Diet for pancreatitis is an important factor in the success of treatment, so adhering to dietary restrictions allows you to lead a fulfilling life and reduce the likelihood of relapse.
Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas tissue, which is accompanied by reduced secretion of digestive enzymes, severe pain, stool changes and vomiting. This leads to a pathological metabolic disorder and can cause the development of diabetes mellitus. The main factors in the onset of pancreatitis are: overeating, abuse of fatty foods and alcohol.
It is necessary to follow a diet for pancreatitis for a long time. Acute inflammation requires limiting the diet for 6-9 months, while in chronic pancreatitis, diets are followed for several years or for life.
Power characteristics
The approaches to prescribing a diet for pancreatitis depend on whether the inflammation is in acute or chronic form. Doctors note the positive effect of the diet on pancreatitis. It allows you to quickly overcome acute inflammation, avoid complications and extend the period of remission in a chronic process.
Features of the diet:
- Within 2-3 days after an acute attack of pancreatitis, you must completely refuse food. Therefore, rest is provided for the pancreas. Therapeutic fasting involves the use of liquids in the form of non-carbonated alkaline mineral waters, weakly brewed tea or rosehip infusion, a glass 5-6 times a day.
- On the fourth day after the start of therapeutic fasting, the gradual introduction of solid foods into the diet begins. As a rule, these are low-calorie meals without salt, which gradually increase the secretion of gastric juice.
- With pancreatitis, how you prepare food matters. Steaming is recommended, as food prepared in this way retains all the necessary substances and does not harm the digestive system.
- Food doesn't have to be cold or hot, the optimum temperature is close to body temperature. In this case, the food should be grated or semi-liquid.
- The pancreatitis diet limits the consumption of dietary foods as well. They eat small portions at least five times throughout the day.
The diet excludes foods:
- Fat;
- fried;
- hot sauces and spices;
- acidic juices;
- canned foods, pickles;
- smoked meats;
- confectionery;
- cocoa, chocolate;
- alcohol.
The energy value of such food should be at the level of 2500 kcal.
The disadvantage of such a diet is a severe shortage of raw plant foods. Some components need to be compensated for by taking complex vitamins and dietary supplements.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
Diet in the treatment of pancreatitis is an integral part of therapy. During an exacerbation, an attack is accompanied by severe pain in the stomach and lack of appetite, so the first days of medical fasting do not cause the patient suffering.
In addition, low-calorie diet foods are gradually introduced into the diet. It can be dried raw bread, berry drinks and jelly, viscous decoctions of oatmeal and rice, oil-free liquid mashed potatoes. At this time, it is recommended to exclude products that contribute to gas formation.
On the 6-7th day, protein dishes are gradually introduced: steamed meat, mashed potatoes or vegetable puddings, steamed protein omelette.
It should be noted that the diet requires long-term adherence to dietary restrictions. For 6-9 months, you need to strictly follow its rules and monitor your diet every day.
The course of the disease can have certain features, so the gastroenterologist and nutritionist are engaged in the appointment of a diet. Specialists in this profile determine what can be eaten on a pancreatitis diet for each specific patient, taking into account comorbidities.
After the acute period of the disease subsides, you can significantly diversify your menu with simple and healthy products. It should be noted that the number of meals should be at least four, while the volume of liquid drunk is approximately 1. 5 liters per day.
Sample menu:
- Breakfast: semolina porridge (rice) cooked in water; Apple; weakly infused green tea with a spoonful of honey.
- Second breakfast: steamed chicken breast cutlets; carrot puree; a decoction of rosehip berries.
- Lunch: vegetable broth with beef or fish; mashed potatoes; crouton of white bread; baked apple without skin.
- Afternoon snack: low fat cottage cheese; green tea with a spoonful of honey.
- Cena>: three chicken eggs steamed protein omelette; mashed potatoes from dietary vegetables; crouton of white bread.
- Before going to bed: curdled milk.
With a diet, the symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis are greatly alleviated. Such nutrition spares the pancreas and gradually normalizes its work. The patient's well-being will depend on how strictly he adheres to the diet. Any disturbance in the diet is immediately reflected in the digestive function.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis most often develops against the background of an acute condition, but can also manifest itself as a primary disease in cases where it is a complication of other diseases.
Diet and treatment for pancreatitis are two inseparable concepts. Even during remission, dietary guidelines should be adhered to.
Dietary rules for chronic pancreatitis:
- The calorie content of food during this period should be commensurate with daily physical activity.
- Much attention is paid to the protein content in food. Turkey, chicken, rabbit, beef, lean pork and fish are allowed.
- It is not allowed to include lamb, fatty pork, goose, duck and game dishes in the diet.
- Heat treatment of food does not allow frying, baking, stewing. Food must be cooked in a water bath or boiled.
- Cheese, previously banned in the aggravation stage, is now allowed in small quantities, but it is advisable to replace milk with fermented milk products.
- The diet should include vegetable proteins, which are represented by yesterday's cereals and bread, while it is necessary to take into account that legumes should be completely excluded during a diet with pancreatitis.
- The total amount of carbohydrates should not exceed 350g per day. They are found in pasta, cereals, honey, preserves and syrups.
An approximate diet menu for chronic pancreatitis:
- Breakfast: boiled rabbit meat; rice porridge.
- Late breakfast: low-fat cottage cheese; baked apples without honey.
- Lunch: buckwheat soup; boiled or steamed fish with vegetables; compote of dried fruit.
- Afternoon snack: steamed cutlets with vegetable sauce.
- Dinner: veal, unsweetened ricotta pudding; weak tea.
- Before going to bed: kefir.
Meals are split and in small portions. Food should be served hot at approximately three hour intervals.
Salt and spices cause increased secretion of enzymes in the digestive tract, so their quantity should be minimized. In addition, sour and smoked foods, baked goods and sour cream, as well as chocolate, have a similar effect. Sugary foods can cause complications such as diabetes mellitus, so their content in the diet is reduced by 90%.