What detected Helicobacter pylori means, and how to clear it
Helicobacter pylori colonizes gastric mucosa and can cause chronic inflammation, ulcers, and reduced stomach acid production.
What is Helicobacter pylori?
Helicobacter pylori is a spiral-shaped, microaerophilic bacterium that colonizes the lining of the human stomach. It is unique in that it has evolved to survive the stomach's strong acid environment by burrowing into the mucus layer and producing the enzyme urease, which neutralizes acid in its immediate vicinity. H. pylori is present in roughly half of all humans worldwide. For most carriers it causes no symptoms, but in a subset it drives chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer disease, and (in long-term untreated cases) gastric cancer and MALT lymphoma. Detection on a stool test (PCR or antigen) is highly specific. A positive result usually means active colonization, not just transient exposure. Whether to treat depends on symptoms, virulence factors (CagA, VacA, BabA, DupA, each covered on its own marker page), and clinical context. Functional and dietary protocols can support pharmaceutical eradication and address the post-treatment microbiome dysbiosis that often follows triple-therapy antibiotics.
What does detected Helicobacter pylori indicate?
Helicobacter pylori colonizes gastric mucosa and can cause chronic inflammation, ulcers, and reduced stomach acid production. Sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts has been shown to inhibit H. pylori both in vitro and in clinical trials. Mastic gum has demonstrated bactericidal activity against H. pylori strains.
Symptoms commonly reported
- heartburn
- acid reflux
- burning stomach pain
- nausea
- early satiety
- bloating after meals
- low B12
- iron deficiency anemia
Not everyone with this finding has every symptom. Many people have several without realizing they share a root cause.
Reference ranges
A value just over the threshold is usually less urgent than a value many times outside the range. Trend across retests matters more than a single number.
The 6-week protocol for detected Helicobacter pylori
A phased plan with 11 food prescriptions across three phases. Below is the first phase preview. Upload your lab to unlock the full protocol with exact quantities, frequencies, and conflict-resolved sequencing.
- Broccoli sprouts (fresh) See your personalized dose
- Mastic gum capsules See your personalized dose
Unlock your full personalized protocol
Most people have 4 to 7 abnormal markers on a single test. Upload your PDF and we'll build the 6-week protocol that handles all of them in the right order, with conflicts resolved and a grocery list ready to send to Instacart or Kroger.
Upload my lab PDFWhich tests measure Helicobacter pylori?
- GI-MAP (Diagnostic Solutions)
- Genova GI-Effects
- Doctor's Data GI360
- Biomesight
Different labs use different methodologies (qPCR, 16S sequencing, shotgun metagenomics), so absolute numbers may not be directly comparable across tests. We accept GI-MAP, Genova GI-Effects, and Biomesight PDF uploads today.
