Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It produces enzymes that are involved in breaking down proteins, fats and carbohydrates. It also produces insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Mistakes in nutrition, cravings for spicy and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol abuse, uncontrolled ingestion of medications - all of these factors trigger the development of pancreatitis.
How to recognize pancreatitis and what diet should be followed by patients, we will tell you in this article.
How do you know if you have pancreatitis?
Pancreatitis can be acute or chronic. Its symptoms vary depending on the form.
The acute form is expressed by severe pain in the waist in the upper abdomen. Pain syndrome occurs when you eat something fatty or drink alcohol. Nausea and vomiting begin, problems with stools.
In chronic pancreatitis, the pain is located in the upper part of the peritoneum, radiating to the back, left chest, lower abdomen. Discomfort is also observed after consumption of fatty and heavy foods, alcohol, as well as in the context of frequent stress.
Signs of acute pancreatitis:
- Strong and persistent pain around.
- Increased body temperature.
- Blood pressure rises.
- Pale or yellow complexion.
- Intense vomiting, does not relieve.
- Constipation, flatulence, salivation.
Signs of chronic pancreatitis:
- Pain in the abdomen after eating. Local or surrounding, extending to the back.
- Heat causes stomach pain, while cold is relief.
- The patient assumes a forced position - the elbow-knee position or a sitting position with a forward bend.
- Vomiting, diarrhea.
- Weight loss.
It doesn't matter the form of your illness - acute or chronic. You need to be selective about the foods you eat and stick to your diet.
Which diet is indicated for pancreatitis
For the prevention of pancreatitis flare-ups, the following dietary modifications are recommended:
- Meals 4 to 5 times a day with even distribution of fatty foods in the diet;
- refusal to overeat;
- Balanced diet;
- limit saturated fat and cholesterol;
- the inclusion in the diet of a sufficient amount of a variety of vegetable fibers - cereals, vegetables and fruits;
- eat a variety of foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol (unrefined vegetable fats are somewhat limited only in overweight people).
What products are allowed
It is a mistake to think that patients with pancreatitis are "deprived" of tasty and varied foods. In fact, the list of allowed foods is quite extensive.
So you can eat:
- Dry white bread, biscuits.
- Vegetable soups with noodles, semolina, oatmeal.
- Lean meats.
- Lean fish, peas.
- Porridge (buckwheat (mashed), oats, semolina, rice).
- Cottage cheese, cereal puddings and casseroles.
- Fermented milk and dairy products no more than 2% fat.
- Eggs.
- Vegetables.
- Varieties of ripe, non-acidic fruits and berries.
- Butter and vegetable oil.
- Weak tea, still mineral water, rosehip broth, juices diluted in water in a proportion of 50 to 50).
Food needs to be cleaned, boiled, steamed. You cannot eat hot and cold food. The optimum temperature is 30-50°C. Don't overeat, eat fractionally.
What foods should be discarded?
An exacerbation occurs when nutrition and intake are disturbed:
- fatty foods, fried,
- hot spices,
- a large number of raw vegetables, fruits,
- muffins and sweets (cakes, pies, pastries),
- alcohol,
- carbonated drinks,
- whole milk
Sample menu for patients with pancreatitis
- Breakfast: Milk porridge / milk soup with noodles / cooked noodles. Tea with milk. Dry bread.
- Dinner: Vegetable puree soup, boiled rice / mashed potatoes, boiled fish / meat. Tea.
- Afternoon snack: Cottage cheese casserole, jelly / jelly.
- Dinner: vegetable salad with oil, cooked meat / fish, jam.
Snacks required. Eat baked apples, low-fat cottage cheese and crackers between meals.
Note that medication and diet are equally important. Nutritional therapy normalizes the pancreas, preventing the disease from worsening. In that case, don't engage in self-treatment! If you have symptoms of pancreatitis, see your doctor.