Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. It produces enzymes that are involved in breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It also makes insulin, which regulates blood sugar levels. Eating errors, cravings for spicy and fatty foods, smoking and alcohol abuse, uncontrolled use of medication - all these factors provoke the development of pancreatitis.
How to recognize pancreatitis and what diet should be followed by patients, learn from 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 manifested by severe girdle pain in the upper abdomen. The pain syndrome occurs after eating something fatty or drinking alcohol. Nausea and vomiting begin, stool problems.
With chronic pancreatitis, the pain is localized on the top of the peritoneum, radiates to the back, left side of the chest, lower abdomen. Discomfort is also observed after consuming fatty, heavy food, alcohol, as well as against the background of frequent stress.
Signs of acute pancreatitis:
- Severe persistent pain in the area.
- Increased body temperature.
- Blood pressure rises.
- Pale or yellow complexion.
- Intense vomiting, not relieving.
- Constipation, gas, drooling.
Signs of chronic pancreatitis:
- Pain in the abdomen after eating. Locally or circumferentially, extending backwards.
- Heat causes abdominal pain, cold soothes.
- The patient assumes a forced position - the knee-elbow position or a sitting position with a forward bend.
- Vomiting, diarrhea.
- Weight loss.
It doesn't matter what form of the disease you have - acute or chronic. You need to be selective about the food you eat and stick to your diet.
What diet is indicated for pancreatitis?
To prevent exacerbations of pancreatitis, the following dietary changes are recommended:
- Meals 4-5 times a day with even distribution of fatty foods in the diet;
- Refusal to overeat;
- balanced nutrition;
- 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 that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol (unrefined vegetable fats are only somewhat limited in overweight people).
Which products are allowed
It is a mistake to believe that patients with pancreatitis are "withheld" from tasty and varied food. In fact, the list of permitted foods is quite extensive.
So you can eat:
- Dry white bread, cookies.
- Vegetable soups with pasta, semolina, oat flakes.
- Lean meat.
- Lean fish, aspic.
- Porridge (buckwheat (pureed), oatmeal, semolina, rice).
- Cottage cheese, cereal pudding and casseroles.
- Milk and fermented milk products no more than 2% fat.
- Eggs.
- Vegetables.
- Ripe and non-acidic varieties of fruits and berries.
- Butter and vegetable oil.
- Weak tea, still mineral water, rosehip broth, juices diluted with water in a ratio of 50 to 50).
Food needs to be wiped, boiled, steamed. You cannot eat hot and cold foods. The optimal temperature is 30-50 ° C. Do not overeat, eat fractionated.
Which food should be disposed of?
An exacerbation occurs when diet and absorption are disturbed:
- fatty, fried food,
- 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 / boiled noodles. Tea with milk. Dry bread.
- Dinner: Vegetable puree soup, boiled rice / mashed potatoes, boiled fish / meat. Tea.
- Afternoon snack: Quark casserole, jelly / jelly.
- Dinner: Vegetable salad with olive oil, boiled meat / fish, jelly.
Snacks needed. Eat baked apples, low-fat cottage cheese, cookies between meals.
Note that medication and diet are equally important. Nutritional therapy will restore the pancreas to normal and prevent the disease from getting worse. In this case, do not perform self-treatment! If you have symptoms of pancreatitis, see your doctor.