Nix the 1 cause of stomach ulcers

Stomach ulcers trigger heartburn, nausea and pain. While they can be caused by stress or overuse of pain meds, the most common culprit is high levels of H. pylori, a bacteria found in the stomach that infects at least 50% of women and is four times more likely to cause problems in women over 50. These tips can help

- Alyssa Sybertz

Go for garlic

A study in the Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine found that eating four cloves of garlic a day reduces levels of H. pylori in the gut by 39% in three days. And per a separate study from Spain, that’s as effective as antibiotics. Garlic’s allicin interferes with cell-signaling pathways that promote the growth of H. pylori. An easy way to munch up four cloves: Peel and slice them thinly, then layer them on top of apple slices and enjoy.