli sprouts, cranberries, and berries) enhances bacterial eradication. 

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: A clinical study found that consuming 30 mL (2 tablespoons) of extra virgin olive oil daily for 2 weeks significantly reduced H. Pylori load in infected patients.

Broccoli and Broccoli Sprouts

A compound called Isothiocyanate sulforaphane, found in broccoli, protects the gut from H. Pylori. The highest amount of Sulforaphane is found in broccoli sprouts, which activates Nrf2 (the pathway that protects the stomach lining from oxidative stress and damage. 

Studies show sulforaphane reduces H. Pylori colonization and inflammation, even antibiotic-resistant strains. Additionally, it reduces bacterial load and suppresses urease activity (making it harder for H. Pylori to survive in the stomach).

How to incorporate based on daily serving recommendations: Raw, fresh sprouts contain the highest levels of sulforaphane. I recommend ½ cup (70 grams) daily for at least 8 weeks for maximum H. Pylori-fighting benefits.

ADDITIONAL H. PYLORI DIET MODIFICATIONS TO ENHANCE SUCCESS RATE

Best Fats To Cook With For H. Pylori 

• Extra virgin olive oil (garnish oil used after cooking or in salads) 
• Expeller-pressed extra virgin coconut oil 
• Organic pork lard 
• Organic beef tallow 
• Organic duck fat 
• Organic pasture-raised butter 

H. Pylori Diet Menu: Foods to Avoid 

The following foods are processed, packaged, and overall inflammatory to the body, making them helpful to avoid when following the H. Pylori diet:

• Gluten 
• Conventional cow’s milk dairy products
• Soy 
• Legumes 
• Eggs 
• Nuts and nut oils 
• Vinegar 
• Added sugars 
• Spicy foods 
• Processed vegetable oils 
• Processed food chemicals and ingredients 
• Sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners
• Pickled food 
• Alcohol 
• Caffeine 

7-DAY H. PYLORI DIET MENU & MEAL PLAN

If you’ve been on the hunt for a done-for-you meal plan that bundles all these recommendations together in an easy-to-follow plan and spells it all out without any guesswork? You’ve come to the right place. 

Enter: The 7-Day H. Pylori Diet Meal Plan! 

I created a detailed and comprehensive 7-Day Meal Plan to take the guesswork out of your H. Pylori diet. It includes a grocery guide and a food plan that incorporates the exact servings to include each day while removing H. Pylori. Whether you are removing H. Pylori using antibiotics or a natural herbal protocol, enhancing your nutrition and optimizing your diet not only supports your efforts but also enhances the success rate! 

My curated 7-Day H. Pylori Diet Meal Plan includes everything you need to know to follow the H. Pylori diet for an entire week. Depending on your unique situation and timeline, you can repeat the plan as often and as long as needed. 

You can download the 7-Day H. Pylori Diet Meal Plan here, along with H. Pylori bonuses to help support your gut post-removal! 

H. Pylori Diet Tips and Guidelines 

In addition to following the 7-day meal plan, it can be helpful to implement these tips and guidelines to make sure you experience the best results:

• Avoid any and all known food sensitivities to reduce inflammation.
• Eat fresh, organic foods as much as possible (quality matters)!
• Use low-temperature cooking methods and avoid overcooking all foods.
• At every meal, pair high-quality protein with a vegetable cooked in a heat-stable fat (blood sugar balance is key). 

A PERSONALIZED APPROACH TO REMOVING H. PYLORI

If you’ve noticed you’ve tried removing H. Pylori and it keeps coming back, or the protocols you’ve been on haven’t been successful, check out my Microbiome Makeover 1:1 coaching program. I walk my clients through a personalized approach and roadmap that helps them heal their gut so they can finally experience boundless energy, a brain boost, and optimal digestion. I help people who have tried everything else but still aren’t seeing results. We walk you through our completely custom framework to address areas such as: 

1. Improving cellular nutrition and functional medicine foundations (we address your unique deficiencies and imbalances) 
2. Opening drainage and detox pathways to prep the body for successful protocols (so that they actually work) 
3. Liver regeneration (the prerequisite to gut healing and feeling amazing once and for all) 
4. Building your microbiome based on YOUR unique chemistry and lab data. 

It’s designed to completely eliminate guesswork so you can be empowered with the exact roadmap to see a real gut and life transformation. Together, we help you create a long-term, sustainable plan to maintain your healthy gut! 

WRAPPING IT ALL UP

While H. Pylori can be a tricky and persistent bacterial infection, it is possible to eradicate it from the gut naturally. 

Diet can play a role in successful H. Pylori removal, especially when following the 4 dietary phases I outlined in this post. 

If you are ready to have an expert Functional Medicine Registered Dietitian Nutritionist customize a plan for you, my Microbiome Makeover Program is a great place to identify H. Pylori and effectively address it using diet, lifestyle, and supplementation. To get started, apply here! 

As always, ensure you are working with a qualified healthcare provider or Registered Dietitian who can help you understand your unique chemistry and goals when removing H. Pylori. 

Now, I would love to hear from you! Let me know your questions below, and how I can help steer you in the right direction.

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