Gastric cancer is one of the major causes of mortality in Japan, Chile and Central America. Even though their populations are composed of different races, have different diets, and different genetic factors, they have in common the fact that they are settled on lands of volcanic origin, rich in minerals, especially sulfur compounds. Minerals as well as vitamins are essential elements in the cellular metabolism. However, continuous intake of high concentrations of these elements, over long periods, can produce functional digestive alterations. In the present study, 258 patients were evaluated by gastroscopy, biopsy, and determination of bile in the gastric juice. Of these patients, 150 showed biliary pigments in their gastric juice and H. pylori in the biopsies. One case developed cancer. It can be concluded that excessive concentrations of sulfur compounds in the diet may produce pyloric dysfunction, duodenum gastric reflux, and biliary gastritis, modifying gastric pH values, and favoring the growing of bacteria, particularly H. pylori. Chronically, those disorders can eventually produce precancerous lesions. It is also possible to determine the presence of biliary pigments in biopsies. We propose to generalize the use of the term biliary gastritis for alkaline reflux gastritis, because in this pathology the gastric juice pH is scarcely alkaline, but bile is always present.