Can I eat chocolate while treating Helicobacter pylori?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on April 09, 2025
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During the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, it is permissible to eat chocolate, but it is also advisable not to consume too much chocolate. During the treatment period, one should avoid spicy and irritating foods, abstain from alcohol, and avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, etc. It is beneficial to eat easily digestible foods and fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, such as apples, bananas, and kiwis. Since chocolate is not considered a spicy and irritating food, it is permissible to eat chocolate during the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, during this period, it is also important to avoid overeating and to chew food slowly and thoroughly.

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Can a gastroscopy check for Helicobacter pylori?

Normally, when conducting a gastroscopy, it is possible to test for Helicobacter pylori, but this method of detection is less commonly used in clinical practice nowadays, as it requires undergoing a gastroscopy, which can be quite distressing and may cause nausea and vomiting. Currently, the main method used in clinical practice for detecting Helicobacter pylori is the breath test, typically using carbon-13 or carbon-14. This involves swallowing a capsule and then blowing into a device to test for Helicobacter pylori infection. This method is more convenient, which is why it has increasingly replaced gastroscopy for detecting Helicobacter pylori.

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How to treat Helicobacter pylori infection

Currently, the infection rate of Helicobacter pylori in our country has exceeded 50%. The carbon-14 breath test can be used to detect the presence of Helicobacter pylori infection. If the infection is positive and is accompanied by some symptoms or diseases of the digestive system, eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori is required. The treatment regimen consists of a proton pump inhibitor, two antibiotics, and a bismuth agent, lasting for 14 days. After stopping the medication for a month, the carbon-14 breath test is rechecked to confirm whether the Helicobacter pylori has been converted to negative. If the conversion is negative, it indicates that the eradication treatment for Helicobacter pylori was successful. Helicobacter pylori has been confirmed as the main cause of chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer, thus if the Helicobacter pylori infection is positive, eradication treatment is necessary.

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Can I take vitamins B1 and B12 during treatment for Helicobacter pylori?

During the treatment of Helicobacter pylori, it is possible to consume Vitamin B1 and Vitamin B12. The treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection can consider using a bismuth-containing quadruple therapy for two weeks to eradicate the infection. During the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection, one can also eat fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, such as kiwis, bananas, apples, etc. It is important to eat regularly and in moderation, consume light, easily digestible foods, and avoid overeating. Spicy and stimulative foods should be avoided, including strong alcohol, strong tea, coffee, etc. At the same time, patients with Helicobacter pylori infection should also ensure adequate rest.

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How to eradicate Helicobacter pylori

The spontaneous clearance rate of Helicobacter pylori infection is extremely low, meaning that it is almost impossible to cure itself. If not treated medically, it may lead to a lifelong infection. Currently, the consensus both domestically and internationally on handling Helicobacter pylori is that eradication requires combination therapy with multiple drugs, categorized into triple therapy and quadruple therapy, with a treatment duration of 2 weeks. Triple therapy consists of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) plus two antibiotics. We currently use quadruple therapy, which includes two antibiotics, a gastric mucosal protectant, and a proton pump inhibitor. The choice of these drugs is complex. Common anti-inflammatory drugs include amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, and levofloxacin; in cases of bacterial resistance, we recommend using furazolidone or tetracycline. Specific medications should be consulted in detail with a doctor. After the treatment course, we need to assess whether the eradication was successful, with a re-examination one month after stopping the drugs. After the eradication of Helicobacter pylori, the rate of reinfection in adults is very low, but the reinfection rate in children is somewhat higher than in adults. Not everyone infected with Helicobacter pylori needs eradication; it is necessary only for those with ulcers, erosion, atrophy, or related symptoms.

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Is long-term bad breath definitely caused by Helicobacter pylori?

Chronic bad breath may be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection, but this is not always the case. Other causes of bad breath include dental issues, such as cavities and tooth decay. Additionally, stomach diseases can also cause bad breath, many of which are associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. After ruling out dental diseases, it is recommended to undergo a Carbon-14 breath test to determine if there is an infection of Helicobacter pylori. If the test for Helicobacter pylori infection is positive and accompanied by some stomach symptoms, such as upper abdominal bloating, burping, acid reflux, nausea, and vomiting, it is advisable to undergo a 14-day treatment for Helicobacter pylori. Generally, after treatment, the Helicobacter pylori can change from positive to negative.