The pancreatitis diet is an important factor in treatment success, therefore, adherence to dietary restrictions makes it possible to live a full life and reduces the likelihood of relapse.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the tissue of the pancreas, which is accompanied by impaired secretion of digestive enzymes, severe pain, changes in the stool, and vomiting. This leads to a pathological metabolic disorder and can lead to the development of diabetes mellitus. The main factors for the onset of pancreatitis are: overeating, abusing fatty foods and alcohol.
It is necessary to follow a diet for pancreatitis for a long time. Acute inflammation requires restriction of diet for 6-9 months, whereas in chronic pancreatitis, diets are followed for several years or for life.
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Approaches to prescribing a diet for pancreatitis depend on whether the inflammation is in the acute or chronic form. Doctors note the positive effect of diet on pancreatitis. It allows you to quickly overcome acute inflammation, avoid complications, and prolong the remission period in a chronic process.
Diet characteristics:
- Within 2-3 days of an acute attack of pancreatitis, you should refuse food completely. Thus, rest is provided for the pancreas. Therapeutic fasting involves the use of liquid in the form of non-carbonated alkaline mineral waters, weakly brewed tea, or rosehip infusion, one cup 5-6 times a day.
- On the fourth day after starting therapeutic fasting, the gradual introduction of solid foods into the diet begins. As a rule, they are low-calorie meals without salt, which gradually increase the secretion of gastric juice.
- In pancreatitis, the way you prepare food is important. Steam cooking is recommended, as food prepared in this way retains all the necessary substances and does not harm the digestive system.
- Food should not be refrigerated or hot, the ideal temperature is close to body temperature. In this case, the food must be grated or semi-liquid.
- The pancreatitis diet limits the consumption of even dietary foods. They eat small portions at least five times a day.
Diet excludes food:
- little fat;
- fried;
- hot sauces and spices;
- acidic juices;
- canned foods, pickles;
- smoked meats;
- confectionery;
- cocoa, chocolate;
- alcohol.
The energy value of such foods must be at the level of 2500 kcal.
The downside of such a diet is an acute shortage of raw plant foods. Some components need to be compensated by the intake of complex vitamins and food 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 stomach pains and poor appetite, so the first few days of medical fasting do not cause the patient suffering.
Also, low-calorie diet foods are gradually introduced into the diet. It can be dry raw bread, red fruit drinks and jelly, viscous oat and rice decoctions, oil-free liquid mashed potato. At this point, it is recommended to exclude products that contribute to gas formation.
On day 6-7, protein dishes are introduced gradually: steamed meat, mashed potatoes or vegetable puddings, steamed protein omelet.
It should be noted that the diet requires long-term adherence to dietary restrictions. For 6-9 months, you need to strictly follow your rules and monitor your diet daily.
The course of the disease can have certain characteristics, therefore, the gastroenterologist and the nutritionist are committed to marking a diet. Specialists in this profile determine what can be ingested in the pancreatitis diet for each specific patient, taking comorbidities into account.
After the acute period of illness has passed, you can significantly diversify your menu with simple, healthy products. It is noteworthy that the number of meals must be at least four, while the volume of liquid ingested is about 1. 5 liters per day.
Sample menu:
- Breakfast: semolina porridge (rice) cooked in water; Litter; green tea weakly brewed with a spoon of honey.
- Second breakfast: steamed chicken breast chops; carrot puree; a decoction of rosehip berries.
- Lunch: vegetable broth with meat or fish; mashed potatoes; white bread crouton; baked apple without the skin.
- Afternoon snack: low-fat cottage cheese; green tea with a spoon of honey.
- dinner>: steamed protein omelet of three chicken eggs; dietary vegetable mashed potatoes; white bread crouton.
- Before going to bed: curdled milk.
With a diet, symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis are visibly relieved. This 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 usually develops in the context of an acute condition, but it can also occur as a primary illness in cases where it is a complication of other illnesses.
Diet and treatment for pancreatitis are two inseparable concepts. Even during remission, dietary guidelines must be followed.
Diet Rules for Chronic Pancreatitis:
- The caloric content of food during this period must be compatible with daily physical activity.
- Much attention is paid to the protein content in foods. Turkey, chicken, rabbit, beef, lean pork and fish are allowed.
- Lamb, fat pork, goose, duck and game dishes are not allowed in the diet.
- The heat treatment of food does not allow frying, baking or stewing. Food should be cooked in a bain-marie or boiled.
- Cheese, previously banned in the aggravation phase, is now allowed in small quantities, but it is advisable to replace milk with fermented dairy products.
- The diet should include vegetable proteins, which are represented by yesterday's cereals and bread, but you must keep in mind that vegetables should be completely excluded during a diet with pancreatitis.
- The total amount of carbohydrates should not exceed 350 g per day. They are found in pasta, cereals, honey, preserves and syrups.
An approximate diet menu for chronic pancreatitis:
- Breakfast: cooked rabbit meat; Porrige of rice.
- Late breakfast: low-fat cottage cheese; baked apples without honey.
- Lunch: buckwheat soup; boiled or steamed fish with vegetables; Dried fruit compote.
- Afternoon snack: steamed chops with vegetable sauce.
- Dinner: veal, unsweetened curd pudding; Weak tea.
- Before going to bed: kefir.
Meals are fractioned and in small portions. Food should be served hot at intervals of about three hours.
Salt and spices cause increased secretion of enzymes in the digestive tract, so their amount should be kept to a minimum. In addition, sour foods, smoked foods, baked goods, and heavy 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%.