Most people have never even heard of Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori—let alone suspect it might be silently driving one of the deadliest forms of cancer in the world. Yet a staggering new study in Nature Medicine reveals that 76% of global stomach cancer cases are directly linked to this common bacterial infection, which often goes completely unnoticed.
Researchers found that of the 16 million people expected to develop stomach cancer globally in this generation (those born between 2008 and 2017), 12 million of those cases may be caused by H. pylori.
Let that sink in.
What is H.pylori?
H. pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that infects the stomach lining and can lead to a variety of digestive symptoms, including stomach pain, nausea, and even vomiting. In addition to the stomach lining, H. pylori can also affect the intestinal mucosa, contributing to inflammation throughout the digestive tract.
The breakdown? Around 8 million of those infections are projected to hit Asia, while North and South America are expected to see another 1.5 million.
And while doctors have known for decades that H. pylori increases the risk of stomach cancer, the scale of the problem—and the lack of urgency to address it—is raising eyebrows among top experts. “This is a preventable cancer,” said Dr. Anton Bilchik, Chief of Medicine at Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute in Santa Monica. “This is a wake-up call.”
H.pylori: A Silent Threat That Starts in Childhood
H.pylori is a spiral-shaped bacterium that sets up camp in your digestive tract, often as early as childhood.
H.pylori is a type of pylori bacteria that colonizes the gastrointestinal tract. For many people, it causes few symptoms at all—so they don’t even know it’s there, making early detection difficult. But over time, it can damage the stomach lining, leading to peptic ulcers, chronic inflammation, and in some cases, stomach cancer. H. pylori is the most common cause of peptic ulcer and peptic ulcers, which are painful sores in the stomach lining. In advanced cases, symptoms can include vomiting blood, which is a serious sign that requires immediate medical attention.
Here’s the scary part: about 30% of people who carry H.pylori will develop ulcers or related issues, and millions more are silently living with the bacteria without ever getting tested. H. pylori infection is associated with an increased risk and risk of stomach cancer.
It’s most commonly spread through contaminated food, water, or saliva. H.pylori is pylori contagious, spreading easily from person to person through saliva or body fluids. Pylori infections are common worldwide, especially in developing countries where sanitation and screening may be limited. And while breath, stool, and blood tests can detect it, few people are ever screened—especially in the U.S., where routine testing isn’t recommended for the average person. A diet high in refined salty, smoked, or processed foods can increase the risk of stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.
The Contagious Nature of H.pylori
H.pylori bacteria are highly contagious and can easily spread from person to person through direct contact with saliva, vomit, or fecal matter.
The risk of H.pylori infection increases in environments where hygiene practices are lacking, such as not washing hands regularly or consuming contaminated food and water. Crowded living conditions and poor sanitation, which are more common in certain developing regions, further raise the likelihood of pylori infection.
To help prevent the spread of pylori bacteria, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends practicing good hygiene, including frequent handwashing and ensuring food and water are safe to consume. By taking these precautions, you can significantly reduce your risk of contracting an h pylori infection.
How Do You Know If You Might Have H.pylori?
Most people with H.pylori won’t feel a thing—but when symptoms do show up, they often include:
- Burning or gnawing stomach pain
- Feeling full quickly or loss of appetite
- Bloating, burping, or nausea
- Unexplained weight loss
If those symptoms sound familiar and they’re not going away, don’t ignore them. You can test for
H. pylori with a simple breath, stool, or blood test. In some cases, your doctor might recommend an endoscopy. Sometimes, further tests may be needed to diagnose stomach cancer or to rule out other conditions such as a gastric ulcer, since these can cause similar symptoms.
The Good News: It’s Treatable
Many practitioners believe H.pylori can be wiped out with antibiotics and, in many cases, a course of proton pump inhibitors to help your stomach heal. A proton pump inhibitor is used in combination therapy (triple therapy) with antibiotics to reduce stomach acid, promote ulcer healing, and help eradicate H. pylori. However, antibiotics come with serious side effects, wiping out the good bacteria in the gut which, in turn, lowers immunity, causes Leaky Gut, and affects energy, hormones and mood. Furthermore, proton pump inhibitors decrease stomach acid which actually creates an environment for the bacteria to increase and proliferate, not get better.
In other words, antibiotics and PPI’s may make matters worse!
Away from antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors, there are supplements that can help with a H. pylori infection.
The Connection Between H.pylori and Colon Cancer
While the link between H.pylori and stomach cancer is well established, scientists are now exploring whether this common bacterium could also play a role in colon cancer. Recent research, including studies highlighted by the national comprehensive cancer network, suggests that individuals with
h.pylori infection may face an increased risk of developing colon cancer—especially in developing countries where pylori infections are more widespread.
The exact reasons for this connection are still being unraveled, but chronic inflammation appears to be a key factor. When h.pylori infection lingers in the digestive tract, it can cause ongoing irritation and damage to the cells lining not just the stomach, but potentially the colon as well. Over time, this chronic inflammation may make the cells lining the colon more vulnerable to changes that can lead to cancer. Additionally, h.pylori infection can disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome, which plays a crucial role in maintaining digestive health and protecting against cancer.
It’s important to note that while the risk of colon cancer associated with h.pylori infection is still being studied, awareness is growing—especially for those with a family history of colon cancer or other risk factors, such as a diet high in processed meats. If you fall into a higher-risk group, consider talking to your healthcare provider about getting tested for h pylori infection and scheduling regular colon cancer screening.
Prevention remains your best defense. Adopting a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in processed meats, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol can all help reduce your risk of both stomach and colon cancer. Regular screening is especially important if you have a family history or other risk factors, as early detection can lead to more effective treatment and better outcomes.
What You Can Do to Lower Your H.pylori Risk Factors
While some risk factors—like family history or where you were born—aren’t in your control, there’s a lot you can do to lower your risk of stomach cancer and reduce your chances of both H.pylori infection and stomach cancer:
- Eat a whole-food, nutrient-dense diet with lots of fresh fruits and veggies outlined in the Accelerated Food Guide.
- Avoid a diet high in refined salty, smoked, or processed foods, as these are associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer
- Avoid alcohol or keep it to a minimum
- Quit smoking (or don’t start), since smoking is linked to increased risk
- Move your body daily
- Get tested for H. pylori if you’re at risk—or if you’ve got ongoing GI symptoms
Targeted Supplement Support for H.pylori
While conventional treatment typically includes antibiotics, the bigger picture involves supporting the body’s natural defenses, clearing toxins, and restoring digestive balance. That’s where a strategic, root-cause approach using targeted supplements becomes invaluable.
Here’s how I support my clients battling H.pylori and its ripple effects:
Accelerated Colloidal Silver®
This is one of the most powerful tools we have in natural medicine. Accelerated Colloidal Silver® is a nano-colloidal silver solution with superior particle size and scalar enhancement, giving it broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties—without harming beneficial gut bacteria.
Unlike traditional colloidal silvers that may clump or build up in the body, Accelerated Colloidal Silver® is small enough to penetrate biofilms, the slimy shields that H. pylori builds to hide from your immune system. That means it can get to the source and support the body’s ability to weaken or eliminate the infection without triggering major die-off symptoms.
Silver also has a long history of use in soothing inflammation, supporting tissue repair, and acting as a natural defense against a wide range of pathogens—making it an ideal support during any H.pylori protocol.
Acceleradine® Iodine
Most people associate iodine only with the thyroid—but iodine is so much more than that.
Acceleradine® Iodine is a monoatomic, scalar-charged iodine.
Iodine itself has been proven to:
- Kill viruses, bacteria, and parasites, including H.pylori
- Displace toxic halogens (fluoride, bromine, chlorine) that weaken digestion and immunity
- Support mucosal healing and immune modulation in the gut lining
- Help restore energy production (ATP), which is often suppressed during chronic infections
- Regulate thyroid hormones that control digestive enzyme secretion and metabolic detoxification
Research has shown that iodine has direct antimicrobial action against H. pylori, but not all iodine is created equal. Acceleradine® Iodine is free of glycerin and additives that slow down absorption and may introduce more toxins into the body—and because it’s monoatomic, it can deeply penetrate tissues, reach the bloodstream rapidly, and support full-body detoxification.
Supplements to Overcome H.pylori Symptoms
While antibiotics are commonly prescribed to eradicate H.pylori, there are natural tools that can both support the body’s natural defenses and improve gut resilience before and after treatment.
The stomach plays a crucial role in secreting gastric juice and digestive enzymes, which are essential for breaking down food and preventing bacterial overgrowth. Below are supplements I recommend to support the production of gastric juice, increase the stomach acid to kill off the infection, support gut detoxification, rebuild the microbiome and reduce gut inflammation.
HCL Guard
Low stomach acid creates the perfect environment for H.pylori to thrive. Ironically the PPI medications given to fight H.pylori lower stomach acid, making the environment ideal for the GROWTH of the bacteria. This bacterium loves alkaline conditions, and when stomach acid is too low (a condition called hypochlorhydria), it becomes much harder for your body to naturally kill off pathogens in food or water.
HCL Guard contains a bioavailable form of betaine HCl, which increases stomach acidity to help:
- Kill off H. pylori before it can colonize the stomach lining
- Improve digestion and protein breakdown
- Reduce bloating, gas, and indigestion (common symptoms of H. pylori overgrowth)
- Restore the natural acidic barrier of the stomach that prevents bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine
By restoring optimal stomach acid, HCL Guard helps create a hostile environment for H. pylori, discouraging colonization and supporting gut health at its foundation.
Accelerated Cellular Detox® Powder
As H.pylori dies off—whether from antibiotics, natural antimicrobials, or improved stomach acid—it releases endotoxins and ammonia that can overwhelm the body, stress the liver, and lead to what’s often referred to as a “Herxheimer reaction” or die-off symptoms.
That’s where Accelerated Cellular Detox® Powder comes in. This unique, scalar-charged formula contains:
- Slippery Elm – Soothes and coats the stomach lining, helping to protect against H. pylori-induced irritation and inflammation, while promoting mucosal healing.
- Triphala – A powerful Ayurvedic blend that gently supports gut motility and detoxification, helping to move out toxins and reduce the bacterial load associated with H. pylori.
- Chitosan – Binds to toxins, pathogens, and bile acids, aiding in the removal of H. pylori biofilms and reducing the bacterial protective coating that makes it hard to eradicate.
- Activated Charcoal – Absorbs endotoxins and ammonia produced by H. pylori, helping to relieve gas, bloating, and Herxheimer symptoms during bacterial die-off.
- Diatomaceous Earth – Its abrasive texture helps disrupt H. pylori biofilms and sweep harmful microbes and parasites from the digestive tract.
- Micronized Zeolite – A natural mineral that traps and removes heavy metals, toxins, and microbial waste, supporting a cleaner internal environment where H. pylori can’t thrive.
Using this powder daily during an H.pylori protocol helps safely escort toxins out of the body, reducing inflammation, minimizing symptoms, and giving your detox pathways much-needed relief.
MegaSporeBiotic
Once the bacterial war is over, it’s time to rebuild.
MegaSporeBiotic is a spore-based probiotic that works differently than traditional probiotics. It doesn’t just “add in” bacteria—it reconditions the gut terrain, crowding out harmful pathogens like H.pylori while supporting the regrowth of a balanced, diverse microbiome.
MegaSporeBiotic has been shown in clinical research to:
- Reduce gut inflammation
- Strengthen the gut lining, which is often damaged by both H. pylori and antibiotic treatments
- Produce short-chain fatty acids like butyrate, which promote healing in the stomach and intestines
- Help seal leaky gut and reduce food sensitivities
Because it’s heat-stable and survives stomach acid, MegaSporeBiotic reaches the intestines intact—exactly where it’s needed. It’s the ideal probiotic after clearing H. pylori, and a smart foundational supplement for anyone dealing with chronic GI issues, autoimmune conditions, or nutrient malabsorption.
The Bigger Picture
This recent research confirms what we’ve seen clinically for years: H.pylori isn’t just a random stomach bug—it’s a root cause of ulcers, indigestion, and in many cases, stomach and colon cancer.
And while conventional medicine may not screen for it unless you’re symptomatic, you don’t need to wait until you’re in pain to start supporting your gut.
If you’re dealing with bloating, reflux, nausea, or just have that “off” feeling in your digestion, start with these steps:
- Optimize stomach acid with HCL Guard
- Clear out toxins with Accelerated Cellular Detox® Powder
- Rebuild the gut ecosystem with MegaSporeBiotic
- Consider getting tested for H.pylori if you have ongoing symptoms, a family history of stomach cancer, or are from a high-incidence region
You can prevent these issues before they escalate—and in many cases, you can avoid antibiotics altogether with the right strategy.
This study is more than just another medical paper—it’s a warning. We have a clear, preventable cause of stomach cancer sitting in millions of people’s bodies. And yet we’re not acting.
It’s time to start paying attention—because when it comes to H. pylori, what you don’t know can hurt you.
Sara Banta
Sara Banta is a Stanford University Graduate with a Degree in Economics and Psychology, and a certified Natural Supplement Expert & Graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Sara is the Founder of Accelerated Health Products and host of the health & wellness podcast, Accelerated Health Radio.
