Not for executives only For many years doctors prescribed a bland diet for ulcers on the theory that fried and spicy foods stirred up excess stomach acid, which then ate holes in the walls of the stomach and duodenum. They urged patients to avoid coffee and cigarettes. They also thought that stress caused ulcers. Some thought there was an ulcer personality, people who were harried or worried too much. Alcohol has nothing to do with ulcers.
Smoking probably has nothing to do with it either.
Scientist swallows bugs, gets sick The antacid drugs were, and still are, effective. But they don't cure the disease. As soon as people go off the antacids, the ulcers have the potential to come back. The reason is simple, according to Dr. John Allen, another Minneapolis gastroenterologist. H. pylori is still alive and well in the lining of the stomach, he said.