Diet for pancreatitis is a major factor in successful treatment, so adhering to dietary restrictions allows for a fulfilling life and reduces the likelihood of recurrence.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreatic tissue, which is accompanied by impaired 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 for the development of pancreatitis are: overeating, abuse of fatty foods and alcohol.
It takes a long time to follow a diet for pancreatitis. Acute inflammation requires limiting the diet to 6-9 months, while in chronic pancreatitis the diet is adhered to for several years or for life.
Power supply characteristics
Approaches to prescribing a diet for pancreatitis depend on whether the inflammation is in an acute or chronic form. Doctors notice a positive effect of diet on pancreatitis. It allows you to quickly overcome acute inflammation, avoid complications and prolong the period of remission in the chronic process.
Characteristics of the diet:
- Within 2-3 days after an acute attack of pancreatitis, you must completely refuse food. Thus, rest is provided for the pancreas. Therapeutic fasting involves the use of liquids in the form of non-carbonated alkaline mineral waters, poorly brewed tea or infusion of rose hips, one cup 5-6 times a day.
- On the fourth day after the beginning of the therapeutic fast, 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.
- In pancreatitis, the way you prepare food is important. Steam cooking is recommended, because the food prepared in this way retains all the necessary substances and does not harm the digestive tract.
- Food should not be chilled or hot, the optimal temperature is close to body temperature. In that case, the food should be grated or semi-liquid.
- Diet for pancreatitis limits the consumption of even diet food. Eat small portions at least five times during the day.
The diet excludes foods:
- fat;
- fried;
- hot sauces and spices;
- acidic juices;
- canned food, pickles;
- smoked meat;
- 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 the acute lack of raw plant foods. Some components need to be compensated by taking complex vitamins and dietary supplements.
Diet for acute pancreatitis
Diet in the treatment of pancreatitis is an integral part of therapy. During the exacerbation, the attack is accompanied by severe stomach pain and lack of appetite, so the first few days of medical starvation do not cause the patient suffering.
Furthermore, low-calorie diet foods are gradually being introduced into the diet. These can be dried uncooked bread, fruit drinks and berry jellies, viscous decoctions of oatmeal and rice, liquid mashed potatoes without oil. At this point, it is recommended to exclude products that contribute to gas formation.
6-7. days gradually introduced protein dishes: steamed meat, mashed potatoes or vegetable puddings, steamed protein omelet.
It should be noted that diet requires long-term adherence to dietary restrictions. For 6-9 months you must strictly adhere to its rules and monitor your diet daily.
The course of the disease may have certain characteristics, so the gastroenterologist and nutritionist deal with the appointment of a child. Specialists of this profile determine what can be eaten on a pancreatitis diet for each specific patient, taking into account comorbidities.
Once the acute period of the disease has subsided, 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 amount of fluid consumed is about 1. 5 liters per day.
Example menu:
- Breakfast: semolina (rice) porridge cooked in water; Apple; weakly brewed green tea with one tablespoon of honey.
- Second breakfast: steamed chicken breast cutlets; carrot puree; decoction of berry pomegranate.
- Lunch: vegetable soup with beef or fish; mashed potatoes; White bread croutons; baked apple without peel.
- Afternoon snack: low-fat cottage cheese; green tea with a teaspoon of honey.
- Večera>: steamed protein omelet of three chicken eggs; mashed potatoes from dietary vegetables; white bread croutons.
- Before bed: curdled milk.
With diet, the symptoms and treatment of pancreatitis are significantly alleviated. Such a diet saves the pancreas and gradually normalizes its work. The well-being of the patient will depend on how strictly he adheres to the diet. Any eating disorder is immediately reflected in the digestive function.
Diet for chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis most often occurs in the background of an acute condition, but it can also occur as a primary disease in cases when it is a complication of other diseases.
Diet and treatment of pancreatitis are two inseparable concepts. Even during remission, dietary guidelines should be followed.
Dietary rules for chronic pancreatitis:
- The caloric content of food in this period should be proportional to daily physical activity.
- Great 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, geese, ducks and game in the diet.
- Heat treatment of food does not allow frying, baking in the oven, stewing. Food must be cooked in a steam boiler or boiled.
- Cheese, which was previously banned in the deterioration phase, is now allowed in small quantities, but it is desirable to replace milk with fermented dairy products.
- The diet should contain plant proteins, which are cereals and yesterday's bread, while it is necessary to take into account that legumes should be completely excluded during the diet with pancreatitis.
- The total amount of carbohydrates should not exceed 350 g per day. They are found in pasta, cereals, honey, cans and syrups.
Approximate diet menu for chronic pancreatitis:
- Breakfast: cooked rabbit meat; rice porridge.
- Late breakfast: low-fat cottage cheese; apples baked without honey.
- Lunch: buckwheat soup; boiled or steamed fish with vegetables; dried fruit compote.
- Afternoon snack: steamed cutlets with vegetable sauce.
- Dinner: veal, unsweetened cottage cheese pudding; weak tea.
- Before bed: kefir.
Meals are fractional and in small portions. Food should be served warm at intervals of about three hours.
Salt and spices cause increased secretion of enzymes in the digestive tract, so their amount should be reduced to a minimum. In addition, sour, smoked foods, pastries and sour cream, as well as chocolate, have a similar effect. Sweet foods can cause complications such as diabetes mellitus, so their content in the diet is reduced by 90%.