Inflammation of the pancreas is a serious disease of the pancreas characterized by a violation of the production of digestive enzymes. The main symptoms of the disease are pain, heartburn, nausea, vomiting and discomfort in the stomach after eating in the left or right hypochondria.
Strict adherence to dietary guidelines is key to treating pancreatitis. After all, the development of the disease is often due to improper lifestyle, high consumption of alcohol and junk food.
A diet for pancreatitis helps patients reduce pain syndrome as the disease worsens and adds a remission phase. In acute and chronic pancreatitis, the diet is different, but it still has some similarities. Let's talk about them.
General diet rules for pancreatitis
The main requirement of the diet is to increase the amount of protein consumed and to reduce the fat and carbohydrate content of the main diet (if possible, these should be completely eliminated). In particular, you should stop consuming granular sugar because it contains 99% carbohydrates.
Coarse-fiber fatty foods should disappear completely from the lives of patients with pancreatitis. After all, they put a heavy load on the pancreas, as a result of which the body begins to produce very large amounts of digestive enzymes, which can lead to dangerous and serious complications in this disease.
Doctors recommend that all patients with pancreatitis take vitamin complexes to help make up for the body’s lack of vitamins and minerals, which is often the result of a restricted diet.
Meals should be scheduled at the same time.
Eat small portions 5-6 times a day to avoid excessive pancreatic stress and overeating.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
As a general rule, acute pancreatitis suddenly presents with sharp pain in the gastric pit. The pains are unbearable, so they force one to call an emergency ambulance. The diet for acute pancreatitis is "zero" before the doctor arrives. Under no circumstances should you eat. Neither "easy" nor "difficult. "
It is allowed to take carbonated mineral water before the doctor's arrival, but not more than 3 glasses. And they should only be drunk if the urination process is normal.
Acute pancreatitis should only be treated in a hospital setting. Fasting is prescribed for the first two days. Only now should you drink rosehip soup with mineral water. The total amount of fluid consumed should not exceed 5 glasses per day.
On the third day of treatment, the patient may consume fresh, low-calorie foods that do not contain substances that irritate the pancreas and increase the secretions produced.
After the main symptoms have subsided, the diet for pancreatitis will continue for a month or two. During this period, you must leave:
completely- fried and fatty foods; muffins and cakes;
- pickles and smoked foods;
- pickles and preserves;
- spicy and sweet;
- onions and garlic;
- alcoholic beverages;
- fatty meat and fish;
- sausage.
All food products must be heat treated. It must be boiled in water or steamed. Do not use oil, salt or spices while cooking.
The patient should only eat food in a warm and grated form. Before going to bed it is recommended to use laxative fermented dairy products - kefir, fermented fried milk.
The duration of the diet is 6 to 12 months. It depends on how one will adhere to this, his health in the future. If all dietary recommendations are ignored, the disease can take a chronic form and the patient must be treated for life.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis in remission
The chronic pancreatitis diet is slightly different from the above diet. In this case, the patient’s diet expands significantly, but only during the remission phase. During exacerbations, the diet is completely different in nature, but a little later on.
In chronic pancreatitis, it is permissible to consume proteins, which must practically exceed the daily human intake, and the use of carbohydrates (sugar, honey, baked goods, pastries, etc. ) is also permitted.
Foods that irritate the pancreas (hot spices, large amounts of salt, alcohol, etc. ) are a restriction.
The patient's diet should also be fragmented. The number of meals is 4-6 times. The food served must be hot. You do not have to grind it before taking the food.
Meat and fish products may not contain a lot of fat, otherwise they can cause liver degeneration, which is quite common in chronic pancreatitis. Cottage cheese contains many useful substances, so it should simply be present in the patient’s diet. However, you can only eat homemade cottage cheese, but it is not too greasy. Store cottage cheese is forbidden to eat.
If someone cannot refuse bread, it is recommended to use yesterday’s cakes or biscuits (only from gray or black bread) while eating. You can also eat baked goods and pastries, but in limited quantities (up to one serving per day).
In case of pancreatitis, it is not advisable to drink clean milk as it is poorly digested. It can be added to teas or used to make cereals and soups. Even if the patient tolerates milk well, it should not be drunk in large quantities. The maximum dose is 200 ml.
Fermented dairy products are very useful for people with chronic pancreatitis. Even cheese that is on the list of forbidden foods at other stages of the disease can be consumed in remission, but not in large quantities, and if you feel well. The cheese should not be too salty or greasy.
Eggs cannot be eaten whole. Only egg white may be present in the patient's diet. It can be used to steam omelettes or add to soups.
The patient's diet should not be high in fat (up to 70 g per day). Moreover, most of them should be made up of vegetable fats. They are better digestible and do not burden the pancreas.
Diet for exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis
The diet for pancreatitis when exacerbated is the same as for the acute form of the disease. The patient is prescribed a fast and, if there is a positive trend, can eat fresh and low-fat foods in small amounts.
If health does not deteriorate, the patient's menu gradually expands. After 2-3 months, one can eat in the same way as in the remission phase.
Remember, this is just a rough diet for pancreatitis. You should check with your doctor for a complete list of authorized and prohibited products. Only he can put together the right diet, taking into account his state of health.